Analisis Eksergi Kondensor pada Destilasi Produksi Bioetanol dari Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit

Abstract

The increasing energy demand in Indonesia, coupled with the decline in fossil fuel reserves, has driven the search for sustainable alternative energy sources, one of which is biomass-based bioethanol. Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) as agricultural waste have significant potential to be converted into bioethanol. This study aims to design an optimum distillation condenser for bioethanol production from EFB using Aspen Plus software, as well as to analyze exergy destruction, mass balance, and energy balance in the system. Simulation results produced a Shell and Tube Horizontal type BEM condenser design with a heat transfer surface area of 2.2871 m², outer tube diameter of 19.05 mm, inner tube diameter of 14.83 mm, 34 tubes each with a length of 1200 mm, and a shell diameter of 205 mm (outer) and 219.08 mm (inner). Exergy analysis showed exergy destruction values of 0.011 kW and 0.009 kW for distillation condenser units I and II, respectively, which increased to 0.114 kW and 0.091 kW after scaling. Mass and energy balance analyses indicated that the total mass and energy entering the system were equivalent to the total leaving, confirming that the system operated under balanced conditions. The condenser optimization is expected to enhance the efficiency of bioethanol production and promote more sustainable utilization of EFB waste.