An Integral Approach to Evaluate the Performance of Bagasse Co-Generation Plants
CO23_final
An integral approach to evaluate the performance of bagasse co-generation plants
By
A.F. Lau, K.T.K.F. Kong Win Chang and D. Gunness
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute ahfoonlau@msiri.intnet.mu Keywords: energy, bagasse, co-generation, electricity
Abstract
Bagasse cum coal co-generation plants, in partnership with the cane sugar industry of Mauritius have become major players in the electricity production sector. In the larger plants, coal is used as fuel during the off-crop season to enable electricity export all year round, ensuring optimal plant operation and profitability. In the year 2003, power sales to the utility, using bagasse and coal as fuel was around 300 GWh and 430 GWh, respectively. The development phase is approaching completion, and the energy optimization stage has started.
In our quest to optimize the technical performance of bagasse co-generation plants, the factors influencing surplus electricity production were analyszed, using existing data. It appears that the large disparity between the electricity production of the least and the most efficient co-generation plants is not solely a matter of technological superiority, e.g., high-pressure boilers. The turbo-alternator, process steam consumption, imbibition % cane, fibre % cane, boiler efficiency, moisture % bagasse, electricity consumption in the mill and in the power plant have distinct influence on surplus electricity production.
Consequently, the performance of a co-generation plant can be accurately assessed only when all these factors are considered integrally and referred to a benchmarked figure for comparison. Energy inefficient areas can be detected for remedial actions to be taken. Electricity production and sugar recoveries are technical indicators for this performance evaluation.
Typical fFigures from Mauritian co-generation plants are used to benchmark the surplus electricity production
An integral approach to evaluate the performance of bagasse co-generation plants
By
A.F. Lau, K.T.K.F. Kong Win Chang and D. Gunness
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute ahfoonlau@msiri.intnet.mu Keywords: energy, bagasse, co-generation, electricity
Abstract
Bagasse cum coal co-generation plants, in partnership with the cane sugar industry of Mauritius have become major players in the electricity production sector. In the larger plants, coal is used as fuel during the off-crop season to enable electricity export all year round, ensuring optimal plant operation and profitability. In the year 2003, power sales to the utility, using bagasse and coal as fuel was around 300 GWh and 430 GWh, respectively. The development phase is approaching completion, and the energy optimization stage has started.
In our quest to optimize the technical performance of bagasse co-generation plants, the factors influencing surplus electricity production were analyszed, using existing data. It appears that the large disparity between the electricity production of the least and the most efficient co-generation plants is not solely a matter of technological superiority, e.g., high-pressure boilers. The turbo-alternator, process steam consumption, imbibition % cane, fibre % cane, boiler efficiency, moisture % bagasse, electricity consumption in the mill and in the power plant have distinct influence on surplus electricity production.
Consequently, the performance of a co-generation plant can be accurately assessed only when all these factors are considered integrally and referred to a benchmarked figure for comparison. Energy inefficient areas can be detected for remedial actions to be taken. Electricity production and sugar recoveries are technical indicators for this performance evaluation.
Typical fFigures from Mauritian co-generation plants are used to benchmark the surplus electricity production
References: Deepchand, K. (2000). Progress in bagasse energy development in Mauritius and future short-term prospects. International cane energy news, Winrock International, Arlington, VA, April 2000. Deepchand, K. (2001). Sharing of revenue from co-generated bagasse energy in Mauritius, Int.ernational Sugar J.ournal., 2001, Vol., 103 (, No. 1236):, pp 533 – 539.