(64a) Modeling and Optimization of a Bioethanol Production Facility

The overall objective of this work is to identify the optimal bioethanol production plant capacity and configuration based on currently available technology for all the processing sections involved. To effect this study, a systematic method is utilized which involves the development of a superstructure for the overall technology selection, process flowsheet development and simulation as well as mathematical model development for each processing step. The optimality of each processing pathway is determined via an overall economic evaluation. The developed optimization model is also designed to incorporate various biomass feedstocks as well as realistic upper and lower limit equipment sizes thereby ensuring pragmatism of the work. For this study, the criterion for optimization is minimum ethanol price.   The secondary objective of this work attempts to describe the seasonal variation of biomass feedstock via mathematical modeling. This simplified model is then incorporated into the overall model and economical evaluation is done for minimum ethanol selling price and optimal plant capacity.