Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyze the exergetic, environmental, and economic impact of the electrification of a bio-refinery plant, considering the application of Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) to a conventional water–ethanol distillation column in the context of bioethanol production. The process was implemented in AspenPlus® and Aspen Exchange Design and Rating (EDR) simulation environments, where a sensitivity analysis was also carried out, considering four scenarios characterized by different compressions’ operative conditions, and including a Coefficient of Performance (CoP) analysis of the proposed solution with MVC. Exergetic and economic analyses were performed, and the relevant impacts on Operative Expenditure (OpEx) and Capital Expenditure (CapEx) were analyzed. Comparing the base case scenario with the proposed solution, a reduction of operative costs of around 63% was achieved. Finally, an environmental analysis was carried out, showing a remarkable reduction in the carbon footprint of the unit, with a carbon dioxide emission reduction of almost 80% for the MVC solution, in line with RED target requirements.
Highlights
Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) is a well-known technology in the field of chemical process engineering, which provides a means of reducing utility consumption in a distillation column
The results showed that these parameters, once included in the model equations, have a concrete impact on the solution, for instance, increasing the compressor power input required and decreasing the coefficient of performance
This work is inserted in the frame of innovative technologies and is focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from refinery plants, according to the principle of energy transition and the electrification concept, in line with the requirements of Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II
Summary
An alarming increase in CO2 emissions has been noticed due to a rapid growth in the industrial sector [1,2]; in 2019, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached the value of 409 ppmv. This peak value, registered for the first time after almost 1 million years, is alarming, especially if compared with the levels of the last century, where the 300 ppmv threshold was never crossed [3].
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