BioSTEAM: The open-source bioprocess simulation and techno-economic analysis modules in Python

Cortes-Pena, Yoel Rene

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Description

Title

BioSTEAM: The open-source bioprocess simulation and techno-economic analysis modules in Python

Author(s)

Cortes-Pena, Yoel Rene

Issue Date

2019-04-26

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Guest, Jeremy

Department of Study

Civil & Environmental Eng

Discipline

Environ Engr in Civil Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Bioprocess
• Simulation
• Techno-Economic Analysis
• Software
• Python
• Biorefinery
• Mass balance
• Energy balance
• Thermodynamics
• Thermodynamic Equilibrium
• Unit operations

Abstract

Preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA) of a chemical process provides critical information on the economic feasibility, technological bottlenecks, and venture risks due to process uncertainties. Current TEA methods generally rely on proprietary software to evaluate two to three design configurations with single point sensitivity analysis. Such classical methods neglect the effect of process uncertainties and fail to evaluate the complete landscape of design decisions. The limited scope of current literature obscures comparisons between process evaluations and makes it difficult to predict how possible technological developments can impact the sustainability of a process. The main difficulties in adding rigorous uncertainty analysis is high computational time and low rate of successful convergence. Additionally, relying on proprietary software presents both an economic and intellectual barrier for evaluating emerging and conceptual processes. The Bioprocess Simulation and Techno-Economic Analysis Modules, BioSTEAM, is an open-source steady state process simulation package in python for preliminary TEA that will enable rigorous uncertainty analysis through its fast and flexible platform. BioSTEAM presents an intuitive toolset of objects that handle thermodynamic properties, material flows, unit operations, recycle systems, and process specifications. The applicability of BioSTEAM is demonstrated here in the context of a design for the co-production of biodiesel and ethanol from lipid cane. The evaluation of the lipid cane biorefinery in BioSTEAM closely matches a previous evaluation of the design using SuperPro Designer (a proprietary process simulation software). BioSTEAM is well documented and readily available at the Python Package Index, a repository for published Python packages. Although BioSTEAM has not yet incorporated many of the unit operation models presented in proprietary process simulators, its extendable and transparent architecture offers users the power to build new unit operation models and share their designs without any barriers. BioSTEAM may help foster a new open-source community that can accelerate advancements in the field of process design and simulation.

Graduation Semester

2019-05

Type of Resource

text

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Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Yoel Cortes-Pena, Jeremy Guest

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