Energy and Exergy Analysis of Sugar Production at Eregli Sugar Factory

In this study, energy and exergy analysis are conducted to assess the performance of sugar production process by using campaign data of 2010 – 2011 of Eregli Sugar Factory. Four main processes are considered in this study, namely, (i) raw juice production, (ii) juice clarification, (iii) juice concentration and (iv) sugar crystallization. Depending on the results of the analysis, energy and exergy efficiencies of these processes have been evaluated. The results show that energy efficiencies of these processes are found to be 94.90%, 92.60%, 64.14% and 82.86% while the exergy efficiencies for the four processes considered are calculated to be 30.45%, 79.33%, 60.86% and 89.67% respectively. And also, energy and exergy flows are studied and illustrated accordingly. In the light of these evaluations, advices have been given to Eregli Sugar Factory, so as to increase the energy efficiency of sugar production, to provide recovering of waste energy and to direct the improvement of new technologies.