Energy and Process Network Flux Analysis: Optimization-Based Assessment of Sustainable Chemical Production Pathways

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 64, pp. 7489–7506

Abstract

Optimization-based pathway screening is a valuable tool for assessing competing production pathways and identifying promising process concepts in a large design space. Since the energy supply for chemical production processes is crucial for the sustainability and economic viability of production, we present an extension of our “Process Network Flux Analysis” method toward production pathway screening with simultaneous chemical process and energy system design to exploit potential synergies at an early stage of design. We apply the method to a case study on producing renewable chemicals and fuels using utility system superstructures for conventional and renewable energy supply. The results show that integrating energy system design aspects into the pathway screening not only significantly impacts the performance criteria for economic and sustainable production but also influences production pathway selection. In addition, we identify energy-related synergies between production routes in the coproduction of chemical species that would go unrecognized without explicit consideration of the energy system.

Authors 5

1. Marian Panofen Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT)

   RWTH Aachen University

2. Laura Lang Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT)

   RWTH Aachen University

3. Jörn Viell Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT)

   RWTH Aachen University

4. Manuel Dahmen

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

   Institute of Climate and Energy Systems, Energy Systems Engineering (ICE-1)

5. Alexander Mitsos corresponding Aachen

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH

   Institute of Climate and Energy Systems, Energy Systems Engineering (ICE-1)

   JARA-ENERGY

   Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT)

   RWTH Aachen University