Utilización del condensado vegetal como agua de alimentación de la caldera en el procesamiento industrial de cítricos

Abstract

The present work is aimed towards the problem of the sustainable energy development, based on cleaner
production strategy where the result was a technological proposal for the substitution of the soft water coming from the
cooling of compressors and the replacement water of the cooling towers for the vegetable condensed water that is generated
in the evaporator of quintuple effect during the concentration of citrus juices as water of feeding of the boiler in the citrus
processing industry. The evaluations carried out during the 2008-2009 season in the Citrus Industry “Heroes de Girón”.
The characterization of the vegetable condensed threw that it fulfilled the established parameters of quality, showing
oils and fatty concentration smaller than 1 mg/L and lower values of hardness, not being the pH, which was necessary to
rise with 0,125 t/year of sodium hydroxide for its neutralization. The feeding boiler water temperature using vegetable
condensed water reached 71,6 ºC allowing a saving of 79 847 L/year of fuel oil. The technological system designed saved
26 355, 54 CUC, with an investment of 14 240 CUC and production costs of 70,95 CUC having an investment recovery
period of 0,53 year. From the environmental point of view the partial use of the vegetable condensed water avoided the
emission to atmosphere equivalent to 238,42 t of carbon dioxide, the extraction of 30 758 m3 of water and to reduce this
volume of water in the treatment systems.