Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study of a Multi-Feed Integrated Biomass Conversion System

Saeed Ghanbari, Venkatesh Meda, Catherine Hui Niu
2018 Advances in Agricultural Sciences  
Biomass is recognized as a potential source for sustainable production of fuels. Forestry residuals has been used for the small-scale production of biodiesel since early 1800s. However, the biofuel market has not been suitable in recent decades due to the pronounced drop in the worldwide price of petroleum. In addition, environmental issues, low reactor yield, and uncertainties in biomass feedstock have challenged process design engineers. Hence, extensive research has been reported to address
more » ... hese issues. Pyrolysis and gasification processes can produce a wide range of fuels, chemical, solvents, and other valuable products from biomass. Scholars attempted to optimize various operating parameters, find innovative approaches to increase the reaction yield, and develop novel product upgrading techniques such as bio-oil upgrading; yet, limited studies were focused on implementation of these methods for a multi-feed integrated biomass production plant. Recent findings have created the foundational blocks for design of high-tech integrated biomass conversion systems. This paper is focused on conceptual design and feasibility study of such systems incorporating the strategies and technologies at hand. The available biomass conversion technologies for different feedstocks are combined in this design. To this end, a new plant is designed and simulated in ASPEN PLUS simulator using ASPEN Economic Analyzer to perform an economic analysis. Techno-feasibility results suggest that this plant is not profitable even after incorporating the new technologies and optimizing the system.
doaj:1b5823890a964146a5ba9aa047f17cf7 fatcat:tpnv3m7ufzfmfdebk2vm6y426u