Recovery of ORGDP Waste Heat as an Energy Source for Converting Biomass to Fuels

摘要

Three ethanol-water distillation schemes capable of utilizing the ORGDP waste heat were investigated: (1) vacuum distillation at 12.67 kPa (95 mm Hg), (2) atmospheric distillation utilizing a heat pump to upgrade the waste heat, and (3) vacuum distillation at 6.67 kPa (50 mm Hg) using a refrigeration system to operate the overhead condenser. Distillation at 12.67 kPa to 95 wt % ethanol appeared to be the only alternative which might economically fit into an overall process for ethanol production using biomass conversion. Distillation at lower or higher pressures to 95 wt % ethanol was impractical because the heat pump and refrigeration units were extremely costly. Vacuum distillation to 99 wt % ethanol was not economically attractive because of the large number of trays required. (ERA citation 06:009306)