A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1996

The energy losses in the thermal energy conversion facilities, heat (mainly steam) distribution and utilisation systems are very high due to a number of reasons such as the use of old and obsolete equipment, poor insulation and instrumentation and inadequate maintenance. Thus the overall energy saving potentials are very high in Vietnam. Between 25% to 49% of total bagasse used in sugar mills can be saved by implementing energy efficiency measures (e.g. excess air control, thermo compressor, quintuple effect of evaporator, etc.). The overall potential of thermal energy savings is about 42% to 45% in the wood mills. Energy savings by reducing excess air ratio is one of the most important energy efficiency measures that can be taken in wood mills (29 to 30% of total wood residues consumption), followed by flue gas temperature control, condensate recovery, and insulation improvement. Energy generation potential have been estimated for each sector considering all their residues would be used in power plants. The potential of energy generation in sugar, rice and wood industries are found to be as high as 17% of total additional national capacity to be installed by the year 2000. By using all bagasse, husk and wood residues as a fuel in power plants the additional benefit from avoided C02, S02, and NOx emission would be approximately 7%, 10.1% and 10.4% of total GHGs emission in the power plants respectively. Coal utilisation that can be potentially reduced due to power generation in the sugar, rice and wood mills would account for about 1.7 million tonnes by year 2000.