Assuming a sugar and alcohol plant with sugar and alcohol production and a certain quantity of available residues, such as sugarcane bagasse, which is the best methodology for the design of a unit for the use of this residue in the generation of electricity and steam?
Regarding a sugarcane refinery the residing bagasse can be used to produce sufficent thermal and electrical energy to meet the demands of this plant (there could be some exceptions though). Therefore, usually CHP units are used.
To calculate the dimension of a chp unit and thus its the energy production you need the following parameters:
- Amount of bagasse per amount of sugarcane used
- lower heating value of the bagasse burned depending on the moisture content: I reommend this database: https://www.ecn.nl/phyllis2/
- the electrical and thermal efficiency value, I would estimate 37 % and 45 % for both respectively
- the dimension of the chp depends on the size of a sugar cane plant in kilowatt plus whether you want to export and sell electricity.
Well, in your calculation I would start with the size of the sugarcane plant. Then you go the way with the residing bagasse (if figures are available) to calculate how much eneegy you could produce out of it or you calculate how much bagasse is needed to meet the demands (other way round).
Either way your chp should have the MW power installed to meet the demands of the plant if sufficient ressources are available (the chp should be usually run under full load condition).
I hope I could help. if you need more information or if you have some questions feel free to ask.
As an addition to Simon's note, always consider using the heat or electricity generated within the organisation / company / site, as there is a significant financial advantage to using the electricity generated on site. The reason being that power companies will not pay the same amount as they charge for the same electricity. For instance, here we are charged 25 c / kWh to buy electricity, whereas we are only paid 6 c / kWh if we sell the electricity to the grid. So if you can use electricity generated to replace electricity purchased from the lines company, there is a more rapid payback on the plant investment. (sometimes called "behind the meter" electricity supply).
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