Biodiesel Production by Reactive Flash: A Numerical Simulation

Reactive flash (RF) in biodiesel production has been studied in order to investigate steady-state multiplicities, singularities, and effect of biodiesel quality when the RF system approaches to bubble point. The RF was modeled by an index-2 system of differential algebraic equations, the vapor split...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alejandro Regalado-Méndez, Sigurd Skogestad, Reyna Natividad, Rubí Romero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:International Journal of Chemical Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7843081
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Summary:Reactive flash (RF) in biodiesel production has been studied in order to investigate steady-state multiplicities, singularities, and effect of biodiesel quality when the RF system approaches to bubble point. The RF was modeled by an index-2 system of differential algebraic equations, the vapor split (ϕ) was computed by modified Rachford-Rice equation and modified Raoult’s law computed bubble point, and the continuation analysis was tracked on MATCONT. Results of this study show the existence of turning points, leading to a unique bubble point manifold, (xBiodiesel,T)=(0.46,478.41 K), which is a globally stable flashing operation. Also, the results of the simulation in MATLAB® of the dynamic behavior of the RF show that conversion of triglycerides reaches 97% for a residence time of 5.8 minutes and a methanol to triglyceride molar flow ratio of 5 : 1.
ISSN:1687-806X
1687-8078