Energy Management Study of Boiler in an Alcohol Refining Factory in Ethiopia

Energy Audit is a systematic approach to decision-making in the area of energy management. An energy audit is to identify the opportunities to reduce energy expenses applicable to domestic or industrial. It attempts to balance the total energy inputs with its use, and serves to identify all the energy streams in a facility. Energy is one of the major factors for the economic development of a nation. In case of developing countries the energy sector gains attraction and importance [7, 8] in view of ever increasing energy need to match the increasing population. This sector needs huge investments, business opportunities and more employment. To meet global competition one area of focus is to reduce the cost of the product/ adopting Green or Eco policies for project without compromising customer satisfaction. The customer is satisfied only when the overall cost of the project is less and less operational procedure and least maintenance. The energy audit plays a role to [1,2] analyze energy efficiency, optimizing the operational parameters, best operating, economic operational conditions and mode of conservation of energy. The study was made in an Alcohol Refining Factory, wherein nine energy consuming systems were identified and standard energy audits were done for pumps, compressors, boiler, distillery columns and prime movers. This paper deals with the energy audit carried out for the boiler in detail and the outcome. The result showed that nearly 258kL per annum on fuel expenses could be saved. The suitable methods or suggestions were recommended to the authorities in the industry to improvise on a few areas such as water treatment plant, enhancing the percentage of excess air and replacing the existing boiler with matching sized boiler as the industry needed.