An energy-limited model of algal biofuel production: Toward the next generation of advanced biofuels

Journal Article · Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · AIChE Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.14251· OSTI ID:1096792

Dunlop, Eric H. ^[1]; Coaldrake, A. Kimi ^[1]; Silva, Cory S. ^[2]; Seider, Warren D. ^[2]

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1. Pan Pacific Technologies, Adelaide SA (Australia)
2. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Algal biofuels are increasingly important as a source of renewable energy. The absence of reliable thermodynamic and other property data, and the large amount of kinetic data that would normally be required have created a major barrier to simulation. Additionally, the absence of a generally accepted flowsheet for biofuel production means that detailed simulation of the wrong approach is a real possibility. This model of algal biofuel production estimates the necessary data and places it into a heuristic model using a commercial simulator that back-calculates the process structure required. Furthermore, complex kinetics can be obviated for now by putting the simulator into energy limitation and forcing it to solve for the missing design variables, such as bioreactor surface area, productivity, and oil content. The model does not attempt to prescribe a particular approach, but provides a guide towards a sound engineering approach to this challenging and important problem.

• Research Organization: Pan Pacific Technologies, Adelaide (Australia)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0003046
• OSTI ID: 1096792
• Report Number(s): DOE-DANF-0003046-FF3
• Journal Information: AIChE Journal, Vol. 59, Issue 12; ISSN 0001-1541
• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
algal biofuel
process systems engineering
model
energy-limited