Optimal control to handle variations in moisture content and reactor in-feed rate

Kucuksayacigil, Fikri; Roni, Mohammad; Eksioglu, Sandra D.; Bhuiyan, Tanveer H.; Chen, Qiushi

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2022.123650

Optimal control to handle variations in moisture content and reactor in-feed rate

Journal Article · Sun Mar 06 23:00:00 EST 2022 · Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.123650· OSTI ID:1897458

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]; Bhuiyan, Tanveer H. ^[2]; Chen, Qiushi ^[4]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); University of Arkansas
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (United States)
Clemson Univ., SC (United States)

The variations in feedstock characteristics, such as moisture and particle size distribution, lead to an inconsistent flow of feedstock from the biomass pre-processing system to the reactor in-feed system. These inconsistencies result in low on-stream times at the reactor in-feed equipment. This research develops an optimal process control method for a biomass pre-processing system comprised of milling and densification operations to provide the consistent flow of feedstock to a reactor's throat. This method uses a mixed-integer optimization model to identify optimal bale sequencing, equipment in-feed rate, and buffer location and size in the biomass pre-processing system. This method, referred to as the hybrid process control (HPC), aims to maximize throughput over time. We compare HPC with a baseline feed forward process control. Our case study based on switchgrass finds that HPC reduces the variation of a reactor's feeding rate by up to 100% without increasing the operating cost of the biomass pre-processing system for biomass with moisture ranging from 10 to 25%. Additionally, HPC reduces the cost of processing biomass by 0.36%–2.22%, and reduces processing time by 0.35%-2.24%. Furthermore, a biorefinery can adapt HPC to achieve its design capacity.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008255; AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1897458

Journal Information:: Energy, Journal Name: Energy Vol. 248; ISSN 0360-5442

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Optimal control to handle variations in moisture content and reactor in-feed rate

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