Exergy flow graphs for evaluation of a sugar production system

Abstract

Industrial systems consist of numerous interconnected processes whose thermodynamic interactions are difficult to interpret using exergy balances alone. Representing these interactions in the form of exergy flow graphs provides an alternative by combining thermodynamic analysis with graph theory, allowing the exergy transfer within the system to be visualized together with the magnitude and direction of exergy flows. In this study, an exergy flow graph is developed for an industrial sugar production process to investigate the distribution of physical exergy throughout the technological chain. Individual processing units are represented as graph nodes, while exergy streams constitute directed weighted edges connecting the units. This identifies major sources of exergy destruction and the thermodynamic importance of individual process units within the overall system. The results demonstrate that graph-based visualization improves the interpretation of complex exergy interactions and provides a framework for thermodynamic improvement.