Analysis and Prediction Methods for Energy Efficiency and Media Demand in the Beverage Industry

Since the production of food and beverages is energy-intensive, the political, economic, ecologic and social conditions are posing a challenge to the manufacturing industry. Small- and medium-sized companies in particular lack the time and knowledge to identify and implement suitable energy efficiency measures. With the help of computer-aided solutions, decision-makers can pursue numerous approaches and make well-founded decisions. The aim of this review is to summarise and critically discuss current analysis and prediction methods concerning energy and media consumption in the beverage industry. To date, there have been no tools or approaches available that permit a simple, holistic analysis and prediction. Breweries serve as a good example for the beverage industry due to numerous and various complex processes. To identify energy-saving potential, the main consumers and consumption structures within the brewery are presented. Current approaches such as simulations, pinch analyses, benchmarks and real-time operating systems are briefly explained, and the relevant publications related to the beverage industry described and categorised. The critical comparison of the different approaches clearly shows that simulation enables a holistic analysis and prediction of energy and media consumption in the brewery. Since the data basis is mostly insufficient and this method requires expert knowledge, we propose a holistic modelling and simulation approach. An easy-to-use and context-free modelling environment should enable the generation of a simulation model, with limited expertise or effort.