Abstract
Background: Exergy analysis has been recognized as a feasible approach to evaluate and improve industrial processes by identifying major irreversibilities in a system. Objectives: This work attempts to apply exergy analysis to a third-generation biodiesel production from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. Methods/Analysis: Commercial industrial process simulation software was used to simulate this process. The specific exergy of many substances were found in literature and the others were calculated using Szargut, Morris & Steward’s equation. A global exergy balance around the system was carried out in order to determine total irreversibilities. The contribution of unit operations and equipment to total irreversibilities was also considered. In addition, exergy efficiency and exergy emission were calculated for each stage (pretreatment, reaction, separation, biodiesel purification, and glycerol treatment). Findings: The global exergy efficiency was calculated in 86% similar to the results reported in other researches. The equipment that contributes the most to total irreversibility was the separation column used to remove alcohol with 487.55 kJ/kg BD. In addition, the highest irreversibilities (5.22 MJ/kg BD) and exergy emission (2.71 MJ/ kg BD) per stage were reached during biodiesel purification. Novelty/Improvement: The application of exergy analysis allowed to identify potential improvements in this case of study, mainly in biodiesel purification stage and process modifications are suggested to reduce total irreversibilities as reutilizing methanol and glycerol streams. Keywords: Biodiesel, Exergy Analysis, Microalgae, Process Simulation, CAPE
Highlights
Growing interest is being paid to biofuels to meet the energy demand worldwide, which can be produced from different feedstocks including food crops, microalgae, agricultural residual biomass, animal fats, and cooking oils[1]
The present study aims to apply exergy analysis to thirdgeneration biodiesel production from Chlorella vulgaris in order to determine global exergy efficiency and identify process stages with high irreversibilities and exergy emissions
Computer-aided exergy analysis was applied in this work to third-generation biodiesel production using Chlorella vulgaris microalgae in order to identify stages that most contribute to total irreversibilities
Summary
Growing interest is being paid to biofuels to meet the energy demand worldwide, which can be produced from different feedstocks including food crops, microalgae, agricultural residual biomass, animal fats, and cooking oils[1]. Global attempts have been made to use different species of microalgae to produce biodiesel considering the fast growth, availability, and high productivity[7]. The present study aims to apply exergy analysis to thirdgeneration biodiesel production from Chlorella vulgaris in order to determine global exergy efficiency and identify process stages with high irreversibilities and exergy emissions. Objectives: This work attempts to apply exergy analysis to a third-generation biodiesel production from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. Exergy efficiency and exergy emission were calculated for each stage (pretreatment, reaction, separation, biodiesel purification, and glycerol treatment). Novelty/Improvement: The application of exergy analysis allowed to identify potential improvements in this case of study, mainly in biodiesel purification stage and process modifications are suggested to reduce total irreversibilities as reutilizing methanol and glycerol streams
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