Optimization of emergy sustainability index for biodiesel supply network design. (1st March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Jingzheng; Tan, Shiyu; Yang, Le; Goodsite, Michael Evan; Pang, Chengfang; Dong, Lichun
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 92(2015)
• Page Start: 312
• Page End: 321
• Publication Date: 2015-03-01
• Subjects: Biodiesel -- Supply chain -- Emergy sustainability index -- Sustainability -- Life cycle perspective; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.12.066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Highlights: A MINLP model for designing sustainable biodiesel supply network is developed. Emergy sustainability index is used as the objective to be maximized. Multiple alternatives in each stage of biodiesel supply network are considered. Life cycle perspective is incorporated in the design of biodiesel supply network. Abstract: Sustainability is an important and difficult consideration for the stakeholders/decision-makers when planning a biofuel supply network. In this paper, a Mixed-Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP) model was developed with the aim to help the stakeholders/decision-maker to select the most sustainable design. In the proposed model, the emergy sustainability index of the whole biodiesel supply networks in a life cycle perspective is employed as the measure of the sustainability, and multiple feedstocks, multiple transport modes, multiple regions for biodiesel production and multiple distribution centers can be considered. After describing the process and mathematic framework of the model, an illustrative case was studied and demonstrated that the proposed methodology is feasible for finding the most sustainable design and planning of biodiesel supply chains.