SYSTEM ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF SECONDARY ENERGY RESOURCES USE IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the level and dynamics of the energy intensity of polymer products, to assess the potential for using polymer waste as a source of thermal energy in a closed-cycle economy. As the main research methods, the author’s methodological tools areproposed, a systematic approach, methods of descriptive statistics, graphical analysis, and cause-and-effect relationships are used. The analysis of the current trends with the calculation of the level of energy intensity of polymer products, which made it possible to classify the investigated industries as the 1st class of energy intensity “High energy intensity”. In the production of polymer products, three types of waste are identified (plastic, rubber, thermosetting resins), which are potential raw materials for obtaining secondary thermal energy. It is shown that the values of the heat of combustion of waste (31-45 GJ/t), methods of energy production and their efficiency (45-70%) allow using these types of waste to develop solutions for alternative energy sources. The scale of the formation of polymer waste at Russian enterprises has been determined, which makes it possible to draw a conclusion about the advisability of developing solutions for alternative energy sources. An algorithm for calculating the volume of secondary heat energy has been developed, aimed at solving two problems: the problem of determining the volume of heat received by waste energy recycling; the task of determining the possible volume of products produced on the basis of secondary heat energy. Approbation of the algorithm using the example of plastic waste and the use of thermal energy from their combustion showed the possibility of generating 56467.2 Gcal of thermal energy from waste and producing 26516.7 t of synthetic resins and plastics using it. When organizing energy recycling, it is recommended to observe the priority of using waste directly in the production cycle as a secondary raw material, taking into account environmental and economic feasibility.