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Bioethanol From Corn
Bioethanol From Corn
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2 Components .........................................................................................................3
3 Process Description..............................................................................................4
4 Physical Properties...............................................................................................5
8 Conclusions ........................................................................................................11
Contents 1
1 Introduction
2 1 Introduction
2 Components
2 Components 3
3 Process Description
4 3 Process Description
4 Physical Properties
This category includes the models and methods used to calculate the chemical
and thermodynamic equilibrium, and the physical properties of all streams.
The models used to calculate physical properties in Aspen Plus are grouped
into property methods named after the central model, for example, Ideal,
Redlich-Kwong-Soave, and NRTL (Non-Random Two Liquid). The property
method used in this model is NRTL.
Physical Properties are usually the most important and often the most difficult
part of a simulation. The accuracy of physical property calculations strongly
influences the reliability of the results and ultimately affects the estimated
cost of process equipment.
4 Physical Properties 5
5 Chemical Reactions
Saccharification
STARCH + WATER GLUCOSE 99% conversion of STARCH
Fermentation
GLUCOSE 1.9 ETOH + 1.9 CO2 + .06 NFDS
100% conversion of GLUCOSE
6 5 Chemical Reactions
6 Simulation Approach
Streams - Streams represent the material and energy flows in, out and
around the process. Streams can be of three types: Material, Heat, and
Work. Feeds to the process are corn, energy, water, acid, enzyme and yeast;
the later three are represented by NFDS, WATER and WATER components
respectively for simplicity. There are several internal streams that represent
the crossover of material and heat between blocks. A key internal stream is
59BS representing backset.
Design-Specs, Calculator Blocks and Convergence - The simulation is
augmented with a combination of flowsheeting capabilities such as
Convergence, Design Specs and Calculator Blocks.
Sequencing and Convergence paragraphs are included that produce a
relatively stable model at varied rates. The model has been tested at
production capacities as low as 15 mmgal/yr and as high as 180 mmgal/yr
and has run successfully aided by these convergence elements.
The following tables outline key flowsheeting capabilities of this model:
6 Simulation Approach 7
Design Specs Used in the Corn to Ethanol Model
Spec Name Spec (Target) Manipulated Variable
Calculator blocks SCALE and EVALUATE are Spreadsheets in Excel, and are
both embedded in the file with extension .apmbd. Use SCALE to change the
characteristics of the corn feed as follows:
150 Plant Capacity, MM Gallons per Year
0.15 Moisture in Corn
0.7 Starch in Corn
Calculator block EVALUATE may be easily modified to add more comparison
variables that are of interest.
8 6 Simulation Approach
7 Simulation Results
The Aspen Plus simulation flowsheet and key results are shown below:
7 Simulation Results 9
Result Units
10 7 Simulation Results
8 Conclusions
The bioethanol from corn model provides a useful description of the process.
The simulation has been developed using many of the capabilities of Aspen
Plus including unit operation models, physical property methods, models and
data, and flowsheeting capabilities like convergence design specs.
The model may be used as a guide for understanding the process and the
economics, and also as a starting point for more sophisticated models for
plant design and specifying process equipment.
8 Conclusions 11