Design and optimization of an ethanol dehydration process using stochastic methods

► Bioethanol dehydration by a hybrid process: L–L extraction & extractive distillation. ► Process optimization using differential evolution, combining Matlab and Aspen Plus. ► The novel hybrid process for ethanol dehydration presents variable savings in energy. ► Energy savings in the hybrid pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Separation and purification technology 2013-02, Vol.105, p.90-97
Main Authors: Vázquez-Ojeda, María, Segovia-Hernández, Juan Gabriel, Hernández, Salvador, Hernández-Aguirre, Arturo, Kiss, Anton Alexandru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
algorithms
Bioethanol dehydration
economic feasibility
Energy savings
Ethanol
Ethyl alcohol
Extractive distillation
fuels
Liquid-liquid extraction
Matlab
Optimization
Process optimization
renewable energy sources
Separation
Stochasticity
Streams
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Summary:► Bioethanol dehydration by a hybrid process: L–L extraction & extractive distillation. ► Process optimization using differential evolution, combining Matlab and Aspen Plus. ► The novel hybrid process for ethanol dehydration presents variable savings in energy. ► Energy savings in the hybrid process depends on the extractant in the extraction column. ► Energy savings in the hybrid process is a function of the ethanol–water feed composition. Due to the increasing demand for renewable fuels that are economically attractive, as well as part of the quest for energy alternatives to replace carbon-based fuels, the purification of ethanol plays a key role. This paper presents the design and optimization of a dehydration process for ethanol, using two separation sequences: a conventional arrangement and an alternative arrangement based on liquid–liquid extraction. Both sequences were optimized using a stochastic global optimization algorithm (differential evolution) implemented in Mathworks Matlab and coupled to rigorous process simulations carried out in Aspen Plus. The economic feasibility of the two configurations was studied by changing the ethanol–water composition in the analyzed feed stream. The results clearly demonstrate that significant savings are possible by extraction when the ethanol content in the feed stream exceeds 10%mol (22wt%).
ISSN:1383-5866
1873-3794
DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2012.12.002