MODIFICATIONS IN THE EVAPORATION SCHEME FOR THE MINIMIZATION OF WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMPTIONS IN A SUGAR FACTORY COMPANY

Abstract

Introduction:
In most of Cuba power plants, the application of process integration techniques related to water and energy management is still insufficient.
Objective:
To evaluate the evaporation system in sugar production process in a mill, reducing steam and water consumption to improve process energy efficiency.
Materials and methods:
The methods are based on mass and energy balances and energy exchange tools determination, and Pinch analysis, with Aspen Pinch software.
Results and Discussion:
From mass and energy balances it is obtained that, the exhaust steam consumption of the evaporation scheme is 50 797 kg/h. With Pinch analysis, an optimal consumption of 42 834 kg/h is obtained, which leads to overconsumption. An scheme modification is proposed with optimum requirements, reducing investment costs associated with redistribution of pipes to install a quadruple effect scheme. For this new variant, 44,787 kg/h of exhaust steam are obtained. Condensers water consumption is 95 160 m3/h, so the installation of film condensers with water consumption of 72 768 m3/h is proposed.
Conclusions:
The proposals reduce the consumption of exhaust steam in 13% and save water in 24% with a proposed investment PRD of one year.