Title: Multi-criteria optimisation of a cane flexi-factory

Authors: Abdel Khoodaruth

Addresses: Mechanical and Production Engineering Department, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

Abstract: The sugar cane industry is at stake due to the fall in prices of sugar. The industry has to re-engineer itself to a cane flexi-factory for its survival. A cane flexi-factory consists of a sugar mills, cogeneration power plant, bio-ethanol distillery, value-added sugars refinery and a bio-fertiliser manufacturing plant. Although one such refinery is in operation in Mauritius, the area of land area under sugar cultivation is decreasing. The outputs of the flexi-factory can be increased through implementation of higher pressure boiler; higher fibre cane; energy cane; cane tops and leaves; addition of a falling thin film evaporator and use drip irrigation technique. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the possible options to optimise the performance of a flexi-factory through the multi-criteria assessment approach. The outcome of the assessment will help policy makers to prioritise the implementation of these alternatives in the short, medium and long term.

Keywords: sugar cane; electricity; cogeneration; multi-criteria assessment; MCA; small islands development states; SIDS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2019.102660

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2019 Vol.15 No.4, pp.457 - 475

Received: 06 Mar 2017
Accepted: 20 Sep 2017

Published online: 01 Oct 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article