variavel0=<b>Marcos Sandrini</b> - sandrini@cornproducts.com.br Corn Products Brasil
<b>José Antonio Velásquez</b> - velasqz@rla01.pucpr.br Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná PUCPR
<b>Abstract.</b> This work describes exergetic and thermoeconomic analyses of the steam production and distribution department of a corn wet milling plant. Historically averaged data related to the process in operation at present were used in order to quantify main irreversibilities and to compute exergetic costs for each stream of matter or energy. Considering these results modifications were proposed resulting in three alternative productive structures for the utilities department. Thermoeconomic analyses were conducted for each of these proposed cases, calculating exergetic and economic costs. The final assessment of the alternative projects was made by using two economic criteria - internal return rate and liquid present value. Final results showed the economic effect and the potential to reduce fuel consumption for each proposed productive scheme.
<b>Keywords.</b> Exergy analysis, Thermoeconomic analysis, Steam production, distribution system.