Jeffrey R. Seay

A multidisciplinary decision support tool for evaluating multiple biorefinery conversion technologies and supply chain performance

Fuels from biomass resources have emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuel. Widely distributed source locations, varying feedstock, and specific regional conditions make it challenging to develop an optimization model that can be applied to any region to estimate the overall economics of producing these biofuels. The lack of a region specific, flexible optimization model makes it difficult for stakeholders like local policy makers, growers, and investors to make informed decisions about the economic viability and social and environmental impacts of biomass utilization. This novel contribution will illustrate an approach to develop a region specific optimization model which links various aspects of the biofuel supply chain such as feedstock source location, upstream and downstream logistics, as well as thermochemical and biochemical processing. This research shows how various individual optimization models can be combined, resulting in a complete, multivariable economic optimization model for a regional biomass network, paving a pathway for future work to develop an integrated framework for sustainability. The research demonstrated in this contribution illustrates the development of a model that can form the basis of a generalizable decision support tool that can guide investors and policy makers in making critical assessments on a local level in any particular region of interest. As a proof of concept, a portion of the described model will be validated using the Jackson Purchase region of Western Kentucky, USA, which is adjoining many coal fields and has various bio-based feedstocks.

Multidisciplinary Approach in Developing Region Specific Optimization Tool for Sustainable Biorefining

Biofuels are an emerging alternative to the fossil based fuel upon which we have become dependent to supply our energy needs. Widely distributed source locations, varying feedstock and specific regional conditions makes it challenging to develop an optimization model that can be applied to any region to estimate the overall economics of the process. This paper will illustrate a novel approach to develop a region specific optimization tool which links various aspects of the biofuel supply chain like site location, transportation network, thermochemical and biochemical processing and environmental impacts. This contribution shows how various small-scale optimization models can be combined, resulting in a complete, multivariable economic optimization model for a regional biomass network. This tool will be further tested and validated using the Jackson Purchase region of Western Kentucky, as a case study.

A comprehensive techno-economic analysis tool to validate long-term viability of emerging biorefining processes

As recent research continues to explore possibilities for developing renewable biofuels, there arises a need for a supporting framework that can guide the research along a path that will lead to long-term techno-economic viability. Processing of biomass into various marketable products requires a well-planned strategy from an investment, agriculture, management, and policy-making perspective. This novel techno-economic analysis tool encompasses multiple process and supply chain models into a comprehensive decision support tool. Incorporation of detailed upstream and downstream processes not only gives an opportunity to accommodate fundamental research, but also allows for the incorporation of the effects of future uncertainties. This claim is further validated by performing a case study on a biological process to convert locally available corn stover to ethanol. The results obtained show that unique integration of process simulation, supply chain optimization, and discrete event simulation can be used to validate the long-term economic viability of a biorefining process. Analysis demonstrates that the developed decision support tool can be applied to estimate long-term economic and environmental viability of potential biorefining processes in any given region of interest.

Education for sustainability: Developing a taxonomy of the key principles for sustainable process and product design

Abstract Design for sustainability as an independent field of study is both multidisciplinary and cross-cutting. It encompasses engineering, natural science, economics, finance, political science, social science and the humanities. It concerns governments, corporations and consumers. Although not normally considered design topics, the effects of manufactured products and energy usage on society and the environment are increasingly impacting process design choices. Because of the numerous groups and constituencies involved, sustainability is a difficult concept to define. However, from a design perspective, professional competency in sustainability is becoming an important prerequisite for the production of economically viable products. This contribution proposes an outline for a sustainability taxonomy, including the key concepts that define professional competency in design and engineering for sustainability. This contribution is an extended version of a paper originally published in the Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Foundations of Computer Aided Process Design Conference, Cle Elum, Washington, 2014.

A Bayesian Network Based Approach for Risk Modeling to Aid in Development of Sustainable Biomass Supply Chains

Abstract If lignocellulosic biomass is to become a viable competitor with fossil based resources for the production of energy and chemical products, sustainable sources of this material must be established. To address this issue an understanding about the risks affecting biomass sources and the biorefineries which they supply is crucial. In this paper, a quantitative approach using Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) to model and analyze risks in a biorefinerys biomass supply chain is presented. Centralized aggregated corn stover supply locations and an integrated biorefinery located in Kentuckys Jackson Purchase Region are considered as a case study for demonstrating the approach.

A Novel Model for Evaluating the Viability of Strategies for Biorefining Processes from Various Stakeholder Perspectives: Case Study on Marginal Land Utilization

Abstract As the recent research leads to innovations in diverse field of biorefining, inherent unpredictability is a growing concern with stakeholders regarding the viability of developed processes to meet society’s future energy and transportation fuel requirements. This contribution will show the applicability of a novel tool that will guide stakeholders to arrive at decisions in their respective fields. The developed model combines various disciplines of engineering and sciences to demonstrate a creative linking of process optimization, supply chain optimization and simulation to address uncertainties. Simulation and modelling tools like Aspen Plus® and ILOG OPL® are tailored to create a novel multidisciplinary decision support tool. Motivated by the previous research, a unique case study is presented on biomass gasification in the Jackson Purchase region, Kentucky USA. This proof of concept shows how the inclusion of dedicated energy crops by utilizing available marginal land can be analysed, leading to optimal economic, social and environmental results.

Sustainable production of industrial chemical products from bioresources

Abstract In this work, we present the preliminary results from a study of the development of processes to produce industrially important chemical from sustainble, bio-based glycerol. The objective of this work is to identify potential industrial uses for the glycerol produced as a side product of the manufacture of biodiesel from fatty acids. Systematic process systems engineering tools such as process simulation and pinch analysis are employed to target economically viable production pathways. In this way, potential process and product options can be evaluated so that further research and development can be focused on candidates with the greatest economic potential. Commercially available software packages are used to develop mass and energy balances for the proposed conceptual processes, determine the minimum utility requirements using thermal pinch analysis and analyze the economic potential of switching production from crude oil derived to sustainable, bio-based feed stocks.

Decision Support Models for Integrated Design of Bioenergy Supply Chains

The scarcity of fossil fuels and the environmental implications of their use has drawn increasing attention to the production of bioenergy from nonfood sources. To validate the progressive experimental research in this field, we require a credible tool that can quantify various impacts of potential biorefining processes. This chapter will demonstrate a novel decision support model that can provide comprehensive techno-economic results to various stakeholders. The framework integrates process optimization , supply chain optimization and discrete event simulation (DES) capabilities to provide a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary tool for bioenergy supply chain design following an iterative process. The tool is further enhanced by the incorporation of supply chain risk modeling to capture various uncertainties. A proof of concept case study is presented to illustrate the applicability of this framework to any given geographic region.

Sustainability Assessment Methodology for Process and Product Design of Appropriate Technology for Developing Regions

Abstract This contribution introduces a novel methodology for assessing the sustainability of appropriate technology based product and process designs in developing regions utilizing a simple computer algorithm. This methodology is necessary due to the fact that currently available sustainability metrics used for industrial products and processes are not applicable in developing regions. The novel methodology proposed will be illustrated through a case study involving a biofuel process in sub-Saharan Africa.

Developing a Taxonomy for the Key Principles of Design and Education for Sustainability

Abstract Design for sustainability as an independent field of study is both multidisciplinary and cross-cutting. It encompasses engineering, the natural sciences, economics, finance, political science, the social sciences and the humanities. It concerns governments, corporations and consumers. Although these are not normally considered design topics, the effects of manufactured products and energy usage on society and the environment are increasingly impacting process design choices. Because of the numerous groups and constituencies involved, sustainability is a difficult concept to define. However, from a design perspective, professional competency in sustainability is becoming an important prerequisite for the production of economically viable products. Therefore, a comprehensive taxonomy of sustainable engineering and design is needed so that all those involved in this diverse field are fluent in the same concepts, even if their definitions of what sustainability means are different. This contribution will propose an outline for a sustainability taxonomy, including the key concepts that define professional competency in design and engineering for sustainability.