F Muñoz, H Perea, J Quiroz, M Reyes and M Velásquez
Ingenio Risaralda S.A, km 2 via la Virginia – Balboa, Risaralda, Colombia; fjmunoz@ingeniorisaralda.com
This study was developed due to the need to find an alternative fuel to supply the growing demand for steam in new processes of the Ingenio Risaralda mill. Coffee husk is obtained from the farms in the region where coffee is processed and arrives at the mill in trucks in loads of 10 t and is unloaded into the feed hoppers. The proportion is established depending on the available amount of bagasse and the behavior of the mixture to obtain the maximum steam generation capacity of the boiler (150 t steam/h and 6550 kPa (950 psi). Coffee husks have a calorific value 2.1 times greater than bagasse and a moisture of 6%, which helps to obtain stability in the maximum generation of steam flow to the productive processes. The maximum yield is independent of the amount of sugarcane processed per hour. Being a biofuel, the use of fossil fuels is reduced, avoiding emissions into the atmosphere. Other benefits are a reduction in the costs of alternative fuels and an increase in the useful life of the bagasse conveyor components to the boiler due to a reduction in the weight they carry.