Optimization Model for the Integration of Biomass into a Conventional Oil Refinery.

Using renewable resources such as biomass to produce ethanol and biodiesel to blend into gasoline and diesel, respectively, is becoming popular. It is also possible to integrate biomass into an oil refinery as a feedstock, directly displacing crude oil. This paper investigates the techno-economic viability of using biomass to directly displace crude oil in an existing refinery. Specifically, this paper will identify specific biomasses that could be utilized with corresponding biomass pretreatment methods, determine the points of integration into a refinery, evaluate the economic viability of different integration options, and evaluate the potential to generate energy from biomass. For this purpose an oil refinery mathematical programming model was built and modeled using GAMS and LP. Three main cases were analyzed in this study: Base Refinery, Case II: Ethanol and Biodiesel Blending, and Case III: Direct Biomass Integration. Upon thorough analysis of direct biomass integration options into the refinery model, the use of bagasse in producing pyrolysis oil was best suited for the study as the properties of pyrolysis oil is suitable for direct integration into the existing hydrocracker. In addition, the effect of supply costs, operating costs, and the addition of a hydrocracker to increase plant capacity, were also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]