Economics of trigeneration in a milk processing plant for enhanced energy efficiency and reduced GHG emissions
Student name: Ms Mansi Goel
Guide: Dr Najmur Rahman
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: Vayam Technologies Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Manish Kumar
Abstract: Energy plays an important role in economic development and is a well-defined means to improve
living standards of human beings. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are regarded as twin
pillars of sustainable energy policy. Both strategies are on the path of development in order to
stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Efficient energy use is important in slowing the
energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use.
Trigeneration refers to an energy efficient process of simultaneous heating, cooling and electricity
production. If the heat produced from CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant is used for cooling
as well, the plant is known as trigeneration plant. Trigeneration improves overall efficiency of
plant and reduces operating costs by the utilization of waste heat for cooling purpose. The overall
efficiency of trigeneration system increases to 80 % which is merely 30-35% for a conventional
power plant. A trigeneration plant uses less fuel to produce same output as a conventional power
plant.
Milk industry has the requirement of cooling apart from heating and electrical applications. The
milk processing plant under study is Industrial Progressive India Ltd having daily milk processing
capacity of 6 lakh liters, using coal as boiler fuel for onsite generation of steam while electricity
for milk processing is imported from the grid.
This project aims at studying the economics and environmental analysis of a trigeneration system
in milk industry. The proposed trigeneration system results in significant reduction in the
electricity consumption from the grid; thereby reducing electricity bill and also resulting in a
shorter payback period of 1.31 years using biomass (rice husk) as a fuel.
Keywords: Sustainability, Green House Gas, Trigeneration, Biomass, Energy Efficiency
