Economics of Implementing Solar Thermal Heating Systems in the Textile Industry

Pankaj Kumar, Krishna Kumar Sinha, Bojan Đurin, Mukesh Kumar Gupta, Nishant Saxena, Malay Kumar Banerjee, Nikola Kranjčić, Suraj Kumar Singh and Shruti Kanga
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Pankaj Kumar: Department of Energy Engineering, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Krishna Kumar Sinha: Department of Energy Engineering, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Bojan Đurin: Department of Civil Engineering, University North, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia
Mukesh Kumar Gupta: Department of Electrical Engineering, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Nishant Saxena: Department of Electrical Engineering, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Malay Kumar Banerjee: Department of Research, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Nikola Kranjčić: Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, Hallerovaaleja 7, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia
Suraj Kumar Singh: Centre for Sustainable Development, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
Shruti Kanga: Centre for Climate Change & Water Research, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: This paper analyzes the potential of solar thermal systems for being employed for process heating in cotton-based textile industries. The technological capability of a flat plate collector (FPC) to meet the solar industrial process heating (SIPH) requirement in yarn production is assessed. Moreover, the usability of a parabolic trough collector (PTC) in meeting the technological mandates of SIPH in fabric processing units is critically examined. Further, this paper reports the findings of a study on the potential cost advantage of solar process heating over the conventional process heating practices in cotton-based textile industries. The approach involves the selection of the locations of sample textile industries and the employable solar collector technologies, as well as assessment of financial reward, if any. Eight different cotton-based textile industries located in different geographical domains (in India) are selected. The selected textile industries are situated within the textile hubs existing in different states across India. Analysis of technoeconomic benefit derivable in selected textile industries using FPC for hot water generation and PTC for steam generation is presented. In the case of FPC-based SIPH systems, the maximum value of solar fraction is estimated to be 0.30 and the corresponding estimation for the levelized cost of useful thermal energy (LCUTE) delivered comes out as INR 790/GJ to INR 1020/GJ. On the other hand, in case of parabolic-trough-solar-concentrator-based SIPH systems, LCUTE is estimated in the range of INR 1030/GJ to INR 1610/GJ. From a critical analysis of financial viability in consideration of related factors such as payback time and return on investment in SIPH, it appears that the SIPH systems for hot water generation may be a good choice, whereas SIPH systems for steam generation are seen to have longer payback periods and lower returns on investment, and, therefore, it seems that adequate financial support from central and state governments with additional supports from bilateral or multilateral organizations may enable them to become a sustainable technology option.

Keywords: solar heating; cotton based textile industry; financial analysis; solar collectors; solar irradiance (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: 2022
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