10. Lignocellulosic biofuels process synthesis and intensification: Superstructure-based methodology
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Paola Ibarra-Gonzalez
Abstract
Advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass have been presented as a promising alternative to transportation fuels due to their many advantages over fossil fuels and first-generation biofuels. Some of these advantages are lower GHG emissions and minimal negative impacts on food production. However, nowadays, fossil fuels are still being considered the dominant source of transportation energy. This is because the production of advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass is still in early stages of research and development and their success depends on the technology and total production costs. Synthesis and integration of new production facilities can reduce the production costs of biofuels and increase their viability. In this chapter, a systematic methodology framework based on rigorous simulations and a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) model for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid (BtL) transportation fuels is presented. First, five process routes including thermochemical conversion, upgrading, and separation technologies are proposed. Then, the process simulator Aspen Plus V8.8 is used to perform rigorous simulation of the five process routes. The simulations and experimental data taken from the literature are used to predict conversion and separation factors, and capital and energy costs of unit operations. From the simulation results, the possibility of combining unit operations between the thermochemical routes, as well as mass and energy integration, are explored. Thereafter, the five process routes are interconnected and transformed into a processing superstructure. The superstructure is defined as a MINLP problem coded in GAMS 24.5.6, which sets the objective to minimize the total annual cost (TAC) of BtL fuels under different cases and integration scenarios. Under different product profile constraints, two network flowsheets are identified as optimal technology routes for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels, which are then rigorously simulated for benchmark purposes. From the two optimal case scenarios, different upgrading and separation configuration alternatives as well as process intensification possibilities are proposed. The results demonstrate that this methodology can explore and generate optimal total biofuels production processes.
Abstract
Advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass have been presented as a promising alternative to transportation fuels due to their many advantages over fossil fuels and first-generation biofuels. Some of these advantages are lower GHG emissions and minimal negative impacts on food production. However, nowadays, fossil fuels are still being considered the dominant source of transportation energy. This is because the production of advanced biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass is still in early stages of research and development and their success depends on the technology and total production costs. Synthesis and integration of new production facilities can reduce the production costs of biofuels and increase their viability. In this chapter, a systematic methodology framework based on rigorous simulations and a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) model for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid (BtL) transportation fuels is presented. First, five process routes including thermochemical conversion, upgrading, and separation technologies are proposed. Then, the process simulator Aspen Plus V8.8 is used to perform rigorous simulation of the five process routes. The simulations and experimental data taken from the literature are used to predict conversion and separation factors, and capital and energy costs of unit operations. From the simulation results, the possibility of combining unit operations between the thermochemical routes, as well as mass and energy integration, are explored. Thereafter, the five process routes are interconnected and transformed into a processing superstructure. The superstructure is defined as a MINLP problem coded in GAMS 24.5.6, which sets the objective to minimize the total annual cost (TAC) of BtL fuels under different cases and integration scenarios. Under different product profile constraints, two network flowsheets are identified as optimal technology routes for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels, which are then rigorously simulated for benchmark purposes. From the two optimal case scenarios, different upgrading and separation configuration alternatives as well as process intensification possibilities are proposed. The results demonstrate that this methodology can explore and generate optimal total biofuels production processes.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors XIII
- 1. Generalities about process intensification 1
- 2. Microreactors: Design methodologies, technology evolution, and applications to biofuels production 15
- 3. Heat transfer enhancement technologies for improving heat exchanger performance 51
- 4. Reactive absorption of carbon dioxide: Modeling insights 79
- 5. Optimal design methodology for homogeneous azeotropic distillation columns 125
- 6. Graphical tools for designing intensified distillation processes: Methods and applications 145
- 7. Optimization methodologies for intensified distillation processes with flexible heat integration networks 181
- 8. Conception, design, and development of intensified hybrid-bioprocesses 211
- 9. Design of hybrid distillation and vapor permeation or pervaporation systems 243
- 10. Lignocellulosic biofuels process synthesis and intensification: Superstructure-based methodology 277
- Index 327
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors XIII
- 1. Generalities about process intensification 1
- 2. Microreactors: Design methodologies, technology evolution, and applications to biofuels production 15
- 3. Heat transfer enhancement technologies for improving heat exchanger performance 51
- 4. Reactive absorption of carbon dioxide: Modeling insights 79
- 5. Optimal design methodology for homogeneous azeotropic distillation columns 125
- 6. Graphical tools for designing intensified distillation processes: Methods and applications 145
- 7. Optimization methodologies for intensified distillation processes with flexible heat integration networks 181
- 8. Conception, design, and development of intensified hybrid-bioprocesses 211
- 9. Design of hybrid distillation and vapor permeation or pervaporation systems 243
- 10. Lignocellulosic biofuels process synthesis and intensification: Superstructure-based methodology 277
- Index 327
