Energy efficiency improvement solutions for Iran’s ceramic tile industry with fuzzy Delphi

Energy efficiency is a matter of immense importance for a wide variety of sectors, and especially industry as the driver of economic growth. Ceramic tile manufacturing is a basic industry that has turned into a nucleus of industrial development in some countries. However, this industry is extremely energy-intensive. Iran has a strong ceramic tile industry consisting of a significant number of manufactories with notably high production output and export. Given the energy-intensity of this industry, it can considerably benefit from energy efficiency improvement measures. In this study, first, a number of potential solutions for improving energy efficiency in Iran’s ceramic tile industry were identified by reviewing the subject literature and surveying a group of experts. The fuzzy Delphi method was then used to identify and ultimately prioritize ۲۲ appropriate solutions from technical, managerial and production process standpoints for the said purpose. The results showed that the highest-priority solutions for energy efficiency improvement in the ceramic tile industry are Implementation of regular maintenance program of facilities and equipment, Adjusting the air in the kilns and burners, and Replacing electro motors according to the load of slurry mixers, and the lowest-priority solutions for this purpose are Insulation of transmission and distribution routes (steam and hot water pipes), Implementation of lighting management system in the factory, and Installation of heat exchangers to recover wasted heat (exhaust gases and the kiln’s cooling system).

Keywords:

Energy Efficiency , Ceramic Tile , Industry , Fuzzy Delphi