Superstructure optimization of an integrated algae biorefinery. (2nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galanopoulos, Christos; Kenkel, Philipp; Zondervan, Edwin
• Is Part Of: Computers & chemical engineering. Volume 130(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11-02
• Subjects: Algae -- Integrated biorefinery -- Biodiesel -- Superstructure optimization -- AIMMS; Chemical engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 660.0285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2019.106530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-1354

Abstract

Highlights: A novel framework for the integration of an algae biorefinery with a wheat straw biorefinery is presented. A sensitivity analysis was conducted giving a range of biodiesel costs between 2.90 $/l and 15.50 $/l. The integrated algae biorefinery performed economically better than a stand-alone algae biorefinery. A higher concentration of algae in the cultivation system with bigger lipid output can lead to competitive biodiesel prices. Abstract: A superstructure framework for the techno-economic optimization of an integrated algae biorefinery is presented in this work. The superstructure is developed and implemented in the Advanced Interactive Multidimensional Modeling (AIMMS) software as a mixed integer non-linear model with the objective to minimize the total biodiesel production costs. The integration concept is defined by the use of the wastewater and CO2 emissions from a wheat straw biorefinery as feed to the algae biorefinery and the resulting algae wastes are recycled back to the wheat straw biorefinery to produce value-added chemicals. Seven stages are considered as processing sections in this superstructure, namely cultivation, harvesting and dewatering of algae, algae pretreatment, lipid extraction and remnant treatment. Even though the algae biorefinery is fed with the waste streams of a wheat straw biorefinery, the cultivation stage proved to be still the most expensive stage. The results show that the integrated concept leads to economic advantages over a stand-alone algae biorefinery since there can be up to 80% reduction in the biodiesel production costs.