Methodology for the optimal design of an integrated first and second generation ethanol production plant combined with power cogeneration
Résumé
The application of methodologies for the optimal design of integrated processes has seen increased interest
in literature. This article builds on previous works and applies a systematic methodology to an integrated
first and second generation ethanol production plant with power cogeneration. The methodology
breaks into process simulation, heat integration, thermo-economic evaluation, exergy efficiency vs. capital
costs, multi-variable, evolutionary optimization, and process selection via profitability maximization.
Optimization generated Pareto solutions with exergy efficiency ranging between 39.2% and 44.4% and
capital costs from 210 M$ to 390 M$. The Net Present Value was positive for only two scenarios and
for low efficiency, low hydrolysis points. The minimum cellulosic ethanol selling price was sought to
obtain a maximum NPV of zero for high efficiency, high hydrolysis alternatives. The obtained optimal
configuration presented maximum exergy efficiency, hydrolyzed bagasse fraction, capital costs and ethanol
production rate, and minimum cooling water consumption and power production rate.
Mots clés
First and second generation ethanol production
Process modeling
Evolutionary bi-objective multi-variable optimization
Selection by profitability maximization: minimum cellulosic ethanol selling price
Heat exchanger networks
Sugarcane bagasse
Thermoeconomic optimization
Extractive distillation
Bioethanol production