Abstract

GONZALEZ-PEREZ, Félix; CASTELLANOS-ALVAREZ, Juan A.  and  PUERTAS-FERNANDEZ, Juan Francisco. Methodology to determine the amount of imbibition water to use in the sugar cane industry. Ingeniería Mecánica [online]. 2010, vol.13, n.1, pp.41-48. ISSN 1815-5944.

A study was performed of the use of the water of imbibition in the industry of the sugar cane of Cuba and internationally. More than 200 bibliographical sources were reviewed reaching important conclusions as far as the amount and temperature from the imbibition water, as well as the scheme used of imbibition water most commonly used. A very simple procedure is obtained to determine the optimal amount of imbibition water considering the updated prices of the sugar and the bagasse as fuel and for other uses. It is applied for his validation in two sugar companies of the province of Cienfuegos. In the present economic conditions the results showed that it is advisable to use an amount of imbibition water between 10.4 -15,4 % of the amount of cane processed based on the use of the bagasse and not between 18-22% as it is historically done. It resulted on 66670.1 tons of water and 9531.77 kWh of electrical energy saved. The total economic effect was between 22939,92 - 218505,47 USD.

Keywords : imbibition; energy; sugar mill.

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