![]() ![]() For example, the smooth ramp-up provided by the VSDs protects the mechanical equipment, thus prolonging its lifetime and reducing maintenance costs. The switch to electricity has also delivered a number of operational benefits. Lower maintenance and enhanced reliability This creates about one million dollars (US) a year of additional revenue for Compania Azucarera Hondureña S.A., resulting in a payback time for the MV drive investment of about one year. This now enables the steam to be used exclusively to generate electricity, resulting in an additional energy generation of 10,300 kW/h, which is used to feed the drives.įurthermore, excess energy of about 6,550 kW can be sold to the grid. The steam turbines that were driving the cane mill have therefore been replaced by ABB ACS1000 medium voltage (MV) variable speed drives and induction motors. Clearly, there was a major efficiency advantage to be gained by transitioning the production process to operate on electricity. In contrast, turbines with high-pressure boilers, dedicated to power generation, require only 12.7 pounds of steam to produce a kilowatt. Each turbine required 35 pounds of steam to produce 1 kilowatt (kW) of power - so about 131,000 pounds of steam were required to drive the complete cane mill. In the past, the Santa Matilde sugar plant needed five 750 kW steam turbines to drive the cane mill, resulting in a total power demand of 3,750 kW. ![]() The switch from steam to electrical power - payback in only a year Therefore, it became a very attractive financial proposition for the Santa Matilde plant to make the optimum use of the energy it produced to create a greater surplus available for selling into the local grid. The cost of electricity in Honduras is relatively high because it is mainly produced by fuel oil. This virtuous energy circle means that, under normal operating conditions, there is enough electricity produced locally to satisfy the plant’s total energy requirements with sometimes enough left over to export into the grid. Traditionally, sugar cane plants burn their bagasse to produce steam that is used to both generate electricity as well as running the steam turbines that drive the cane-crushing mills. It is aiming to increase its capacity to 12,000 tons per day. ![]() The plant operates 155 days per year during the sugar cane harvest period from November to May, and can process 10,200 tons of cane per day. The Santa Matilde plant belongs to Compania Azucarera Hondureña S.A., founded in 1938 and one of the largest sugar companies in Honduras, Central America. Furthermore, the process runs much smoother than before.” Today, we are not only energy self-sufficient, we have also increased our annual revenues by approximately one million dollars by selling excess energy to the grid. The overall energy efficiency of the Santa Matilde plant has increased tremendously. “We are very pleased with the performance of ABB’s ACS1000 variable speed drives. Jorge Arriaga from the Santa Matilde plant, said: The customer is satisfied with the results. And that electricity feeds the new ABB ACS1000 VSDs and induction motors, providing the plant machinery with both exceptional energy-efficiency and precision control. The reason for this impressive improvement is that previously the plant’s cane-crushing machinery was driven by steam produced by burning bagasse - the fibrous waste product left after sugar cane is processed.īut now the steam is used to propel turbines that generate electricity. In fact, the plant is now so energy-efficient that it sells its excess electricity into the local grid – bringing in an extra one million dollars (US) of income every year. SANTA MATILDE produces high yield of excellent fruit quality and improved flesh colour.The Santa Matilde sugar cane processing plant in the Honduras is enjoying the sweet taste of success thanks to ABB’s variable speed drives (VSDs). When flowers appear, 2 to 4 bee hives should be placed per ha. Pollination: Approximately 7 male flowers develop for every female flower. The flesh has deep red colour with firm texture, excellent flavour and high brix. The rind has a medium green colour with light green stripes. Plant Population: 4,000 to 8,000 plants per ha.Īdaption: SANTA MATILDE is recommended for main season and early production.įruit Characteristics: Large, elongated fruit with weight of 11 - 14kg. Also used as an excellent pollinator for seedless watermelon. ![]() High yielding, with high brix and excellent tasteĪ vigorous plant with high, uniform yield.Deep red, firm flesh with long shelf life.A large all-sweet type, hybrid watermelon with excellent quality ![]()
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