Energy Management Study in Sugar Industries by Various Bagasse Drying Methods

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article, bagasse drying methods based on flue gas and steam drying in the sugar industry are analyzed, and new methods are proposed for maximum removal of moisture to save energy. Wet bagasse, usually having 50 percent moisture in the Indian sugar cane industry, has been taken as a case for improving calorific value. Methods like flue gas drying and steam drying are analyzed. A new technique, namely, combined flue gas and steam drying, is developed in this article and the excess amount of energy required in drying up the wet baggage using the steam drying is calculated. The combined flue gas/steam drying technique is compared with parallel and sequential heating techniques for the moisture removed, boiler efficiency, increase in calorific value, etc. The experiments were conducted to find the performance on a small scale, and they were used to estimate for the whole plant, using extrapolation. It is proven that combined flue gas/steam drying is far superior to the rest of the techniques.