Exergetic analysis of pressure reduction valves to use in cogeneration

Abstract

Today, most part of life activities depends upon energy availability. Since this is such an important topic, there is a continuous search for energy waste reduction, which leads to the development and improvement of industrial equipments, processes and methods of analysis. Cogeneration is an alternative to reduce energy waste in industrial processes. The identification of potential sources to generate energy is made through an exergetic analysis. The pulp and paper industry is a potential candidate to use cogeneration due to the availability of residual fuels and high consumption of steam in the process. The present work develops energetic and exergetic analyses of pressure reduction valves of a pulp industry aiming the use of cogeneration. As results, a comparison between energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the analyzed processes is presented as well as a preliminary technical and economical analyses of cogeneration feasibility. Keywords: cogeneration, efficiency, energy, exergy, pulp and paper industry.