Sugar extraction by moving-bed diffusers in ethanol production: development of a simulation tool

Author(s)

Geraldo, Victor C. ; de Morais, Edvaldo R. ; de Toledo, Eduardo C. V. ; Jesus, Charles D. ; Bonomi, Antonio ; Filho, Rubens M. ; Kravanja, Z ; Bogataj, M

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: 26TH EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON COMPUTER AIDED PROCESS ENGINEERING (ESCAPE), PT B; v. 38B, p. 6-pg., 2016-01-01.

Abstract

In this work a simulator of a moving-bed diffuser was developed. Through this simulation tool it is possible to assess process behaviour, operation paths and design features of moving-bed diffusers, in order to improve the sugar extraction in diffusers. After the input of the required information (i.e., equipment, process and feed stock characteristics) the simulator produces the results, which are the Brix (soluble solids content in the liquid) curve and the Brix profile. The mathematical model of this extraction process includes the main features of liquid percolation through a bed of shredded cane and also the extraction mechanisms of lixiviation and diffusion. Finite-volumes method was applied as discretization procedure of the mathematical model. The parameters of this model were fitted using a hybrid method that assembles Differential Evolution and Flexible Polyhedron (Nelder-Mead). A full-scale moving-bed diffuser located in a Brazilian mill was used as a case study to evaluate the simulator performance. The simulator test reached its objectives, describing accurately the extraction process in the full-scale equipment. Being the Brix curve the traditional outcome for this process, the analysis of the Brix profile is presented as a new approach to evaluate the performance of moving-bed diffusers. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/51902-9 - Simulation of 1st generation sugarcane biorefinery in EMSO platform
• Grantee: Antonio Maria Francisco Luiz Jose Bonomi
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants