Comparative exergoeconomic analysis of single, two and three stage spray drying systems

The world’s annual powder traders expected to reach a figure of 13.20 MT by the end of 2024; expanding at a growth rate higher than 4% during the period 2019–2024. Also, skim / whole milk powder production recorded a steep rise of 50% in last three decades. In view of energy-intensive operations associated with milk powder production activity; it’s imperative to perform economic assessment of milk powder production units on qualitative basis. In this paper, the thorough exergoeconomic examination of single stage, two stages, and three stages spray drying has been performed so as to present the outcomes in the form of cost rate associated with exergy destruction, exergoeconomic factor for each of the subunits, total operational cost rate and specific manufacturing costs etc. The cost rate associated with exergy destruction (Rs. hr −1 ) for each of the above-mentioned drying techniques were ascertained as 13,662.69, 26,244.46 and 3552.84respectively. Similarly, total operational cost rate (Rs. hr −1 ) were computed as 14,020.18, 26,835.88 and 3681.87 respectively. Further, specific manufacturing cost (Rs. kg −1 ) pertaining to skim milk powder production was found out to be 7.23, 13.80 and 29.22 respectively. Additionally, a comparative assessment of exergy and exergoeconomic entities is also presented in this paper.