Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7007462 | Chemical Engineering Research and Design | 2015 | 41 Pages |
Abstract
This study proposes a process design methodology based on the combined use of process simulation in Super Pro Designer with economic, environmental and energetic balances implemented in Matlab and heat integration using Aspen Energy Analyzer. We model a 2.4Â MMgal/year alkali-catalyzed biodiesel process using vegetable oil and a 40Â MMgal/year dry-grind corn based bioethanol production plant. Then, we analyse the cost, the environmental impact, and the energy required to produce one gallon of the desired biofuel. Finally, we determine the optimal heat integration strategy of the plant in order to reduce the cost, environmental impact and energy consumption associated to the biofuel production. In the case of biodiesel the cost is reduced from 2.27Â $/gal to 2.19Â $/gal, the environmental impact from 4.52Â kgCO2eq/gallon to 4.26Â kgCO2eq/gallon and the energy from 8274Â BTU/gal to 8410Â BTU/gal. Reductions are also obtained in the bioethanol plant in which the cost is reduced from 1.79Â $/gal to 1.75Â $/gal, the environmental impact from 4.97Â kgCO2eq/gal to 4.77Â kgCO2eq/gal and the energy from 24,681Â BTU/gal to 23,168Â BTU/gal.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Filtration and Separation
Authors
Robert Brunet, Dieter Boer, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez, Laureano Jiménez,