Improving Productivity at a Marble Processing Plant Through Energy and Exergy Analysis

Samuel Oghale Oweh, Peter Alenoghena Aigba, Olusegun David Samuel (), Joseph Oyekale, Fidelis Ibiang Abam, Ibham Veza, Christopher Chintua Enweremadu, Oguzhan Der, Ali Ercetin and Ramazan Sener
Additional contact information
Samuel Oghale Oweh: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Delta State University, Abraka, Oleh Campus, Oleh 334109, Nigeria
Peter Alenoghena Aigba: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B 1221, Effurun, Warri 330102, Nigeria
Olusegun David Samuel: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B 1221, Effurun, Warri 330102, Nigeria
Joseph Oyekale: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B 1221, Effurun, Warri 330102, Nigeria
Fidelis Ibiang Abam: Energy, Exergy and Environment Research Group (EEERG), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabar, Calabar 540281, Nigeria
Ibham Veza: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Bung Karno, Jl. Kimia No. 20. Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10320, Indonesia
Christopher Chintua Enweremadu: Department of Mechanical, Bioresources and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Private Bag X6, Florida 1709, South Africa
Oguzhan Der: Department of Marine Vehicles Management Engineering, Maritime Faculty, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma 10200, Türkiye
Ali Ercetin: Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Maritime Faculty, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma 10200, Türkiye
Ramazan Sener: Department of Marine Vehicles Management Engineering, Maritime Faculty, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma 10200, Türkiye

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-30

Abstract: A marble processing plant (MPP) can achieve sustainable development by implementing energy-saving and consumption-reduction technology. Reducing energy loss in such an energy-intensive plant is crucial for overall energy savings. This study establishes an MPP optimization model based on the second law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of mass. Marble is an aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting building material that has boosted economies in European and sub-Saharan African nations. However, high energy costs and scarcity have constrained the industry’s economic potential and hindered the achievement of optimal levels of production. The second law of thermodynamics is adopted to study the irreversibilities, inefficiencies, and exergetic performance of a marble processing plant. The Aspen Plus commercial software application is used to model and generate thermodynamic data, determine energy flow streams and conduct sensitivity and optimization analysis to improve data quality and energetic performance outcomes. From the results, the various scales of the exergetic destruction, efficiencies, and exergetic losses are determined, and recommendations are established. The overall energy and exergy efficiency levels were determined to be 87.43% and 86.84%, respectively, with a total exergetic destruction of 200.61 kW. The reported methodologies, cutting-edge ideas, and solutions will give industrialists and other significant stakeholders in the global manufacturing sector cutting-edge information about energy usage and ways to cut energy losses in both new and existing factory designs, manage energy cost components, and adjust energy efficiency to maximize productivity.

Keywords: exergy; exergetic performance; marble processing; simulation; irreversibilities; efficiency; Aspen Plus model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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