09-10-2010, 03:28 PM
This article is presented by:
Dan Anderson, Derek Masterson, Bill McDonald and Larry Sullivan
Crown Iron Works Company
ABSTRACT
The biodiesel process itself is more than just a chemical reaction. The practical aspects of how to turn an ordinary reaction in to a large full-scale industrial plant are of utmost importance. It has been proven that bench top reactions and equipment often to not properly scale up to full processing plant size, and biodiesel is no exception. Concerns for the feedstock such as fatty acid content, fatty acid profile, phosphorus, sulfur, moisture, and other various qualities are evaluated along with the overall cost of not taking time to tightly control these specifications. Biodiesel product specifications are also discussed, along with the variances in specifications from location to location and the significant differences of each. The importance of how to label or market the biodiesel is also a concern for all involved, as the media can quickly turn a small error into a worldwide embarrassment for the biodiesel community. Although the intent of making biodiesel is not to make glycerine, the glycerine component and its treatment are an important economic decision that will affect the overall profitability of the facility. This paper includes information learned during the recent construction of the largest US plant dedicated to biodiesel production. INTRODUCTION
The processes and production of biodiesel (methyl ester) from vegetable oil and animal fat feedstocks remain a strong growth market in the United States and Canada as well as the European Union. Currently, the U.S. and Canada methyl ester capacity is 200 million GPY (US gallons per year), or 700,000 MTPY (metric tons per year), and the Europeans are nearing 573 million GPY (2 million MTPY) of dedicated capacity. Expected market demand and production incentives suggest that volumes in these industrial markets could exceed 1.1 billion GPY (3.8 million MTPY) by 2007. Currently, 24 countries worldwide produce biodiesel, mostly in Europe, followed by the U.S. Other related oleochemical plant capacity and production data are confidential in nature; many existing oleochemical companies periodically divert methyl ester production to fuel markets. Current volumes consumed in Europe are approximately 345 million GPY (1.2 million MTPY) and the North American market reached only 20 million GPY (70,000 MTPY). These capacity and consumption numbers are generalized due to lack of formal reporting in some national markets, confidential plant capacity and production by companies, and the moving target nature of pinning these down over the last few years. (Austrian Biofuels Institute, 2002 and Bockey, 2002, U.S. Department of Energy, 2003).
For more information about this article,please follow the link:
http://www.googleurl?sa=t&source=web&cd=...diesel.pdf&ei=ODuwTOzYGsHflgfS-fDmDw&usg=AFQjCNGeYdcj8GDS_1uT5WEq-GO4FdUabw
Dan Anderson, Derek Masterson, Bill McDonald and Larry Sullivan
Crown Iron Works Company
Industrial Biodiesel Plant Design and Engineering: Practical Experience
ABSTRACT
The biodiesel process itself is more than just a chemical reaction. The practical aspects of how to turn an ordinary reaction in to a large full-scale industrial plant are of utmost importance. It has been proven that bench top reactions and equipment often to not properly scale up to full processing plant size, and biodiesel is no exception. Concerns for the feedstock such as fatty acid content, fatty acid profile, phosphorus, sulfur, moisture, and other various qualities are evaluated along with the overall cost of not taking time to tightly control these specifications. Biodiesel product specifications are also discussed, along with the variances in specifications from location to location and the significant differences of each. The importance of how to label or market the biodiesel is also a concern for all involved, as the media can quickly turn a small error into a worldwide embarrassment for the biodiesel community. Although the intent of making biodiesel is not to make glycerine, the glycerine component and its treatment are an important economic decision that will affect the overall profitability of the facility. This paper includes information learned during the recent construction of the largest US plant dedicated to biodiesel production. INTRODUCTION
The processes and production of biodiesel (methyl ester) from vegetable oil and animal fat feedstocks remain a strong growth market in the United States and Canada as well as the European Union. Currently, the U.S. and Canada methyl ester capacity is 200 million GPY (US gallons per year), or 700,000 MTPY (metric tons per year), and the Europeans are nearing 573 million GPY (2 million MTPY) of dedicated capacity. Expected market demand and production incentives suggest that volumes in these industrial markets could exceed 1.1 billion GPY (3.8 million MTPY) by 2007. Currently, 24 countries worldwide produce biodiesel, mostly in Europe, followed by the U.S. Other related oleochemical plant capacity and production data are confidential in nature; many existing oleochemical companies periodically divert methyl ester production to fuel markets. Current volumes consumed in Europe are approximately 345 million GPY (1.2 million MTPY) and the North American market reached only 20 million GPY (70,000 MTPY). These capacity and consumption numbers are generalized due to lack of formal reporting in some national markets, confidential plant capacity and production by companies, and the moving target nature of pinning these down over the last few years. (Austrian Biofuels Institute, 2002 and Bockey, 2002, U.S. Department of Energy, 2003).
For more information about this article,please follow the link:
http://www.googleurl?sa=t&source=web&cd=...diesel.pdf&ei=ODuwTOzYGsHflgfS-fDmDw&usg=AFQjCNGeYdcj8GDS_1uT5WEq-GO4FdUabw