Total reuse of surplus water from the soap plant at Unilever Andina Bolivia
As a solution to the problem, the following objectives were raised: (a) establish water and energy consumption in the water recycling system; (b) Evaluate the performance of the cooling tower and optimize the water transport system in the recycling system; (c) determine the financial viability of the implementation of the improvements in the transportation system.
The most important results of the study were:
- Eventually, 8 - 9 m3 of hot water is discarded per 16-hour workday, representing 142.8 kWh of unused energy; 541.2 kWh of energy is consumed in the transport system.
- The cooling tower operates only at 5% of its design capacity, with a temperature drop of only 2 °C. Ensuring a drop of 10 ° C, surpluses will be avoided. A change of diameters (to 4”) in 3 lines of the transport system produces a saving of 46, 29% in energy consumption and an increase in water transport capacity by 3.6 times its current capacity.
- The financial viability of the change in diameter in the lines of the pumping system is positive in the two alternatives proposed, with the following results:
- Diameter change in 3 lines. Galvanized steel option: VAN = 137 997.16 Bs .; IRR = 17.79%; Investment recovery period of 7.37 years in a life time of 20 years. PVC option: VAN = 163 334.63 Bs; IRR = 66.61%; investment recovery period of 1.65 years in a project life of 10 years.
- Diameter change of 2 transport lines from lower to upper tank. Galvanized steel option: VAN = 132 917.92 Bs; IRR = 31.42%; recovery period of 3.80 years in a lifetime of 20 years. PVC option: VAN = 116 219.81 Bs; IRR = 111.45%; recovery period of 0.97 years in a life period of 10 years.
Responsible:
Ramiro Escalera Ph. D.
E-mail: rescalera@upb.edu
Researchers:
Ramiro Escalera Ph. D.
Eduardo Rivera A., Est.
Javier Flores A., Est.