Patent ID: 8073654

Claim:
A process for controlling the energy performance of an industrial unit or of a part of the industrial unit, wherein said industrial unit comprises an air separation unit, wherein said part of the industrial unit comprises a compressor and a liquiefier, wherein the industrial unit is subject to changes in atmospheric and environmental conditions, the process comprising: a) measuring a value of a set (V) of variables relating to both a production capacity of the industrial unit and to an environment, and measuring a value of a quantity representing an energy performance (W); b) calculating an estimate (W e ) of a quantity representing the energy performance, using a statistical model (ML, MNL) calibrated on the basis of the values of the set (V) of the variables relating to a production capacity of the industrial unit (ASU) and an atmospheric and environmental conditions, during a phase of learning over a reference period; c) determining a value of an energy performance indicator (TE, TE + ) on the basis of a measured value (W) and the estimated value (W e ) of the quantity representing the energy performance; and d) comparing the value of the energy performance indicator with at least one predetermined threshold value (S) to detect said energy performance, e) detecting a drift in the energy performance, and adjusting said compressor and/or said liquefier to optimize the energy performance of the industrial unit or of the part of the industrial unit.