Genetic Algorithm Approach to Optimize Biodiesel Production by Ultrasonic System
-
Ebrahim Fayyazi
,
Gholamhassan Najafi
Abstract
Ultrasonic processing is an effective tool to attain required mixing while providing the necessary activation energy in the field of biofuels. In this regard, optimization of fast transesterification of waste cooking oil is very important. The goal of this research paper is therefore to determine the effect of important parameters such as methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration (potassium hydroxide), temperature, and horn position on oil conversion to methyl ester in ultrasonic mixing method. Result of experiments showed that the optimum conditions for the transesterification process have been obtained as molar ratio of alcohol to oil as 6:1, catalyst concentration of 1 wt.%, temperature as 45°C, and horn position at the interface of methanol to oil. The results show that the ultrasonic method decreases the reaction time as much as up to eight times compare to the conventional stirring. For practically evaluating the theoretical optimum point using genetic algorithm, the obtained values were verified experimentally. In order to perform this, the catalyst concentration, temperature, and the time of reaction were determined, and the values are 1%, 48°C, and 449s, respectively. For the obtained values, the biodiesel conversion was 93.2%, so that the experimental optimum value is closed to that of the theoretical values. As a result, experimental data confirmed the obtained values from optimization method in this research work.
Acknowledgments
This research work has been conducted at Biofuel Laboratories of Agriculture faculty of Tarbiat Modares University. Hereby the authors would also like to acknowledge the funds provided by Iranian Fuel Conservation Company (IFCO) to carry out this research work.
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©2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin / Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Application of Finite Element Method for Modeling of Multi-tube Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactors
- Using a Fractional Experimental Design for the Study of the Tensile Strength of a Film of Polyethylene Plastic Degradable
- CFD Modeling and Experimental Study of a Spray Dryer Performance
- Computational Antioxidant Capacity Simulation (CAOCS): A Novel Framework of Antioxidant Capacity Profiling
- WPC Soft: Prototype Simulation Software to Predict the Internal Changes During Hot Pressing of Wood Plastic Composites
- Genetic Algorithm Approach to Optimize Biodiesel Production by Ultrasonic System
- Classical and Neural Network–Based Approach of Model Predictive Control for Binary Continuous Distillation Column
- Modeling, Simulation, and Configuration Improvement of Horizontal Ammonia Synthesis Reactor
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Application of Finite Element Method for Modeling of Multi-tube Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactors
- Using a Fractional Experimental Design for the Study of the Tensile Strength of a Film of Polyethylene Plastic Degradable
- CFD Modeling and Experimental Study of a Spray Dryer Performance
- Computational Antioxidant Capacity Simulation (CAOCS): A Novel Framework of Antioxidant Capacity Profiling
- WPC Soft: Prototype Simulation Software to Predict the Internal Changes During Hot Pressing of Wood Plastic Composites
- Genetic Algorithm Approach to Optimize Biodiesel Production by Ultrasonic System
- Classical and Neural Network–Based Approach of Model Predictive Control for Binary Continuous Distillation Column
- Modeling, Simulation, and Configuration Improvement of Horizontal Ammonia Synthesis Reactor
