
USE OF BIODIGESTERS AS A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE STEAM PRODUCTION IN A DISTILLERY INDUSTRY
author(s): Ojeda M, Paredes GA, Zayas mm
A distillery is an industrial facility dedicated to the production of alcoholic beverages through the distillation process. Many of these use firewood as fuel, generating high CO₂ emissions and particulate pollutants, which negatively affect the environment. Historically, this issue has driven the search for more sustainable alternatives, such as the use of biogas. The implementation of biodigesters powered by biodegradable substrates is a workable choice to significantly reduce conventional fuel consumption, minimize environmental impact, and keep an energy output comparable to that generated with firewood. This study analyzes the technical and economic feasibility of implementing biodigesters in distillery boilers, using waste generated in the production process as raw material. To this end, a biodigester system was designed to meet the specific needs of a distillery in Paraguay, considering variables such as daily waste volume, retention time, and biogas production. Currently, this industry consumes 72,000 kilograms of firewood per day to fuel its boilers. However, the results show that by implementing a biodigester with 30% bagasse as a substrate, firewood consumption can be reduced to 10,940 kilograms per day. The incorporation of biodigesters powered by bagasse offers a sustainable solution for energy generation in the distillery industry, contributing to environmental conservation and the efficient use of natural resources.
KEYWORDS: Biodigesters, Biogas, Boilers, bagasse, biomass, saturated steam.