Diesel Cogeneration

Power and process heat uses in the Citrus Processing Industry provide a good opportunity for achieving fuel savings by means of cogeneration. This paper considers cogeneration possibilities using a diesel engine. Following a review of available engine types, a representative diesel cogeneration system configuration is established based on a 4150-kW medium-speed diesel engine burning residual oil. Heat recovery is described from the engine exhaust gas, the charge air cooler, and the cylinder cooler. At full engine load, the fuel savings associated with this recovered heat are equivalent to about 22 × 106 Btu/hr. The resulting cogeneration heat rate is 3990 Btu/kWh, compared to a typical electric utility heat rate of 10,000 Btu/kWh. Economic analysis indicates that the first year pre-tax simple payback for the overall cogeneration system is approximately 5 years. Paper published with permission.

Automated Juice Room Control

This presentation will identify the control processes and variables associated with juice room control and explain the fundamentals of computer control methods. At the heart of the discussion will be the construction and operation of a prototype system. Paper published with permission.

Results of Energy Audits Conducted in Various Citrus Plants During 1979–80

The majority of the energy consumed by citrus processors is used to produce concentrated citrus products. During the 1979–80 Florida citrus season, over 193 million boxes of fruit were processed into concentrate which required approximately 12 trillion Btu of energy, or an equivalent of 2 million barrels of oil. This equates to one barrel of oil consumed for every 100 boxes of fruit processed. Boilers used around 4.3 trillion Btu of this energy to generate approximately 3 billion lbs of steam, most of which was used to evaporate 8.7 billion lbs of water. In addition, feed mills consumed approximately 6.5 trillion Btu to produce over 870,000 tons of feed. A renewed interest in the role of energy in processing has been created by rapidly rising energy costs. According to energy experts, relief is not eminent, and energy costs are expected to continue to rise at two to five percent above the general inflation rate. Unless overall energy consumption is reduced, or economical alternative energy sources are found, the citrus industry may face serious reductions in its profit margins. Paper published with permission.

Microcomputer Control of Commercial Citrus Taste Evaporators

Food processing (and related industries) ranks sixth among all major industrial groups in the utilization of energy in the United States (16). Because of this high ranking, the food processing industry is included in government sponsored programs to conserve energy. These programs often support the demonstration of some energy saving techniques in a typical food plant as an example for the industry. Paper published with permission.

Fluidized Bed Combustion Packaged Boilers

Approximately 20 years ago, the National Coal Board, the British Coal Utilization Research Association, and the Central Electricity Generating Board, of the United Kingdom, in a joint venture, established a Research and Development Program covering Fluidized Bed Combustion Coal-Fired Boiler equipment. The primary objective of the program was to develop technology for the firing of high sulphur coal in a fluidized bed combustion process to generate steam in an environmentally acceptable manner. During the 1960’s, the accomplishments were significant, with the technology developed clearly indicating consideration should be given to boilers utilizing a fluidized bed combustion process for firing coal as well as other fuels. Paper published with permission.

Assessing Microcomputer Applications

Computer installations have been widely heralded as the tools required for the belt tightening operations induced by expensive energy, expensive labor and expensive money. The intent of this discussion is to provide a beginning basis for evaluation of the potential of micro and mini computer system applications. These general areas of discussion emerge: 1. When are computers likely to be appropriate? 2. What is the technical feasibility of the application? 3. Is there a history for such applications? 4. What will be the cost of the application and what benefits are already identifiable? Paper published with permission.