Comparative Analysis Of Rice Husk, Coal, And LPG As Sources Of Energy In Cement Production Using DWSIM Package

Abstract:

This research conducted a comparative analysis of energy generation and cost efficiency using three different fuels—rice husk, LPG, and coal—to assess their suitability for heat generation in cement kiln operations. Two sets of simulations were performed using DWSim software. The first simulation maintained a constant flow rate of 10 kg/h for each fuel. The results revealed that rice husk generated 784.24 kW, LPG produced 2931.26 kW, and coal generated 1275.38 kW of energy. In the second simulation, the mass flow rates were adjusted based on an equivalent energy cost basis of ₦20,000 for each fuel type. The mass flow rates were 1000 kg/h for rice husk, 240.96 kg/h for coal, and 16.67 kg/h for LPG. This yielded heat generation of 1638.53 kW for rice husk, 23,767.6 kW for coal, and 2912.18 kW for LPG. These results indicate that coal provides the highest energy output, followed by LPG and rice husk when considering both simulations. While LPG outperformed rice husk in terms of energy efficiency, rice husk remains a viable and sustainable alternative, especially in Northern Nigeria, where it is readily available. This study highlights the trade-offs between energy efficiency, cost, and environmental sustainability when selecting alternative fuels for cement production.