Anna Voll

Integration of market dynamics into the design of biofuel processes

Abstract Wood is considered one of the main future feedstocks in the production of second generation biofuels in Europe. While feedstock cost has a major impact on production cost, wood prices are expected to change significantly once biorefineries enter the raw material market as new high volume consumers. Therefore, wood market dynamics and approximate price forecasting should be integrated into decision-making during the design phase. In this contribution we show how such an integration could be realized by combining a preliminary process model to determine the raw material demand and a spatial partial equilibrium model of the wood market to predict the price development. This approach is illustrated on a case study examining the production of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) as a novel biofuel component, which is converted from deciduous wood grown in Germany.

Bio-based Value Chains of the Future - An Opportunity for Process Systems Engineering

Abstract This paper argues for a paradigm shift to properly address the requirements of modelbased design of future bio-based value chains. Rather than focusing on the process with emphasis on separations and heat integration, the decisions on the molecular level require much more attention. A rough sketch of a systematic sequential and iterative model-based design strategy is presented and illustrated by a few examples related to the manufacturing of future bio-based fuels.

Towards Model-Based Design of Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass

In face of the continuous depletion of fossil carbon resources alternative liquid energy carriers have to be identified to guarantee sustainable future mobile propulsion. In this context, the Cluster of Excellence (CoE) “Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass” (TMFB) at RWTH Aachen University aims at identifying sustainable fossil fuel surrogates from biomass by means of a holistic approach from biomass supply to engine combustion. As the fuel identification process requires the screening of a tremendous number of possible fuel candidates, solely experimental methodologies cannot be applied. To this end, a research team at AVT.PT contributes to a model-based fuel design (MBFD) methodology which is based on an integrated product and process design approach, considering aspects of both fuel combustion and fuel production. It aims at identifying possible fossil fuel surrogates from a database of rigorously generated molecular structures. These fuel surrogates have to comply with a set of pre-defined constraints, which has been elaborated by interdisciplinary collaboration within the CoE. The present contribution illustrates the status quo and future perspectives of model-based fuel design and its integration into the research context of the TMFB cluster.

Towards Integrated Product and Process Design for Biofuels

Abstract Sustainable processes for the conversion of whole plants into fuels are investigated in the research cluster “Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass” at RWTH Aachen University (RWTH Aachen University, 2007). In contrast to known attempts, this project not only aims at the identification of components with promising fuel properties, but also accounts for the preservation of functional biomass structures within the biofuel production process. Accordingly, both fuel design approaches and new synthesis routes need to be explored. The solution strategy for these challenges is supported by systems engineering techniques: (i) promising target fuels are predicted by Computer-Aided Molecular Design (CAMD) and (ii) possible production alternatives are identified and classified by reaction network flux analysis (RNFA). In this contribution we introduce both methodologies and show how they can be combined to an integrated product and process design.