Acompanhamento do processo de produção de energia pela cogeração de uma indústria de cimento - Estudo de caso

Abstract

The cement industry is characterized by high energy consumption, making the pursuit of energy efficiency a strategy for reducing operating costs and environmental impacts. In this context, energy cogeneration stands out as an efficient and sustainable alternative by utilizing waste heat from the combustion processes involved in cement production. The objective of this study is to analyze the performance of the energy cogeneration system of a cement industry through a case study developed at Companhia Industrial de Cimento Apodi – Quixeré Unit, which is a reference in the application of waste heat recovery technology (WHRS) for electricity generation. The methodology was based on thermodynamic modeling of the Rankine cycle, using real temperature, pressure, and power data collected daily before and after maintenance performed during a major shutdown of the kiln. Based on this, the thermal efficiencies of the system were calculated to compare both scenarios. The results indicated improvement in the system after the interventions, evidenced by an increase in maximum power generated from 3.7 MW to 3.9 MW and an increase of approximately one percentage point in the thermal efficiency of the cycle. It can be concluded that the maintenance carried out contributed to better use of residual thermal energy and increased the operational reliability of the system, highlighting the relevance of cogeneration as a strategic solution for the industry