Techno-economical investigations into the feasibility of an economically viable small size ice-making machine | |
| Author | Bhave, Atul Gopal |
| Call Number | AIT SSPR no. ET-82-10 |
| Subject(s) | Renewable energy sources Ice--Manufacture |
| Note | A special study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Concurrent with the current research activities on development of equipment operating on alternative, renewable energy resources, this study deals with the techno-economical viability of one such type of equipment, viz. a small-size ice-making machine suitable for use in remote areas where no electricity is available. One such machine, working on the intermittent ammonia-water absorption cycle and designed to produce 40 kg. of ice per cycle, is at present being developed in A.I.T., and is designed such that it can be adapted to operate on any source of energy supplying heat to operate it. Ice is a commodity which is available at a comparatively low price in Thailand. This is because that water used is obtained from rainwater, groundwater or from nearby canals, which are very common, Bence water is available at a low cost. This study deals, first, with the variation of selling price of ice with distance from the nearest ice factory. This has been done for two regions, one based in Bangkok and one in Songkhla. The second part studies the variation of the maximum allowable investment with payback period for the machine being developed in A.I.T. Solar energy and various biomass and conventional fossil-fuels have been compared for viability in terms of the above variation for different selling prices of ice at different distances from the city. The results indicate that rice husk is one of the most viable fuels, and considering its availability in Thailand, it is recommended as the most suitable fuel for use on such a machine in Thailand. It is also seen that sugarcane leaves, which are not so abundantly available, and low quality wood and charcoal, which would cause more air pollution, are equally viable fuels. For areas where these fuels are not available, ordinary wood and charcoal become viable when operated at some distance from the city, Of the renewable resources, solar energy and ethanol are shown to be not economically viable sources of energy for such a machine, for reasonably expected payback periods. The third part deals with the variation of maximum allowable investment with daily production for fixed payback period and selling price. The curves plotted for this variation also indicate the minimum the machine must produce daily using different fuels for the machine to be viable under these conditions. The results again indicate that sugarcane leaves and rice husk are the most viable fuels for this machine. |
| Year | 1982 |
| Type | Special Study Project Report (SSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Prida Wibulswas |
| Examination Committee(s) | Bhattacharya, Sribas C. ; Sauter-Servaes, Florian |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | C.D.G. |
| Degree | Special Studies Project Report (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1982 |