Evaluation of heat and water integration alternatives of sugarcane biorefineries

• Grant number: 19/01723-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal researcher: Tassia Lopes Junqueira
• Grantee: Pilar Dib
• Home Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/20630-4 - Biorefinery development integrated to a bioethanol sugar cane plant with zero CO2 emission: routes to convert renewable resources to bio-products and bio-electricity, AP.TEM

Abstract

Brazil is one of the main ethanol producers worldwide and is now redirecting its efforts towards implementing the second generation ethanol process, which uses lignocellulosic materials as feedstock. Since lignocellulosic materials are already used as fuel in cogeneration systems to supply steam and electricity to the process, measures are necessary to increase the amount of sugarcane bagasse and straw available for the second generation process. Furthermore, the integration of first and second generation ethanol processes implies changes in utilities, such as heat and water consumption. To ensure process sustainability and conscious water use, obeying the water withdrawal limit practiced in the state of São Paulo of 1 m3/t of processed sugarcane, proper evaluation of heat and water integration alternatives are required. Pinch analysis is a widely used technique to evaluate heat integration possibilities in a process, and has been extended to integrate and optimize other utility flows, such as water. This project focuses on developing and implementing heat and water integration alternatives aiming at improving first and second generation ethanol production process. Different scenarios will be assessed with the Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery (VSB), a tool developed by the Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE/CNPEM) to evaluate the sustainability of sugarcane production chain. The VSB will be employed to perform the economic and environmental evaluation of all scenarios. In addition, the optimization of the heat and water networks will be carried out for the most promising alternatives. (AU)