Detailed 3E Exploration of a Sugar Industry Using Its Experimental Data

Abstract

AbstractSugar beet production is low in Iran, and about 50% of sugar demand is imported from other countries. Meanwhile, the factories are old in Iran, and novel technologies are not employed, and consequently, the sugar production unit cost is high. Sugar production is one of the most important industries. An increase in energy usage and cost of sugar production has forced the researchers to concentrate on cost analysis while considering the thermodynamics analysis of sugar production systems. In the present study, using experimental data of Urmia Sugar Factory in northwestern Iran, first, the energetic and exergetic analyses are done on different parts of the plant. Then, the most inefficient parts of the system under study are identified, and a thermo-economic analysis is performed for that unit. The results show that cogeneration, purification, and crystallization units have the highest exergy destruction, respectively. Also, the cogeneration unit with 20.17%, the purification unit with 89.25%, and the condensation unit with 91.31% have the lowest second law efficiency, respectively. The total exergy efficiency of the plant is found to be 56.44%. In the cogeneration unit, the 5th and 3rd economizers have the lowest exergy efficiency, and the 2nd and 3rd combustion chambers have the highest exergy destruction. Also, the 2nd HRSG and 4th combustion chamber have the highest values of the summation of investment cost and exergy destruction, and exergy loss costs.KeywordsSugar beetSugar productionEnergy and exergy analysisThermo-economics analysis