Improving plant-level heat pump performance through process modifications

Heat pumps are a promising option to decarbonize the industrial sector. However, their performance at a plant-level can be affected by other process changes. In this work, process changes that improve the heat pump's performance have been identified using Process Change Analysis (PCA), where the background pinch point is used as a reference...

Thermally self-sufficient heat pump-assisted azeotropic dividing-wall column for biofuels recovery from isopropanol-butanol-ethanol fermentation

Isopropanol-butanol-ethanol (IBE) fermentation is a superior biofuel production technology as compared to acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation due to the better fuel properties of the obtained products. However, low product concentrations, thermodynamic constraints and the presence of microorganisms lead to complex downstream processing...

Enhanced downstream processing of NGL using intensified fluid separation technologies

Downstream processing of natural gas liquids (NGL) provides feedstock needed for plastic production, upgraded fuels and heating, but it is one of the largest high-pressure and energy intensive processes. This original study is the first to integrate novel process intensification options from a holistic viewpoint for the full process covering...

Advanced downstream processing of bioethanol from syngas fermentation

Syngas fermentation is used industrially to produce diluted bioethanol (about 1–6 wt%). This research study proposes a novel downstream process that recovers bioethanol in an energy-efficient and cost-effective manner, improves fermentation yield by recycling all fermentation broth components (microbes, acetate and water), and is designed for...

Robust Optimal Control for Demand Side Management of Multi-Carrier Microgrids

This paper focuses on the control of microgrids where both gas and electricity are provided to the final customer, i.e., multi-carrier microgrids. Hence, these microgrids include thermal and electrical loads, renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, heat pumps, and combined heat and power units. The parameters characterizing the...

Scalable distributed sensor fault diagnosis for smart buildings

The enormous energy use of the building sector and the requirements for indoor living quality that aim to improve occupants'productivity and health, prioritize Smart Buildings as an emerging technology. The Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning ( HVAC ) system is considered one of the most critical and essential parts in buildings since...