Two performance indicators for the characterization of the entropy production in a process unit

► Tools have been developed to compare in a fair manner the energy efficiency of different process units. ► Such comparisons can be difficult when boundary conditions vary, but this study presents one performance indicator that can handle such a situation, using the specific entropy production. ► The other indicator measures the deviation from an ideal state of uniform entropy production (equipartition of entropy production), which in certain cases is the state of minimum energy dissipation.