TY - JOUR

T1 - Advanced process integration for supercritical production of biodiesel

T2 - Residual waste heat recovery via organic Rankine cycle (ORC)

AU - Aboelazayem, Omar

AU - Gadalla, Mamdouh

AU - Alhajri, Ibrahim

AU - Saha, Basu

PY - 2021/2/28

Y1 - 2021/2/28

N2 - Biodiesel production using supercritical methanolysis has received immense interest over the last few years. It has the ability to convert high acid value feedstock into biodiesel using a single-pot reaction. However, the energy intensive process is the main disadvantage of supercritical biodiesel process. Herein, a conceptual design for the integration of supercritical biodiesel process with organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is presented to recover residual hot streams and to generate electric power. This article provides energy and techno-economic comparative study for three developed scenarios as follows: original process with no energy integration (Scenario 1), energy integrated process (Scenario 2) and advanced energy integrated process with ORC (Scenario 3). The developed integrated biodiesel process with ORC resulted in electric power generation that has not only satisfied the process electric requirement but also provided excess power of 257 kW for 8,000 tonnes/annum biodiesel plant. The technoeconomic comparative analysis resulted in favouring the third scenario with 36% increase in the process profitability than the second scenario. Sensitivity analysis has shown that biodiesel price variation has significant effect on the process profitability. In summary, integrating supercritical biodiesel production process with ORC appears to be a promising approach for enhancing the process technoeconomic profitability and viability.

AB - Biodiesel production using supercritical methanolysis has received immense interest over the last few years. It has the ability to convert high acid value feedstock into biodiesel using a single-pot reaction. However, the energy intensive process is the main disadvantage of supercritical biodiesel process. Herein, a conceptual design for the integration of supercritical biodiesel process with organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is presented to recover residual hot streams and to generate electric power. This article provides energy and techno-economic comparative study for three developed scenarios as follows: original process with no energy integration (Scenario 1), energy integrated process (Scenario 2) and advanced energy integrated process with ORC (Scenario 3). The developed integrated biodiesel process with ORC resulted in electric power generation that has not only satisfied the process electric requirement but also provided excess power of 257 kW for 8,000 tonnes/annum biodiesel plant. The technoeconomic comparative analysis resulted in favouring the third scenario with 36% increase in the process profitability than the second scenario. Sensitivity analysis has shown that biodiesel price variation has significant effect on the process profitability. In summary, integrating supercritical biodiesel production process with ORC appears to be a promising approach for enhancing the process technoeconomic profitability and viability.

U2 - 10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.058

DO - 10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.058

M3 - Journal article

VL - 164

SP - 433

EP - 443

JO - Renewable Energy

JF - Renewable Energy

SN - 0960-1481

ER -