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Application of absorption heat transformers for energy conservation in the oleochemical industry
Author(s) -
Aly G.,
Abrahamsson K.,
Jernqvist Å.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4440170703
Subject(s) - transformer , waste management , process engineering , environmental science , materials science , nuclear engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , voltage
A comprehensive energy mapping of an oleochemical plant, for production of technical fatty acids and refined glycerol, was performed. Saturated water vapour is currently produced at 100°C from four flash vessels used to depressurize condensate streams emerging from different processing units in the plant. This vapour has a heat content of 314 kW and is currently condensed in a dump condenser and discharged. Incorporating an absorption heat transformer system would enable the recovery of almost half of this energy and a temperature lift of 34°C can be achieved. The heat transformer system delivers steam at 3 bar which can be fully reused in the plant. An economic analysis resulted in a pay‐off period of less than 18 months based on a steam cost of 14.25 $/GJ, an installed equipment cost of 535 $/kW, an annual operation time of 7200 h, and a heat transformer efficiency of 0.45. However, the pay‐off period depends on the estimated steam cost and heat transformer efficiency, and also on how much of the existing equipment can be utilized as components in the heat transformer. Installing the heat transformer would require minimum changes in the existing plant.