Analysis of Algal Oil Production; specific unit operations analyzed

1. PRODUCTION OF ALGAL OIL
BE 4380
Kira Bartlett & Cassidy Laird

2. INTRODUCTION
• Algae as Feedstock
– Normally food supplements
• Need better Energy Resources
– Algal conversion of solar energy
• Harvestable Form
• More efficient
• Carbon Neutral Process

3. PROCESS DESIGN
Annual Biomass Production: 275,000 MT
Annual Algal Oil Production: 65,000 MT

4. SONICATOR
• High Pressure Homogenization
• Disrupts algae cells to release the lipids
100 Biomass  7 ASH + 42.2 Cell Debris + 0.8 NHP + 4 PL + 4 Proteins + 26 TAG

5. CENTRIFUGATION
Component separation based on density
Centrifugal/Centripetal force in radial direction

6. DECANTER CENTRIFUGE

7. DISK STACK CENTRIFUGE
• Separates TAG and other lipids from stream
• Alter rotational velocity, efficiency, etc.
• Balance with cost and power

8. HEXANE EXTRACTION
• Extracts remnants of lipids
• Balanced stoichiometric equations
– Difficult to alter process

9. ECONOMIC EVALUATION
• Startup Costs: $305,344,000
YEARLY EVALUATION
• Operating Cost: 98,723,849
– Initial Operating Cost: $111,793,000
– Savings: $13,069,377
• Revenues: $126,603,051
• Profits: $13,069,378
Break Even Point: 6.94 yrs

10. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
• Type of Algae
• Methods of lipid extraction
• Parameters on disk-stack centrifuge

11. CONCLUSIONS
• Working facility to produce Algal Oil
– Used for generation of clean energy
• Creates other Valuable Products
– Proteins for Animal Feed
– Electrical Energy Produced
• Reduces & Reuses Waste Products
– Organic & Aqueous Wastes
– Low Emissions
– Less Bulk Materials needed

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Alfa Laval Corporate AB. Disk stack separator technology. PDF.
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