Summary
Clariant partnered with Entropic to automate their engineering workflow. The case study focused on evaluating Heat Pumps (HPs) and Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) opportunities at Clariant sites. Our platform was able to cater to Clariant's unique operational data and financial metrics, delivering superior accuracy and a 40% reduction in business case development time.
The Challenge
Before this collaboration, Clariant’s engineering teams managed heavy manual workloads to simulate decarbonization technologies. A "Complex Case"—taking into account more than 10 process blocks—required an estimated 50 FTE days to manually analyze data, run simulations, and perform techno-economic comparisons. Clariant required a faster, more accurate, and standardized way to evaluate projects.
The Solution
Clariant deployed The Entropic Platform to replace manual calculations with a standardized, automated workflow. The platform was selected for its ability to handle complex thermodynamic modeling.
Instead of building custom tools from scratch, Clariant used the Entropic platform to solve the following engineering challenges:
Workflow Standardization: The platform provided a single, cloud-based environment for all engineering teams. This eliminated the variance found in manual spreadsheet modeling and ensured that every site assessment followed the exact same methodology.
Accuracy via Advanced Modeling: Instead of relying on simplified manual correlations, Clariant utilized the platform’s advanced thermodynamic engines. This allowed for high-fidelity modeling of complex HP and MVR configurations, significantly increasing the accuracy of case estimates.
Speed via Automation: The platform automated the most time-consuming aspects of the workflow, including simulation and financial reporting.
The Results
The case study validated our initial objectives, demonstrating the value of a standardized, automated approach:
40% Time Reduction: The Entropic platform reduces engineering time by 40%, proving the value of implementing such a system in the business case development workflow
Higher Quality & Accuracy: Automation of thermodynamic calculations eliminated manual errors. The enhanced detail in simulations leads to higher accuracy in techno-economic assessments
Standardization: The platform successfully standardizes projects, ensuring one unified methodology for all engineering teams.
From the Client
"The 40% time reduction and increased accuracy allow to execute significantly more techno-economic assessments. In addition, the platform ensures quality assurance by standardizing our workflows."
— Jens Würdig, Global Energy Manager
