5.2. Optimization of the boiler operation
With the present experimental investigation, an adequate methodology to determine the efficiency of bagasse-boilers was established, adapting the ASME and GOST test code evaluations to this particular fuel and type of boiler. The principal drawback of the ASME and GOST methods is the large time required and the high cost, including personnel, of each test, as can be inferred from the description in Section 3. For this reason, a special effort has been devoted to optimize both the test itself and the boiler operation. Important general rules have been extracted from the complete regular tests, and, as a result, a simplified Bagasse-boilers Industrial Test Code [4] has been elaborated. In short, the stationary regime should be reached only one hour before, and during the whole test, allowing maximum fluctuations of 15% for the prescribed steam power and its temperature, 3% for the water temperature and 7% for the steam pressure and the stoichiometric ratio.