Case Studies Bioprocess Innovator Relies on Process Modeling to Optimize Algae-to-Biofuel Conversion

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	Bioprocess Innovator Relies on Process Modeling to Optimize Algae-to-Biofuel Conversion

Bioprocess Innovator Relies on Process Modeling to Optimize Algae-to-Biofuel Conversion

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Analytics & Modeling - Process Analytics
Applicable Industries	Renewable Energy
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Predictive Quality Analytics Process Control & Optimization
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	Pan Pacific Technologies, a small company with powerful thought leadership in the area of algae to biofuels conversion, was seeking a rigorous approach to validate the technical and economic feasibility of its proprietary algal conversion concepts. A key challenge was to find a modeling environment that would provide an effective way to capture and communicate their proprietary ideas to researchers worldwide. They needed to simulate a complex biological system that was previously difficult to model, improve understanding of process constraints and scale-up, and complete techno-economic analysis. Read More
About Customer	Pan Pacific Technologies is a specialized engineering consultancy based in Adelaide, Australia that focuses on new sustainable energy solutions. They have developed proprietary concepts and intellectual property for the commercialization of capturing and converting carbon to biofuels and other products using algae. The company recently joined the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), a consortium which is investigating innovations in processes using algae for the production of biofuels under a major U.S. Department of Energy research grant. Read More
Solution	Pan Pacific Technologies put their algae process knowledge, which previously had been modeled in Microsoft Excel, into an Aspen Plus model. They experienced a breakthrough by predicting key limiting factors, allowing them to create a placeholder for otherwise unavailable algae property data. Through innovative use of aspenONE solutions, Pan Pacific Technologies was able to successfully produce an Aspen Plus model with results matching laboratory and industry data. With this baseline case, they further used the model, the energy balance, and the link to AspenTech’s estimating system to understand scale-up constraints and the key economics of the process. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Analytics & Modeling - Process Analytics

Applicable Industries

Renewable Energy

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Predictive Quality Analytics

Process Control & Optimization

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

Pan Pacific Technologies, a small company with powerful thought leadership in the area of algae to biofuels conversion, was seeking a rigorous approach to validate the technical and economic feasibility of its proprietary algal conversion concepts. A key challenge was to find a modeling environment that would provide an effective way to capture and communicate their proprietary ideas to researchers worldwide. They needed to simulate a complex biological system that was previously difficult to model, improve understanding of process constraints and scale-up, and complete techno-economic analysis.

About Customer

Pan Pacific Technologies is a specialized engineering consultancy based in Adelaide, Australia that focuses on new sustainable energy solutions. They have developed proprietary concepts and intellectual property for the commercialization of capturing and converting carbon to biofuels and other products using algae. The company recently joined the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), a consortium which is investigating innovations in processes using algae for the production of biofuels under a major U.S. Department of Energy research grant.

Solution

Pan Pacific Technologies put their algae process knowledge, which previously had been modeled in Microsoft Excel, into an Aspen Plus model. They experienced a breakthrough by predicting key limiting factors, allowing them to create a placeholder for otherwise unavailable algae property data. Through innovative use of aspenONE solutions, Pan Pacific Technologies was able to successfully produce an Aspen Plus model with results matching laboratory and industry data. With this baseline case, they further used the model, the energy balance, and the link to AspenTech’s estimating system to understand scale-up constraints and the key economics of the process.

Impact #1	Simulate a complex biological system that was previously difficult to model
Impact #2	Improve understanding of process constraints and scale-up
Impact #3	Complete techno-economic analysis from Aspen Plus outputs

Impact #1

Simulate a complex biological system that was previously difficult to model

Impact #2

Improve understanding of process constraints and scale-up

Impact #3

Complete techno-economic analysis from Aspen Plus outputs

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Overview

Bioprocess Innovator Relies on Process Modeling to Optimize Algae-to-Biofuel Conversion

Operational Impact