Simulation of an olive oil Extraction Plant

GONZALEZ, M.T.; GOTTAU, L.E.; ROBAYNA, M.N.; CARELLI, A.A.

Rotterdam

Congreso; 9th Euro Fed Lipid Congress; 2011

Euro Fed Lipid

The purpose of the present work is the implementation of a package for the simulation of a small plant of virgin olive oil production. The olive oil plant simulator, prone to be an efficient tool in the parametrical sensitivity study, is easy to use and has a friendly interface for the non-expert user. Besides, it can be useful to optimize the use of resources such as water, energy and auxiliary services. It is able to establish, among other parameters, the make up and recycle water flow rate according to processing conditions as well as to work out the amount of generated waste material and the potential recovery of its high value compounds. Economic equations have been incorporated as well, in order to allow the optimization of the plant according to a chosen criterion. This will be accomplished as a next step in the project.