Track: Energy Efficiency

Abstract

The work aims to energy saving in the curing process of Virginia tobacco, introducing solar energy and energy efficiency in a current stove. A prototype of an improved stove was adapted from a bulk-curing type stove, adding a roof solar air collector, thermal insulation, and a new heat recovery system.  The prototype was measured in six complete tests and compared with the conventional one during four tests. For an average process, the energy-saving of the proposed stove was 22.3% and the reduction of curing time 16.7%, with an average gas consumption of 0.60 m3/kg. By campaign, this had a 20% of production increase, 6.7% of energy saving, and 41.03% of emissions reduction. The collector roof represents 65.7% of the total energy savings with a production of 0.77 MJ by dollar invested. The replacement project has financial and socio-economic feasibility. The socio-economic evaluation improves indicators compared with the conventional stove increasing the net profit by 33.37%; the net present value by 40.9%; the benefit-cost ratio by 7.9%; and the internal rate of return by 14.3%. The investment payback was in the half of the third year.