Engineering Study of a Pilot Scale Process Plant for Microalgae-Oil Production Utilizing Municipal Wastewater and Flue Gases: Fukushima Pilot Plant

Nugroho Adi Sasongko, Ryozo Noguchi, Junko Ito, Mikihide Demura, Sosaku Ichikawa, Mitsutoshi Nakajima and Makoto M. Watanabe
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Nugroho Adi Sasongko: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Ryozo Noguchi: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Junko Ito: Algae Biomass and Energy System R&D Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Mikihide Demura: Algae Biomass and Energy System R&D Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Sosaku Ichikawa: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Mitsutoshi Nakajima: Algae Biomass and Energy System R&D Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
Makoto M. Watanabe: Algae Biomass and Energy System R&D Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-24

Abstract: This article presents an engineering study of an integrated system to produce bio-oil from microalgae biomass. The analysis is based on a pilot plant located at Minami-soma Fukushima, Japan, which further simulates 1 ha based-cultivation. Municipal wastewater and flue gases were utilized as nutrient sources for the microalgae culture of the proposed design. A flow sheet diagram of the integrated plant was synthesized by process engineering software to allow simulation of a continuous system. The design and sizing of the process equipment were performed to obtain a realistic estimation of possible production cost. The results demonstrated that nutrient savings was achieved by wastewater and CO 2 utilization to the polyculture of native microalgae. Process simulation gave an estimated CO 2 sequestration of 82.77 to 140.58 tons ha −1 year −1 with 63 to 107 tons ha −1 year −1 of potential biomass production. The integrated process significantly improved the energy balance and economics of biofuel production and also the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The economic analysis confirmed that higher biomass production and technology improvement were required to achieve operational feasibility and profitability of the current microalgae-based bio-oil production.

Keywords: engineering design; energy balance; CO 2 emission; microalgae oil; municipal wastewater; process simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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