Avillez, Francisco MirandaDuarte, Elizabeth Fernandes de AlmeidaFreitas, Manuel Rodrigues2009-03-032009-03-032007http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/570Mestrado em Olivicultura, Azeite e Azeitona de Mesa - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThis study aims to evaluate the energy potential of the solid residues of the presses of Alentejo, by applying electricity cogeneration and generation technologies using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and to show the respective economic analysis. The option for an ORC system at the centre of this analysis was justified based on the advantages and disadvantages of this cycle in relation to the water steam cycle. As an alternative, cogeneration technology was chosen, with a steam boiler and condensation steam turbine. The objective is the attainment of electric and thermal energy and the elimination of the solid residues to preserve the environment. In the mixture of extracted olive husk and olive leaves with the weighed percentages of 81% and 19% respectively, the following parameters are determined: average moisture content (9,64%); averages fat content (1,50%); and inferior calorific energy (4 819 kcal/kg). Consequently there are calculations for two alternatives: one with a central ORC and another one of cogeneration, producing about 2 MW power by consuming the available biomass. In the economic analysis the following criteria are used: BLUt (unitary liquid benefit) in the useful time (t), the VLA (actualized liquid value) and the TIR (internal tax of profitability).porolive huskbagaço de azeitonapresseslagargeneration of electricitygeração de electricidadeeconomic analysisanalise economicaorganic rankine cycleAlentejomaster thesis