Role of 3E analysis in detection of thermodynamic losses in the evaporation line and steam and power production unit in the sugar processing plant

In this study, evaporation line and steam and power production unit in a sugar processing plant were investigated by means of energetic, exergetic, and exergoeconomic (3E) analyses. 3E parameters for each subsystem in both units were computed via coding in EES software. For a more detailed analysis, the heat losses from the surfaces of the subsystems were computed using thermography data. The results revealed that from a thermodynamic viewpoint, the steam and power production unit had a weaker performance compared with evaporation line, such that its energy loss rate and exergy destruction rate were 2.68 and 24.50 times those of the evaporation line, respectively. However, from an exergoeconomic viewpoint, the operational cost rate of the evaporation line was 2.31 times that of the steam unit. Furthermore, the cost of heat losses from the surfaces of the subsystems in the evaporation line was found to be 13299.84 USD.year −1 . In conclusion, to reduce the cost of the final product, it is highly recommended that the reduction of thermodynamic inefficiencies in the evaporation line be given priority over the steam and power production unit; besides, it can be noted that the cost of heat losses from the surfaces of the subsystems is a considerable amount that should not be ignored.