Thermoeconomic analysis of a modified jaggery making plant

Abstract

AbstractJaggery is manufactured by continuous heating of sugarcane juice in an open pan of traditional plants. The lack of technological advancements in these plants leads to high bagasse consumption and low thermal efficiency. In the present study, a modified two‐pan jaggery manufacturing plant has been fabricated, tested, and evaluated. This plant has a modified gutter pan with internal fitting of copper tubes to enhance the rate of heat supply from hot flue gases to the bulk sugarcane juice during its preheating. An automatic fuel feeding system has also been implemented to optimize the rate of bagasse supply in the furnace. Experiments were performed with the same input and output operating parameters (mass, density, and temperature of sugarcane juice). From the analysis of experimental data, it is observed that the modified plant has a high thermal efficiency of 72.34%, low bagasse consumption of 1.39 kg/kg of jaggery produced, and good rate of jaggery production of 0.61 kg/min. The actual results have been compared with theoretical values and are found in well agreement. The unit cost for jaggery production and payback period of the plant were found to be 0.45 $/kg and 1.24 years, respectively. The experimental errors have also been evaluated.