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SRI's expertise in renewable energy has focused on boosting steam production and increasing energy efficiency in the factory.
SRI has developed significant capabilities and intellectual property including patented technologies. These include:
Combustion systems
- The SRI Swirl spreader and advanced secondary air supply system have been developed, tested and demonstrated for increased combustion output, stability and reduced capital costs. This is a patented technology; and
- Appraisal of technical and engineering aspects associated with the operation of a high-pressure boiler as a fired heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). This is an enabling technology for the introduction of factory integrated advanced cycle gasification power generation technology.
Advanced cycles - Gasification
SRI is collaborating with Hokkaido and Monash universities in a major Japanese Government funded project aimed at developing a gasifier that produces a high heating value, low tar content product. SRI's role is the development of CFD (CFX) and process (HYSYS.Process) models with which to translate bench scale gasification data into a thermodynamically optimised gasification cycle.
Bagasse drying
- The development of a dewatering mill concept for both retrofit applications to existing mills and as a new stand-alone unit. The dewatering technology is capable of reducing final bagasse moisture from nominally 50% down to less than 43%;
- The development of a direct contact furnace or flue gas bagasse dryer design; and
- Techniques to maximise in-situ drying of large-scale bagasse stockpiles are under development.
Factory steam consumption
- The development of a design for an energy efficient Roberts evaporator;
- Development of enhanced design of batch and continuous vacuum pans to maximise productivity of crystallisation and increase steam efficiency; and
- Process steam reduction measures have been prioritised as a result of a major investigation of steam reduction options, associated quantified reductions, impact on power export and costs.
Modelling capabilities
SRI directs its expertise in CFD modelling to enhance boiler combustion characteristics and reduce ash erosion. SRI's modelling services and capabilities include:
- Boiler circulation analysis;
- Detailed performance simulation of steam consumption in major process units including juice heaters, evaporator and pans;
- Integrated power production and process simulation including "pinch" analysis for optimal steam economy; and
- Whole of value chain (harvesting, transport and raw sugar manufacture) analysis of biomass (harvest residue) recovery options.