A Novel Approach to Minimize Energy Requirements and Maximize Biomass Utilization of the Sugarcane Harvesting System in Sri Lanka

Thilanka Ariyawansha, Dimuthu Abeyrathna, Buddhika Kulasekara, Devananda Pottawela, Dinesh Kodithuwakku, Sandya Ariyawansha, Natasha Sewwandi, Bandara Wbmac, Tofael Ahamed and Ryozo Noguchi
Additional contact information
Thilanka Ariyawansha: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
Dimuthu Abeyrathna: Division of Mechanization Technology, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Buddhika Kulasekara: Division of Crop Nutrition, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Devananda Pottawela: Division of Technology Transfer and Development, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Dinesh Kodithuwakku: Economics Biometry & IT Division, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Sandya Ariyawansha: Economics Biometry & IT Division, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Natasha Sewwandi: Processing Technology, Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe 70190, Sri Lanka
Bandara Wbmac: Department of Regional Resource Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Tofael Ahamed: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Ryozo Noguchi: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: Sugarcane harvesting requires a significant amount of energy and time to manage dry leaves after the harvesting process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to minimize the energy requirement to process the cane and dry leaves’ harvesting (CDLH) for sugarcane while, at the same time, maximizing sugar production from cane and energy from dry leaves in Sri Lanka. The CDLH was conceptualized using a novel approach to optimize sugarcane harvesting to maximize biomass supply for energy production while reducing supply chain sugar-loss. The CDLH was investigated for manual harvesting capacity, energy consumption, sugar loss, and biomass energy potential. It was observed that CDLH consumed higher energy compared to the present practices of harvesting. However, the energy used for fieldwork was reduced because of the shifting of cane chopping and cleaning from the field to the factory. Low bulk density of the harvested cane of the CDLH system had a higher energy requirement in transportation. Comparatively, CDLH showed higher biomass energy potential and less sugar loss. High energy potential increases the energy potential to consumption ratio compared to the existing method. Therefore, the theoretical evaluation showed that the CDLH system can produce more than 20 kg of sugar and 879 MJ of electricity when processing 1 t of sugarcane.

Keywords: biomass; cane-energy; cogeneration; sugar; sugarcane harvesting; Sri Lanka (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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