Use of Analytical-Information Systems to Manage Energy Efficiency at Metallurgical Plants

Software products that are used to automate the management of energy efficiency at metallurgical plants are discussed. Products already on the market are analyzed from the standpoint of energy management, and specific examples are cited to demonstrate the advantages of using dynamic norms to manage the use of energy resources. An approach is described that can significantly reduce the amount of routine work which has to be done by an energy manager to create sets of tables and graphs. The approach is based on the automated formulation and continual updating of dynamic norms that are calculated on the basis of multi-factorial statistical models, physical models, and neural-network models. The use of mathematical models to make short- and long-term projections of energy-resource use is described.