Evaluación de un sistema de evaporación para concentrar levadura inactiva, reemplazando el proceso de centrifugación

Abstract

This project evaluates a thermal evaporation system as an alternative to the centrifugation process for the concentration of inactive yeast and the recovery of ethanol in a single distillery plant. The objective is to design and analyze a single-effect evaporator that reduces alcohol losses, improves process energy efficiency, and increases operational profitability. The hypothesis proposes that replacing centrifugation with a controlled evaporation system enables more efficient ethanol recovery, which is justified by its technical, economic, and environmental impact on the agroindustrial sector. The project development was based on the design and simulation of a falling film evaporator, using mass and energy balances, thermodynamic correlations, and process simulation with Aspen Plus. Operating parameters, physicochemical properties of the solution, and thermal and mechanical design criteria were considered under steady-state operating assumptions. The results showed adequate yeast concentration up to 80 °Brix, significant ethanol recovery, and favorable thermal performance of the system. The economic analysis demonstrated positive profitability indicators when compared to the centrifugation process. It is concluded that the proposed evaporation system represents a technically and economically viable alternative for improving process efficiency and resource utilization in the evaluated distillery plant. Keywords: Thermal evaporation, Alcohol recovery, Economic analysis, Process simulation