(636c) Process Models to Assess the Co-Processing of Gasoil and Bio-Based Feedstocks in Hydroprocessing Unit Operations

As the bioenergy industry focuses on the near-term development of conversion pathways from biomass feedstocks to infrastructure-compatible fuel blendstocks, a major area of interest is the integration of partially upgraded, biomass-derived intermediates into existing refinery upgrading unit operations. Development of analysis capabilities and process models are needed to assess these new ideas for refinery integration strategies on the basis of potential economic viability, impact on quality of refinery fuel products and benefits versus ill effects to reliability of petroleum refinery operations. One major area of focus for the modeling effort, enabled by funding from DOEâ??s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), is the development of hydroprocessing models in Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS to assess the co-processing of fossil-derived gasoils and bio-based feedstocks. One of the case studies explored through this initiative is the co-hydrotreating of gasoil and triglycerides.

This presentation will focus on (1) an overview of the analysis approaches and process models developed under this effort, (2) the benefits for utilizing the tools for assessing co-processing scenarios for biomass-derived intermediates, (3) insights gathered from model development and analysis for gasoil and triglyceride co-processing and (4) future work for this effort in assessing blending of oxygenated compounds.