A flexible framework for optimal biorefinery product allocation

Abstract

The integrated biorefinery has the opportunity to provide a strong, self‐dependent, sustainable alternative for the production of bulk and fine chemicals, e.g., polymers, fiber composites and pharmaceuticals as well as energy, liquid fuels, and hydrogen. Although most of the fundamental processing steps involved in biorefining are well‐known, there is a need for a methodology capable of evaluating the integrated processes in order to identify the optimal set of products and the best route for producing them. The complexity of the product allocation problem for such processing facilities demands a process systems engineering approach utilizing process integration and mathematical optimization techniques to ensure a targeted approach and serve as an interface between simulation work and experimental efforts. The objective of this work is to assist the bioprocessing industries in evaluating the profitability of different possible production routes and product portfolios while maximizing stakeholder value through global optimization of the supply chain. To meet these ends, a mathematical optimization based framework is being developed, which enables the inclusion of profitability measures and other technoeconomic metrics along with process insights obtained from experimental as well as modeling and simulation studies. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2007

Decision support systems for assessment of biorefinery transformation strategies

“…It has been employed for determining the best product portfolio and process configuration for integrated biorefineries using process simulation, production cost assessment, pinch analysis, and supply chain optimization. [40,41] An integration of product portfolio and supply chain network design in forest biorefineries as a basis for a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) framework is another important example of the hybrid approach, and it involves introducing economic, environmental, market, and supply chain metrics. [41,42] For example, economic metrics include the internal rate of return (IRR), return on capital employed (ROCE), return on investment (ROI), net present value (NPV), competitive access to biomass (CAB), earning before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and resistance to market uncertainty (RTMU).…”

“…Lastly, there are hybrid approaches that combine both approaches by including optimization as one of the steps in their stepwise approach. It has been employed for determining the best product portfolio and process configuration for integrated biorefineries using process simulation, production cost assessment, pinch analysis, and supply chain optimization . An integration of product portfolio and supply chain network design in forest biorefineries as a basis for a multi‐criteria decision making (MCDM) framework is another important example of the hybrid approach, and it involves introducing economic, environmental, market, and supply chain metrics .…”

Robust optimization approach for synthesis of integrated biorefineries with supply and demand uncertainties

“…As previously mentioned, robust optimization can be easily incorporated into existing MINLP model without adding additional complexity to it. In this work, the black liquor (BL) biorefinery case study [9,40,41] is solved with consideration of the uncertainty in BL supply and product demands. Via robust optimization, the optimal biorefinery configuration and capacity that can handle user-defined probable changes in biomass supply and products demand is determined.…”

A multiobjective optimization framework for design of integrated biorefineries under uncertainty

“…The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed detailed analytical models to analyze different process configurations for cellulosic ethanol production . Furthermore, many multiechelon and multiperiod models for biorefinery design and planning have been employed . For instance, in the work by Sammons et al, a general systematic framework is proposed to optimize product allocation and process configuration for a flexible integrated biorefinery through utilization of process integration methods such as pinch analysis.…”