Simulation of thermochemical processes in Aspen Plus as a tool for biorefinery analysis

The development of tools for the synthesis, design, and optimization biorefineries requires deep knowledge thermochemical processes involved in these schemes. For this project, three models from scientific literature were implemented to simulate processes: fast pyrolysis a fluidized bed, fixed-bed, fluidized-bed gasification using Aspen PlusTM software. These allow user obtain performance, consumption, cost parameters necessary design model encompasses detailed description biomass decomposition kinetics process (149 reactions). In fixed-bed process, seven reactions that have been integrated into two equilibrium reactors minimize Gibbs free energy. used bed considers both hydrodynamic kinetic parameters, as well change combustion reaction rate with oxygen leading temperature. Due complexity detail all models, it was use FORTRAN subroutines iterative Excel macros linked PlusTM. Finally, results each simulation validated data sources, experimental literature.