Energy
A. Mohammadi; B. Ghobadian
Abstract
A batch process was developed for the production of biodiesel from high free fatty acid feedstocks. The mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, caused due to applying the hierarchical procedure together with Malone’s algorithm for the conceptual design, was solved. Meanwhile, the optimum ...
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A batch process was developed for the production of biodiesel from high free fatty acid feedstocks. The mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, caused due to applying the hierarchical procedure together with Malone’s algorithm for the conceptual design, was solved. Meanwhile, the optimum states of major process parameters such as the utilization of the process equipment, paralleling, splitting, and the merging of unit operations, the process cycle time (CT), and the combination of batch and continuous units were determined. Based on the present optimization study, the optimum value of the process cycle time and the optimum number of the esterification reactors in series were obtained as 3.257 h/batch and 3 stages respectively. The batch process was found to be suitable for a capacity of less than 260 tons/yr, while the continuous process was suitable for a capacity of greater production rates. The results showed that the production rate had a direct effect on the economic potential of the process and that it should be set at its maximum possible practical value. Also, the break-even point for the optimum state occurred at the production rate of 130 tons/yr.
Energy
Abbas Mohammadi; Barat Ghobadian
Abstract
A continuous process was designed and optimized at a conceptual stage for the biodiesel production from waste vegetable oils. Unlike previous studies, the process was optimized taking into account the technical and economic considerations, simultaneously, to find the optimum operating conditions fort ...
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A continuous process was designed and optimized at a conceptual stage for the biodiesel production from waste vegetable oils. Unlike previous studies, the process was optimized taking into account the technical and economic considerations, simultaneously, to find the optimum operating conditions fort he commercial scale productions. The effect of major variables on the yield of the process was studied by modeling esterification and transesterification reactors. The mole fraction of free fatty acids (FFAs) in the feedstock, production rate, conversion and molar ratio of the reactants in both reactors were chosen as major variables. By considering the economic potential as the objective function of the process optimization, the optimum mole fraction of FFA was obtained as about 0.50 (24 wt %). Also, the optimum values of the conversion and molar ratio of the reactants in the esterification and transesterification reactors were found as 82-89 % (depending on the different production rates), 11:1 and 96 %, 8:1 respectively. It was found that the economic potential increases linearly as the production rate increases. Therefore, the production rate should be set at its maximum possible practical value. The break-even point at the optimum values of these variables, as mentioned above, occurs at the production rate of 157 ton/yr.