This presentation will report the broad findings of study into biorefinery options at a New Zealand based Kraft pulp mill. The inclusion or conversion to a biorefinery can significantly alter the total heat balance of the existing process and therefore the economics and overall efficiency of the process can be improved by the application of process integration methodologies. Promising biorefinery processes underwent an initial screening process using a process synthesis optimisation tool called P-graph. The screening process included any potential benefits of mass and energy integration of the new process with the existing mill. Based on the results of the screening process two promising processes, mechanical vapour recompression and hydrothermal liquefaction, were then examined in greater detail using process simulation, process integration techniques, and economic evaluation. Integrating the process with the Kraft mill had the potential to create synergies however some process modifications were required to optimise these.
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