Title: Exergy analysis and boiler efficiency enhancement of a dairy plant for milk and derivative production

Authors: Najwa Jbira; Anass Lebnaiti; Sanaa Hayani Mounir

Addresses: Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Research and Innovation (LAMRI), Energy, Materials, Atomics and Information Fusion Team, Department of Physics, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, BP: 145 Main Khouribga, 25000, Morocco ' Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Research and Innovation (LAMRI), Energy, Materials, Atomics and Information Fusion Team, Department of Physics, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, BP: 145 Main Khouribga, 25000, Morocco ' Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Research and Innovation (LAMRI), Energy, Materials, Atomics and Information Fusion Team, Department of Physics, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, BP: 145 Main Khouribga, 25000, Morocco

Abstract: This paper presents an exergy analysis of a dairy plant in Beni Mellal/Khenifra, examining milk and derivative production. Exergy destruction rate and exergetic efficiency are calculated for each component of each process. The results indicate the boiler as the primary contributor to exergy destruction with a value of 6,402.40 kW, followed by the sterilisation line, the refrigeration system, the yogurt line and finally the pasteurisation line with percentages of 87.6%, 6.12%, 2.9%, 1.76%, 1.61%, respectively. To reduce boiler exergy loss, economiser design is proposed to recover waste heat. The design considers parameters like tube dimensions, count, passes, shell dimensions, and baffle thickness. The objective is cost-effective design with maximum performance. Optimisation led to substantial fuel savings, the economiser's initial cost was approximately $24,968 with payback period of only three months.

Keywords: energy efficiency; exergy analysis; exergy destruction; dairy process; boiler efficiency; economiser design; energy saving; boiler performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.137562

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.43 No.3, pp.251 - 272

Received: 25 Jul 2023
Accepted: 22 Feb 2024
Published online: 25 Mar 2024 *

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