(619l) Process Design, Modification, and Sustainability Assessment of Coal and Biomass Co-Fired Plants for Generation of Transportation Fuel: A Case Study in Kentucky

As demand for in-country generated transportation fuel increases, methods that utilize region-based resources to produce biofuels are sought. Such is the case in Kentucky, United States, where the biofuels blend rate in transportation fuels is likely to increase from 10% to 25% by 2022. Consequently, a total of 775 million tons of transportation fuel are demanded to keep the state from importing 90% of its fuel in 2022. This challenge can be met by investing the implementation of coal and biomass co-fired plants in Kentucky to produce various fuels, including diesel, kerosene, and gasoline. To analyze this possibility, process design and modification of coal and biomass co-fired plants was conducted for energy and material efficiency improvement and waste reduction. Process simulation was performed, with the evaluation of process sustainability using the IChemE Sustainability Metrix System. The results of this case study will be presented.