An atmospheric cooling ash tank is used during the liquefaction process to lower the temperature of the syrup from 107°C to 93°C, which generates a continuous emission of steam. Through the implementation of the "Pitch Technology" methodology, which consists of crossing lines that need process heat with lines that have residual heat, it was established that the syrup line can use the steam from the liquefaction tank to raise the temperature from 50°C to 70°C, which is the temperature required in the clarification process. By means of this solution, the steam consumption standard of the enzyme refinery was reduced from 0.90 to 0.87 tons of steam per tons of syrup produced.

Project Results

Savings of USD 65,000/year with an investment of USD$99,000 and a return on investment period of 2.2 years