• Energy Research

AbstractMinimizing the emissions produced during the processing of biofuel, one aim is to reduce or completely replace the amount of the required fossil fuels used for internal process energy. For the transition of process energy from fossil to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, the energy demand of biomass processing must be adjustable to the fluctuating electricity supply. The flexible adjustment of a system's power demand to follow the current power generation is commonly referred to as demand side management (DSM). This contribution shows the results of a study on the implementation of DSM in biofuel biorefineries. By identifying reference concepts that could represent biofuel production plants, the specific mass and energy consumption for the individual process steps in these reference concepts was analyzed through a literature study. The annual throughput and energy consumption of process steps in biofuel production could then be calculated, enabling the identification of the most energy‐consuming process steps. Subsequently, possible flexible operating load ranges of the respective process steps in biofuel production were identified. These findings allowed an assessment of the potential for different process units of biorefinery systems concerning the quantitative adaptability of the electricity load – the theoretical DSM potential. An approximate theoretical DSM potential of 146 MW has been identified for biofuel production in Germany. This cumulated theoretical DSM potential in biofuel production was compared to that of other industrial processes, demonstrating the magnitude and importance of the implementation of DSM in biofuel production. © 2022 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The participation of power-intensive chemical processes in demand response programs is seen to provide grid stability and potentially reduce the operating costs of these processes. Large-scale processes that require intermediate products that can be produced by demand response scheduling of a suitable preprocess are an option to be utilized as grid energy storage. In this light, we determine the demand response potential of the novel process route of the production process of ethylene oxide that is coupled to a polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis process through process-specific analysis and scenario-dependent economic evaluation. We apply an innovative combination of mathematical tools in the consecutive steps of a demand-side management framework. The sequential approach is able to break down the complexity of the demand response operation of such processes into manageable subproblems. The case study illustrates the approach and proves its general validity in quantifying the potential application of large-scale processes in demand response programs.

AbstractThe time‐dependent adjustment of a system's power demand simultaneously with current power generation is commonly referred to as demand side management (DSM). DSM strategies are based on the flexibility to purchase electricity at times when prices are low, which can result in monetary benefits. One option to increase the flexibility of continuously operated processes is to oversize them. From an economic point of view, this leads to an increased investment. DSM only serves an economic purpose if the monetary benefits exceed this increase in capital costs. The main goal of this contribution is to develop a decision support tool to help evaluate unit operations regarding their feasibility for DSM implementation. In a case study, the decision support tool was applied to show its functionality on a biomethane production plant. The results show that with the help of the decision support tool, evaluating unit operations concerning their economic DSM potential is possible.

AbstractGas scrubbing using aqueous amine solutions is the most promising retrofit option for post combustion CO2 capture today. Therefore, new solvents combining favorable characteristics are developed to optimize the overall performance and replace the benchmark process with MEA. This work reports absorption rates and CO2 loadings of fresh and regenerated MEA, EDA, AMP solutions and EDA-AMP blends under different gas compositions. EDA, AMP and their blend show advantageous characteristics during absorption of 100% CO2. However, in presence of SO2 and O2 performance losses occur so that further investigations with degradation inhibitors, varied blend concentrations and blends containing other amines are of interest.

Energieeffizienz ist ein wesentlicher Baustein nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens und unabdingbare Voraussetzung zur Erreichung aktueller klimapolitischer Ziele. Die von der Helmholtz‐Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren geförderte Energie‐Allianz „Energieeffiziente chemische Mehrphasenprozesse”︁ bündelt Kompetenzen und Forschungsaktivitäten im Bereich der chemischen Verfahrenstechnik mit dem Ziel der Weiterentwicklung von Entwurfs‐ und Auslegungsmethoden, numerischen und experimentellen Techniken sowie neuer Messeverfahren zur Effizienzsteigerung chemischer Mehrphasenprozesse. Energy efficiency is an essential building block of a sustainable economy and an indispensable prerequisite for achieving current international climate goals. The Energy Alliance "Energy efficient multiphase chemical processes" funded by the Helmholtz Association combines expertise and research activities in the field of chemical process engineering with the objective to further develop design tools, numerical and experimental techniques as well as new measurement techniques for increased efficiency of chemical multiphase processes.

AbstractThe advantages of implementing demand side management (DSM) strategies in biogas production are explored. Specifically, the influence of agitation intervals on biogas production and the economic advantages of DSM in fermenter agitation are examined. The model‐based study highlights the detrimental effects of insufficient agitation, such as reduced active reaction volume and diminished biogas yield. The article further delves into the optimal agitation intervals corresponding to different electricity price levels and assesses the implications of DSM on biogas production. Results substantiate that such strategies, particularly at high and low electricity prices, can increase profit while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.