Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis, and Optimization

Book chapter, 2012

Abstract in our Chapter: A wide range of investigations into process integration in energy-intensive industries such as the pulp and paper industry have been conducted by various universities and R&D centers both in Scandinavia and in North America. Various methods and tools to improve the energy efficiency of pulp and paper mills have been developed. These are mostly based on criteria such as CO2 emissions reduction and economic profitability as well as measures such as internal energy recovery and heat and power production. The saved heat or ―excess heat‖ gained by implementation of such criteria has been used differently depending on each mill’s demand and markets. Recently, implementation of biorefinery concepts in existing pulp mills has been the major focus for integrating these new processes into pulp mills. In this chapter, an overview and analysis is presented of methods, tools, and methodologies used by key players in the field of pulp mill-based biorefinery system studies; the focus is on methods developed and applied in Swedish Kraft pulp and paper mills. The strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies are discussed and a few examples for application of newly developed methodologies when implementing new concepts such as biorefineries are presented. Summary of the book: Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis, and Optimization examines how to create a competitive edge in biorefinery innovation through integration into existing processes and infrastructure. Leading experts from around the world working in design, synthesis, and optimization of integrated biorefineries present the various aspects of this complex process, capturing the state of the art in the advancing bioeconomy. The book defines an integrated biorefinery as a processing facility that transforms biomass into value-added products—from biofuels and biochemicals to food and pharmaceuticals. The chapters cover biorefinery product and process design, supply chains, process analysis, feedstocks, technologies, and policy and environmental analysis. They focus on second-generation feedstocks, including forestry resources, energy crops, agricultural residues, oils, and various waste materials. With the growing interest in sustainability in general and in renewable resources in industrial facilities, biorefineries are likely to play increasingly significant roles and have greater economic, environmental, and societal impact. This book fills an information gap by presenting cutting-edge advances that can effectively guide engineers and decision makers in the synthesis, selection, design, analysis, and optimization of biorefineries.