USE OF POTENTIAL BIOMASS SOURCES TO DELIVER MORE ELECTRICITY AT THE ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ SUGAR FACTORY

Abstract

In this project, a technical-economic study was carried out for the generation of electric energy from agro-industrial and forest biomass at the sugar mill Antonio Sánchez in Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, Cuba. The technical diagnosis of the existing facility allowed us to identify the weak points of the process. It was determined the steam consumption and the capacity of electric power generation in the current conditions and with increased capacity to estimate the electricity delivered to the National Electric system. The mass and energy balances were carried out considering the investment to install an extraction-condensation turbo generator and a high-pressure boiler. The three alternatives proposed: one using the bagasse of the plant itself as fuel, as well as an additional amount of another tributary and the agricultural wastes from the sugar cane; another variant in which forest biomass is added as fuel; and a third with increase of the processing capacity using the possible biomasses. The economic assessment highlights that the best alternative is to generate by taking advantage of all the waste with increase incapacity