scholarly journals Renewable Energy Integration: Economic Assessment of Solar Energy to Produce Biodiesel at Supercritical Conditions

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. León ◽  
Gisela Montero ◽  
Marcos A. Coronado ◽  
Conrado García ◽  
Héctor E. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Energy Integration ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Supercritical Conditions

In recent years, research on noncatalytic methods for biodiesel production has increased, mainly processes under supercritical conditions that allow the processing of waste vegetable oils (WVO) without the need to use catalysts, where the absence of catalyst simplifies the processes of purification of biodiesel. The high consumption of alcohol and energy to maintain the appropriate conditions of pressure and temperature of the reaction has turned the processes of supercritical conditions into an unfeasible method. However, the stages of biodiesel purification and methanol recovery are more straightforward, allowing the reduction of the total energy consumption by 25% compared to alkaline methods. Therefore, the present work describes a study through Aspen Plus® of the production of biodiesel by a process in supercritical conditions with WVO as raw material. Also, a solar collector arrangement was structured using the TRNSYS® simulator to supply energy to the process. To evaluate the economic feasibility of the proposed process, the installation of a pilot plant in Mexicali, Baja California, was considered. The internal rate of return (IRR) and the net present value (NPV) were determined for ten-year period. The planned system allows supplying solar energy, 69.5% of the energy required by the process, thus reducing the burning of fossil fuels and the operation cost. Despite the additional investment cost, for the solar collectors, the process manages to maintain a competitive production cost of USD 0.778/l of biodiesel. With an IRR of 31.7%, the investment is recovered before the fifth year of operation. The integration and implementation of clean technologies are vital in the development of the biofuels.

scholarly journals RAPE SEED OIL TETRAHYDROFURFURYLESTERS

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
K. Malins ◽  
V. Kampars ◽  
R. Kampare ◽  
T. Rusakova
Keyword(s):  
Rapeseed Oil ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Methyl Esters ◽  
Cetane Number ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Cold Filter Plugging Point ◽  
Mineral Oils

The transesterification of vegetable oil using various kinds of alcohols is a simple and efficient renewable fuel synthesis technique. Products obtained by modifying natural triglycerides in transesterification reaction substitute fossil fuels and mineral oils. Currently the most significant is the biodiesel, a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters, which is obtained in a reaction with methanol, which in turn is obtained from fossil raw materials. In biodiesel production it would be more appropriate to use alcohols which can be obtained from renewable local raw materials. Ethanol rouses interest as a possible reagent, however, its production locally is based on the use of grain and therefore competes with food production so it would implicitly cause increase in food prices. Another raw material option is alcohols that can be obtained from furfurole. Furfurole is obtained in dehydration process from pentose sugars which can be extracted from crop straw, husk and other residues of agricultural production. From furfurole the tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), a raw material for biodiesel, can be produced. By transesterifying rapeseed oil with THFA it would be possible to obtain completely renewable biodiesel with properties very close to diesel [2-4]. With the purpose of developing the synthesis of such fuel, in this work a three-stage synthesis of rapeseed oil tetrahydrofurfurylesters (ROTHFE) in sulphuric acid presence has been performed, achieving product with purity over 98%. The most important qualitative factors of ROTHFE have been determined - cold filter plugging point, cetane number, water content, Iodine value, phosphorus content, density, viscosity and oxidative stability.

scholarly journals Ethanol-Based Biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1 & 2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Mary Grace M. Oliveros ◽  
Amiliza B. Baiting ◽  
Menchie G. Lumain ◽  
Maria Theresa I. Cabaraban
Keyword(s):  
Vegetable Oil ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Material Balance ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Exhaust Emission ◽  
Waste Vegetable Oil ◽  
Power Testing ◽  
Technological Analysis

Waste vegetable oil, mainly coming from frying residues, can be used as raw material to obtain a diesel fuel (biodiesel). Biodiesel, a nontoxic, biodegradable, diesel-like fuel, is an important energy alternative capable of decreasing environmental problems caused by the consumption of fossil fuels. The utilization of waste vegetable oils as raw material in biodiesel production was studied. Research was undertaken to establish the availability of used vegetable oil to supply a biodiesel process. It is intended that this work forms an academic study combined with an environmental and technological analysis of the merits of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel. Laboratory experimentation investigated the possibility of using waste vegetable oil from the local fast food chains, and potassium hydroxide as catalyst for the transesterification process. The cleaned waste vegetable oil undergoes transesterification for 4 hours, after which, the biodiesel is separated from the glycerin by gravity. Washing is necessary to remove residual catalyst or soap. Overall material balance for the process gives: 1 kg Waste Vegetable oil + 0.18 kg EtOH + 0.01 kg KOH → 0.74 kg Biodiesel + 0.44 kg Glycerin The biodiesel, in pure form (B100) and in 50% proportion (B50) with petroleum diesel, was run in an essentially unmodified Toyota 2C diesel engine. Smoke density (opacity) and CO exhaust emission both decreased with B50. However, Nox increased with B50. Fuel consumption during engine power testing is significantly greater using the biodiesel, but is also significantly reduced with B50.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Environmental Performance of Solar Energy Systems Through a Combined Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Milousi ◽  
Manolis Souliotis ◽  
George Arampatzis ◽  
Spiros Papaefthimiou
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Environmental Implications

The paper presents a holistic evaluation of the energy and environmental profile of two renewable energy technologies: Photovoltaics (thin-film and crystalline) and solar thermal collectors (flat plate and vacuum tube). The selected renewable systems exhibit size scalability (i.e., photovoltaics can vary from small to large scale applications) and can easily fit to residential applications (i.e., solar thermal systems). Various technical variations were considered for each of the studied technologies. The environmental implications were assessed through detailed life cycle assessment (LCA), implemented from raw material extraction through manufacture, use, and end of life of the selected energy systems. The methodological order followed comprises two steps: i. LCA and uncertainty analysis (conducted via SimaPro), and ii. techno-economic assessment (conducted via RETScreen). All studied technologies exhibit environmental impacts during their production phase and through their operation they manage to mitigate significant amounts of emitted greenhouse gases due to the avoided use of fossil fuels. The life cycle carbon footprint was calculated for the studied solar systems and was compared to other energy production technologies (either renewables or fossil-fuel based) and the results fall within the range defined by the global literature. The study showed that the implementation of photovoltaics and solar thermal projects in areas with high average insolation (i.e., Crete, Southern Greece) can be financially viable even in the case of low feed-in-tariffs. The results of the combined evaluation provide insight on choosing the most appropriate technologies from multiple perspectives, including financial and environmental.

Economic Analysis Model for Biopower Plants Based on Biomass Logistics Networks and its Application in Heilongjiang Province, China

2012 ◽  
Vol 608-609 ◽  
pp. 356-360
Author(s):  
Jin Zhuo Wu ◽  
Li Hai Wang
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Business Taxes ◽  
Logistics Networks ◽  
Biomass Logistics ◽  
Biomass Availability

A mathematical model was developed to assess the economic feasibility of a biomass-based power plant in the Northeast of China. The objective of this model is to maximizes the net present value (NPV) of a biopower plant over its economic life, which subjects to the constraints of biomass availability, plant investment and operation & maintenance costs, plant capacity, transportation logistics, raw material and product pricing, financing, and business taxes. The model was applied in a biopower plant located in Wangkui County, China, which belongs to the National Bio-Energy Group Company Limited. Results showed that the maximum NPV of the Wangkui Biopower plant in the base case was approximately 117 million Yuan given the electricity sale price of 0.64 Yuan kWh-1 (or 0.75Yuan kWh-1 with tax). This study provides a reference for evaluating the economic feasibility of biopower plants based on biomass logistics networks in China.

scholarly journals OPTIMIZATION OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF BIODIESEL FROM JATROPHA CURCAS OIL

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-281
Author(s):  
María Fernanda Laborde ◽  
Laura Ivana Orifici ◽  
José Alberto Bandoni ◽  
Medardo Serna Gonzalez ◽  
José María Ponce Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Methyl Esters ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Esterification Reaction ◽  
Integrated Process ◽  
Energy Integration ◽  
Jatropha Curcas Oil ◽  
Utility Cost

In this paper was assessed the potential of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas oil. The proposed process was simulated in the software Aspen Plus™ involving the stages of trans-esterification reaction, methanol recovering, purification of the obtained methyl esters, catalyst removing, purifying of glycerol and the energy integration through heat exchange networks (HEN). The biodiesel process was carried out through the catalytic reaction of transesterification of Jatropha oil with methanol using a molar ratio of methanol oil of 6:1, and with 1% w/w of NaOH (related to oil mass) as catalyst. Under these conditions, it is technologically feasible to carry out the production of biodiesel. With energy integration through the synthesis of HENs, reductions of 100% and 41.3% of hot and cold utilities were achieved. This way, the utility cost decreases 70.92%. The net present value (NPV) for the integrated process was 70.64% higher than the one corresponding to the non-integrated process under the same production conditions.

scholarly journals Solar Assisted Power Generation System in Hot Desert Climate: A Cost-Benefit Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramzi Alahmadi ◽  
◽  
Kamel Almutairi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems

With the increasing global concerns about greenhouse gas emissions caused by the extensive use of fossil fuels, many countries are investing in the deployment of clean energy sources. The utilization of abundant solar energy is one of the fastest growing deployed renewable sources due its technological maturity and economic competitivity. In addition to report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), many studies have suggested that the maturity of solar energy systems will continue to develop, which will increase their economic viability. The focus of analysis in this paper is countries with hot desert climates since they are the best candidates for solar energy systems. The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is used as the case study due to the country’s ambitious goals in this field. The main purpose of this study is to comprehensively analyze the stochastic behavior and probabilistic distribution of solar irradiance in order to accurately estimate the expected power output of solar systems. A solar Photovoltaic (PV) module is used for the analysis due to its practicality and widespread use in utility-scale projects. In addition to the use of a break-even analysis to estimate the economic viability of solar PV systems in hot desert climates, this paper estimates the indifference point at which the economic feasibility of solar PV systems is justified, compared with the fossil-based systems. The numerical results show that the break-even point of installing one KW generation capacity of a solar PV system is estimated to pay off after producing 16,827 KWh, compared to 15,422 KWh for the case of fossil-based systems. However, the increased cost of initial investment in solar PV systems deployment starts to be economically justified after producing 41,437 KWh.

scholarly journals Microalgae Cultivation in Photobioreactors Aiming at Biodiesel Production

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus S. Amaral ◽  
Carla C.A. Loures ◽  
Fabiano L. Naves ◽  
Gisella L. Samanamud ◽  
Messias B. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Biomass Productivity ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Biodiesel Synthesis ◽  
Microalgae Biomass ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Bad Weather ◽  
Micro Organisms

The search for a renewable source as an alternative to fossil fuels has driven the research on new sources of biomass for biofuels. An alternative source of biomass that has come to prominence is microalgae, photosynthetic micro-organisms capable of capturing atmospheric CO2 and accumulating high levels of lipids in their biomass, making them attractive as a raw material for biodiesel synthesis. Thus, various studies have been conducted in developing different types of photobioreactors for the cultivation of microalgae. Photobioreactors can be divided into two groups: open and closed. Open photobioreactors are more susceptible to contamination and bad weather, reducing biomass productivity. Closed photobioreactors allow greater control against contamination and bad weather and lead to higher rates of biomass production; they are widely used in research to improve new species and processes. Therefore, many configurations of closed photobioreactors have been developed over the years to increase productivity of microalgae biomass.

scholarly journals Scope of biodiesel from oils of woody plants: a review

Clean Energy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-106
Author(s):  
Baskar Thangaraj ◽  
Pravin Raj Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Edible Oils ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Primary Methods ◽  
Environmental Consequences

Abstract Non-edible oils obtained from chosen non-conventional woody plants are considered as potential raw materials for biodiesel production. These plants mostly grow in wastelands. Structural characteristics of these oils as raw material are very much in tune with the properties of biodiesel such as long-chain hydrocarbon, having an adequate level of unsaturation with branched chain. Four primary methods are being followed to make biodiesel from vegetable oil. They are direct use through blending, microemulsion, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification. Non-edible oil would eliminate the issue of food vs fuel. The biodiesel manufactured from oils of woody plants may partially reduce the demand for liquid-fuel energy and addresses the environmental consequences of using fossil fuels. Oil from a total of 17 species of woody plants (Angiosperms) belonging to 14 families are considered in this paper. The habit, habitat and geographical distribution of each species are also presented. The physico-chemical properties of their oil, with special reference to the fatty-acid profile that ultimately decides the characteristics of the biodiesel prepared from them, are reviewed.

Biodiesel Synthesis from Used Cooking Oil Using Red Mud as Heterogeneous Catalyst

2020 ◽  
Vol 991 ◽  
pp. 144-149
Author(s):  
Arif Hidayat ◽  
Galih Kholifatu Roziq ◽  
Faiz Muhammad ◽  
Winarto Kurniawan ◽  
Hirofumi Hinode
Keyword(s):  
Red Mud ◽  
Heterogeneous Catalysts ◽  
Gas Adsorption ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Cooking Oil ◽  
Used Cooking Oil ◽  
Biodiesel Synthesis

The problem associated with biodiesel production is economic feasibility. The biodiesel cost will reduce when the low cost feedstock was used as feedstock. Used Cooking Oil (UCO) is a promising candidate as raw material for biodiesel synthesis. In this study, the investigation of biodiesel synthesis from UCO was studied using red mud as heterogeneous catalysts. The catalyst was prepared by impregnating Potassium metals on red mud. The catalyst physico-characteristics were determined using Nitrogen gas adsorption, FT-IR, XRD, and XRF. The catalyst was tested to synthesize biodiesel from UCO. The reaction temperatures, methanol to oil mass ratio, and amount of catalyst were varied to examine their effects on biodiesel synthesis. The optimum reaction conditions were obtained at 60°C of reaction temperature, 10:1 of methanol to oil mass ratio, and 10% of catalyst amount. The highest biodiesel yield of 94.4% was obtained.

scholarly journals Feasibility Design of an Optimized Desalinator Assisted Only by Solar Energy. Case: Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Biain
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Flash Distillation ◽  
Parametric Analyses ◽  
Auxiliary Heater

Desalinators are traditionally driven by fossil-fuels but in order to avoid greenhouse emissions, renewable energy must be used. In this paper, a coupling between multi-stage flash distillation apparatus and a parabolic trough solar collector is analyzed. The purpose of this study is to determine the economic feasibility of the system, considering four cities of Saudi Arabia and three different potable water productions. To avoid solar energy intermittency and unavailability at night, thermal storage is implemented. Whereas other researchers made parametric analyses, in this paper, the authors developed a mathematical program which was optimized with the help of GAMS software, where the capital cost of the plant was the objective function. After that, a life cycle cost analysis was carried out for each scenario. Depending on the region and water production, the costs of drinking water vary from 2.26 to 3.93 US$/m3, and from 7440 to 23825 tons of carbon dioxide emissions are avoided. As a consequence of the approach used, low costs are obtained; even though no auxiliary heater is implemented and the lowest irradiance conditions are considered. The results of this study reflect that the proposed process is competitive with respect to the traditional one.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document