A shortcut method for the preliminary synthesis of process-technology pathways: An optimization approach and application for the conceptual design of integrated biorefineries

Buping Bao, Denny K. S. Ng, Douglas H. S. Tay, Arturo Jiménez-Gutiérrez, Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Synthesis and screening of technology alternatives is a key process-development activity in the process industries. Recently, this has become particularly important for the conceptual design of biorefineries. This work introduces a shortcut method for the synthesis and screening of integrated biorefineries. A structural representation (referred to as the chemical species/conversion operator) is introduced. It is used to track individual chemicals while allowing for the processing of multiple chemicals in processing technologies. The representation is used to embed potential configurations of interest. An optimization approach is developed to screen and determine optimum network configurations for various technology pathways using simple data. The solution to the optimization formulation provides a quick and effective method for screening and interconnecting the technological pathways and to distributing the flows over the network. Case studies are solved to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1374-1383
Number of pages10
JournalComputers and Chemical Engineering
Volume35
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Aug 2011

Keywords

  • Biofuel
  • Biorefinery
  • Design
  • Reaction pathway
  • Renewables
  • Screening

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications

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