Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2017
24th ABCM International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
A Study on the Use of Agricultural Residues Plantain Productions in Nicaragua for the Generation of Electricity.
Submission Author:
Caryl Andre Barquero Schutze , SP
Co-Authors:
Caryl Andre Barquero Schutze
Presenter: Caryl Andre Barquero Schutze
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2017.COB17-2194
Abstract
This paper aims to present the properties of the banana pseudo stems as a possible fuel source and its economic feasibility. With ash contents and dry mass contents similar to the sugar cane already used in the sugar mill furnaces of Nicaragua during the off-season, the banana pseudo stem is a residue of the production of banana and plantain fruit, both of the Musacea family of semi perennial crops. For every ton of fruit produced, the equivalent amount of “green” residue derived from this part of the plant is 2.41 tons making it a highly “wasteful” harvest. In the case of Nicaragua, most banana plantations are located at close proximity from the major sugar mills that are already, or in the process of producing electricity not only for their internal use, but also for the nation, enabling the potential use of the residue during the off-season as a fuel source. Considering this scenario, the use of the pseudo stem is neither technically or economically feasible due to a low Net Calorific Value of 5.54 MJ/kg at 50% humidity. The high moisture content is the main factor in the low NCV and high cost of transportation that in its turn would result in an elevated leveled cost of energy of 0.114 USD/kWh with comparison to other fuels. However, a sensibility analysis of the LCOE shows that a decrease in transportation costs due to the water content could significantly augment the economic feasibility of the endeavor.
Keywords
renewable energy, Banana Pseudo Stem, bagasse, Nicaragua, LCOE
