Optimal blending management of biomass resources used for biochemical conversion

摘要

This research develops an optimization model to describe the tradeoff among blend components in the least-cost biomass blend, based on resource availability, quality requirements, and logistics cost for a biochemical conversion. A mixed-integer linear programming model is developed to determine the least-cost blend from a set of candidate feedstocks. A case study - based on a biorefinery located in western Kansas that uses three-pass corn stover, two-pass corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus, and municipal solid waste fractions to meet biochemical conversion specifications and feedstock demand - shows that the delivered cost of an optimal blend that meets carbohydrate and ash specifications is 12.12% higher than the delivered cost of optimal blend that meets a carbohydrate specification only. The results indicate that a least-cost blend that meets both carbohydrate and ash specifications consists of miscanthus (48.2%) and switchgrass (29.4%) whereas the least-cost blend meeting carbohydrate specification only comprises three-pass corn stover (55.4%) and two-pass corn stover (20.4%). An optimal blend uses a low-cost municipal solid waste fraction in all cases, implying that blending could be a potential strategy to reduce delivered feedstock cost. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.