Energy-economic and exergy-environment performance evaluation of solar energy integrated essential oil extraction system

Abstract

Solar Steam distillation system (SSDS) for essential oil extraction from medicinal plants is developed and analysed based on energy, exergy, economic, exergoeconomic, environmental and enviroeconomic point of view. System is analysed for various batch sizes of two different medicinal plants (Peppermint and Eucalyptus) and compared. Maximum and minimum system efficiency is calculated as 48.68 % and 43.25 % for 2 kg of peppermint and 6 kg of eucalyptus, respectively, whereas highest and lowest exergy efficiency of system is 27.96 % and 22.50 % for 6 kg and 4 kg of eucalyptus leaves, respectively. Estimated return on investment (ROI), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period (PBP) of SSDS producing 72 L of peppermint oil per year were 14.03 %, 18.77 % and 5.67 years, respectively over the projected economic life span of 25 years. 11.43 and 19.94 % with increase in lifespan of system by 5 enhanced exergoeconomic parameters for peppermint oil and 10 years, respectively at same interest rate of 5 % while 11.30 and 19.90 %, respectively increase the corresponding values for eucalyptus oil. CO2 mitigated over the lifespan from SSDS for peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil based on energy approach is found as 2.37, 4.74, 7.11 tons CO2 and 1.97, 3.95, 5.9 tons CO2 for 2, 4 and 6 kg batch size, respectively. Whereas, the corresponding values based on exergy approach are 0.15, 0.11, 0.14 tons CO2 and 0.12, 0.09, 0.12 tons CO2, respectively.