A computational approach in automating the continuous sonicated biodiesel production

Abstract

Ultrasound-assisted transesterification is an advantageous method of biodiesel synthesis. In an effort to advance the production of high-quality biofuels, this study presents and evaluates a theoretical feedback control technique applicable to a continuous flow transesterification reactor. In this innovative continuous reactor, biodiesel is produced by reacting triglyceride with methoxide under ultrasound mixing. Early development of a dynamic model incorporates concentration changes of biodiesel as well as kinetics modifications under varying ultrasound intensities. After model fitting, a proportional feedback control method is fine-tuned, theoretically implemented, and examined carefully with respect to i) thecontrol of the biodiesel mole fraction, ii) the combination of manipulating various inputs, and iii) the mitigation of unexpectedly emerging biodiesel demand. By manipulating both ultrasound intensity and methoxide flow rate, the system is flexible in achieving high set-points in the biodiesel mole fraction, reaching 60%. As was determined, this controlling strategy can be readily adapted to different ultrasonically operated continuous biofuel reactors of various sizes and shapes. Throughout all simulations, the biodiesel mixture quality was high.