Exergy analysis of the sugar production process from sugar beets

The exergy analysis of chemical processes is a powerful tool for process optimization, taking into account both ecological and economical restrictions. This study deals with the application of exergy analysis to the industrial process of production of white refined sugar beets. Energy and exergy band diagrams are presented. The exergetic performance of the process is calculated. The locations and magnitudes of exergy losses are determined and possible improvements are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.