DRYING : BEET SUGAR PLANT DRYING UNIT ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION Olivier VIDAL Olivier DEUR 03/03/2011
SITUATION TODAY Pulp drying energy cost is high compared to juice concentration by evaporation in a multiple effect. Coupling with sugar plant are in operation. Energy savings are higher when sugar plant and drying unit are fully coupled. More sugar groups are studying to rise energy savings through pulp pressing increasing, extraction optimization, energy production scheme and renewable energies. Lets make an overview of some of these points 2
SITUATION TODAY : Coupling examples Steam dryer well known in US. Low temperature Belt Dryer with low temperature heating steam or water from sugar plant : Hot condenser water (about 122 F), Condensate water (about 194 F) Steam bleeding from effect N 2 or 3 Exhaust steam eventually Flue gases eventually Finned tubes exchangers are arranged in series to gradually rise fresh air temperature up to about 230 F. Drum dryers coupling with boiler flue gases. 3
SITUATION TODAY : FUEL In many projects fuel selection is considered to reduce energy cost. Here after some of them used in beet pulp drying units : Fuel Oil Natural gas Coal, pulverized coal Lignite Wood Biogas Wood is considered half price than natural gas in Europe. Biogas produced in sugar plant digesters can be used directly in the drying unit without purifying process. 4
TODAY SITUATION : PULP MECHANICAL DEWATERING REMAINS ATTRACTIVE Twin beet pulp press technology allows to reach 35 % DS Evaluation in metric tons/hr of water evaporation need after beet pulp press according to DM content : 60 évaporation, t/h 55 50 France 45 40 Germany Twin press limit 35 27% 28% 29% 30% 31% 32% 33% 34% 35% 36% MS pulpe (sur-)pressée 5
TODAY SITUATION : Research in progress. Mechanical dewatering energy cost is about one percent compared to single pass drying drum technology. PEF, Pulsed Electric Fields technology applied to juice extraction can also help rising pulp DM after press. Combined pressing technology are also a possibility. SNFS (National French Sugar Society) is launching a program to press over 40 % DM. Besides energy savings, sugar recovery is an important issue. 6
MAGUIN coupling 3 PASS DRYER and BELT DRYER. 30 D20 000 Water circuit D20 Evaporation D20 + D30 = 308 US gpm 1.51571657 3.29876978 0.65975396 Water circuit D30 Wet pulp : 33,6 short ton/hr at 104 F M tiè è h 27% 30 D30 000 A Condenser Inlet 1100 000 US gpm Wet bulb temperature : 167 F 53 800 ft² F Air flow : 6 604 000 US gpm Temperature : 50 F 1 291 000 ft² D Hot water : 3346 US gpm Température : 158 F B Condenser Outlet Temperature : 143 F Dust emition : 25 10-9 lb/ US gpm wet Evaporation BT = 92.5 US gpm BT 3x10 147 F 6456 ft² BT actuel 2x12 travées 460m² Evaporation 22 T/h E Cold water : 3346 US gpm Température : 97 F C G Condensate Dust : Dry pulp : 10,3 short ton/hr Flow : 176 US gpm 25 10-9 lb/ US gpm wet Dry Substance : 88% Température : 143 F to D20/D30 EVAPORATION RATIO : BELT DRYER 23%, 3 PASS DRYER 77% 7
MAGUIN BELT DRYER 8
MAGUIN BELT DRYER : CONDENSER 9
MAGUIN BELT DRYER 10
MAGUIN 3 PASS DRYER (FOR D DGS) Bran To pelletizing 188 Q Vapour condensing Condensate 188 118 C Flue gases Wet Bulb 158 F Wet Bulb 95 C cyclone 1 cyclone 2 Muds 176 F Mixer 1 Dryer Concentred Vinasses 176 F Mixer 2 (air) 752 F 203 F 88232ft2 air Q Natural gas. furnace 176 1382 F EXCHANGER 329 F 302 F Temperature probe 248 F 11
MAGUIN 3 PASS DRYER 12
COUPLING : 3 PASS DRYER AND BELT DRYER sécheur BT avec couplage sécheurs tambours condenseur tapis 18 000 eau-air 16 000 14 000 Q, kw 12 000 10 000 8 000 6 000 buées 2 buées eau air buées eau eau air 4 000 2 000 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 température, C 13
COUPLING : 3 PASS DRYER AND BELT DRYER Evaporating rate : 167 US gpm Wet pulp Evaporating rate : 35% DS 111 US gpm 244 F 69 short ton/hr 24.0 short ton/hr DS TPTD 30 000 Q Wet Bulb Temperature 203 F 69 940 ft² 90% DM 33 356 ft² air 2 456 874 ft² 50 F 1 463 360 ft² 197 F 192 F steam 104 F 0 short ton/hr 249 F 0% DS 1169 US gpm 192 F LTBD 2 905 ft² Dryed pulp 89 F 149 F 27 short ton/hr 103 US gpm 90% DS Evaporating rate : 56 US gpm 116 F EVAPORATION RATIO : BELT DRYER 34 %, 3 PASS DRYER 66 % 14
FULL COUPLING BELT DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT FONTENOY plant in Belgium developed a unique scheme. With BELT DRYER using mostly low temperature water and steam. The whole plant consumption were about 28.6 lb fuel oil per metric ton of sugar beet including, drying, 3 strikes crystallization and no syrup storage. Hot air can be heated up to 230 F to 250 F. Several finned tubes exchangers in tandem are heating gradually fresh air using for example : hot water (hot condenser water, condensate water), low temperature steam and finally exhausted steam to boost air temperature. Exhaust air is about 113 F and a part from last drying stage is recirculated to air pre heating. 15
FULL COUPLING BELT DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT Air 122 F Recirculation Cold air Hot condenser water Hot condensate water Steam bleeding from N 2 and N 3 4-6 bar steam Hot air > 230 F Hot condenser water Hot condensate water Steam bleeding from N 2 and N 3 46barsteam 4-6 Air 113 F Cold air Hot hair >230 F Hot condenser water Hot condensate water Steam bleeding from N 2 and N 3 4-6 bar steam Air 113 F Cold air Hot Air > 230 F Hot condenser water Hot condensate water Steam bleeding from N 2 and N 3 4-6 bar steam Air 113 F Cold air Hot Air > 230 F Air 113 F 16
FULL COUPLING BELT DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT Strong points : 1. Energy bleeding limited to a 113 F air flow. 2. No needs to change energy production scheme. 3. kw consumed in the range of other known solutions. 4. Easy maintenance on standard mechanical equipment. 5. Pulp quality preserved. 6. Low dust emissions, in compliance with US emissions standards 7. No VOC. 17
MAGUIN COUPLING BELT DRYER - 3 PASS DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT Pulp pressing is upgraded approaching 35 % DM. In Germany 32.5 % is achieved and investments are in progress in French sugar beet plant too. 3 PASS DRYER is designed to supply BELT DRYER trough a vapour condenser. Sugar plant provides most of the condensate water 194 F. Water is easy to pump p to enough distance to most of the sugar beet plant drying unit. BELT DRYER is first evaporating water from pulp press DS content to about 50 % DS content. 3 PASS DRYER is then dimensioned as a finisher to evaporate water from 50 % DS to 90 % DS. 18
MAGUIN COUPLING BELT DRYER - 3 PASS DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT Evaporating rate : 167 US gpm Wet pulp Evaporating rate : 35% DS 66 US gpm 244 F 69 short ton/hr 24.0 short ton/hr DS TPTD 30 000 Q Wet Bulb Temperature 203 F Dryed pulp 41 964 ft² 90% DS 27 short ton/hr 20 014 ft² air 4 346 777 ft² 194 F 50 F 2 589 022 ft² 197 F Condensate water 192 F 104 F 104 F 701 US gpm LTBD 5140ft² Evaporating rate : 100 US gpm 116 F 89 F 149 F 62 US gpm 50.3% DM EVAPORATION RATIO BELT DRYER 60 %, 3 PASS DRYER 40 % 19
MAGUIN COUPLING BELT DRYER - 3 PASS DRYER <-> SUGAR PLANT Options Besides condensate water, hot condenser water can be used. Vapour from 3 PASS DRYER can be compressed trough steam ejector to be used to concentrate juice and/or syrup and supply low grade steam to crystallization workshop. If the sugar plant is close to a distillery hot vinasses can be sent to BELT DRYER hot air heat exchanger. In some cases use of boiler flue gases depending on quality can be considered. 20
Conclusion The concept allows to reduce fossil fuel use to remove water from beet pulp from 245 US gpm (55 m3/h) to 66 US gpm (15 m3/h). And depending on sites less is still possible. In that case. Fuel usage reduced to 27 % of original. The concept brings possibility to use renewable energy, to benefit carbon credit as the 3 PASS DRYER furnace can be designed for biogas or wood or other fuels. In that case energy cost reduction is over 80 %. The coupling is made in a way that a drying unit short stoppage does not stop sugar plant or reduces its capacity. The concept allows to dry other product during inter season (alfalfa). The concept is in line with maximizing sugar recovery. The concept reduce dust and VOC emissions. The concept keeps beet pulp quality for livestock. 21