Abstract: In order to reveal energy flow dynamics of sanitary ceramic unit processes and whole production chain, a hybrid Petri net-based model is established through analyzing respectively the energy consumption mechanism of sanitary ceramics discrete flow and continuous flow processes. For evaluating the energy consumption performance and further reducing its energy intensity of production chain, an evaluation method is proposed based on specific energy indicators. Finally, using the data from the energy management system, the proposed model and method are validated through simulation experiments. The results show that the proposed hybrid Petri net-based model can, from unit processes to whole production chain, clearly reflect the driving mechanism and process characteristics of energy flow. The optimal specific energy of production chain is 4.411 9 MJ/kg when productivity of 8 t ball mill, 40 t ball mill, injection molding, glazing, and firing are 0.478 t/h, 2.353 t/h, 2.638 5 t/h, 2.651 9 t/h, and 2.62 t/h, respectively. Thus, speed matching between unit processes has great influence on the energy consumption performance of process chain.

Key words: hybrid Petri-net, energy flow model, specific energy consumption, sanitary ceramics production chain, dynamic performance