Exergetic evaluation of a pilot plant for the integral use of oranges: a case study

Abstract

In this investigation, two alternatives to improve a pilot plant for the integral use of oranges were evaluated from the exergetic point of view. The case study was based on information provided by the project "Integrated Evaluation with Sustainability Criteria, of the Process of Extraction by Steam Drag of Essential Oil from Orange Peel (Citrus Sinensis) of the Valleys of the Province of Arequipa, in the Perspective of its Commercial Use”, in which the improvement of the pilot plant was recommended. In the best scenario (using two preheaters), there was a greater decrease in the exergy destroyed both in the plant and in the equipment associated with the stages of the process, and an even greater decrease in fuel consumption. As a complement to this research, a thermoeconomic analysis was carried out in order to establish the effects of the proposed plant configurations on exergetic costs.