Abstract
The growing demands for oleochemical products are expected to reach approximately RM 157.59 billion by 2026 due to an increased drive from the food and beverages, chemicals, and pharmaceutical industries. However, this will lead to an increase in energy consumption and subsequent flue gas emission. Proper utilization of waste gas recovery systems is thus a major research area, focusing on reducing fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases without affecting process performance. In this paper, a palm oil-based oleochemical plant is studied. The fuel consumption and emission of flue gas from a thermal oil boiler were measured and the feasibility of implementation of a waste heat recovery system and its environmental impact study. The results show that the implementation of such a system can reduce natural fuel gas consumption by 17.29% and approximately 149.29 t per annum of carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Moreover, the concentration of CO2 released into highly-populated communities is estimated through a Gaussian Plume Model at different wind speed conditions. The preliminary results show that the CO2 concentration at two locations—an apartment and a local school located within 1.5 km of the plant—is well below the concentration limit of 1.938 g/m3 recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Services.
Highlights
Oleochemical products can be derived from animal fats or vegetable oils
The results reveal that the error of the Gaussian plume model is consistently below 7% in all configurations, showing a positive compliance amongst the measured and modelled data
CO2 concentration is found to be highest under calm conditions, whTearbeleth3.eImwpinacdtssopfeImedpliesmleenstsattihonanof1Wmas/tse.HOeant RtheecoovtehryeronhaBn01d., under crosswind conditions, where the wind is blown perpendicularly to the direction of particle travel, CO2 concentration is found to be lowest in all threeRsEcSeUnLaTriSos due to a high dispersion and dilution rate
Summary
Oleochemical products can be derived from animal fats or vegetable oils. Since vegetable oils account for nearly 80% of the total fat and oil production, it is the main source for oleochemical production, especially from palm, coconut, soybean, and sunflower [1,2]. With the global oleochemical market showed increase in demand since 2014 owing to increasing petrochemical prices and rising environmental concerns [6], the energy demand for the production process in Malaysia is expected to follow suit [7,8]—chemical manufacturing accounted for 12% of the country’s total energy consumption in 2016. Faced with global warming and increasing fuel prices, manufacturing industries are constantly looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gases and fuel consumption caused by their processes. Proper utilization of waste gas recovery systems has, become a major research area for this industry, focusing on reducing environmental impacts without affecting process performance
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