Making Biofuel A Costeffective, Renewable Source of Energy
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- COMSOL Multiphysics®
Tech Stack
- High-Performance Computing (HPC)
- COMSOL Multiphysics®
- Intel® Xeon® Ivy Bridge processors
Implementation Scale
- Pilot projects
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Environmental Impact Reduction
- Innovation Output
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Applicable Industries
- Renewable Energy
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Process Manufacturing
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Digital Twin
- Predictive Quality Analytics
- Process Control & Optimization
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leading research institution focused on advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL conducts cutting-edge research in various fields, including biofuels, solar energy, wind energy, and energy systems integration. The laboratory collaborates with industry, government, and academia to develop innovative solutions that address the world's energy challenges. NREL's research in biofuels aims to make renewable energy sources more cost-effective and competitive with traditional fossil fuels, contributing to a sustainable energy future.
The Challenge
The production process of biofuels from plant-based materials poses significant economic barriers to widespread use. Despite the benefits of biofuels being renewable, clean-burning, and carbon-neutral, their availability is limited, particularly for vehicle use. As of 2014, only 2% of retail fueling stations in the U.S. offered ethanol-based fuel E85. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) aims to overcome these barriers by gaining a better understanding of the physical processes behind biofuel conversion. Supported by the Computational Pyrolysis Consortium, NREL is developing computational models that accurately represent biomass particle geometry to improve reactor design and operation for mass production of biofuel.
The Solution
NREL researchers are using multiphysics simulation to optimize the biofuel conversion process, specifically focusing on fast pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that breaks down biomass particles at high temperatures. By developing a model in COMSOL Multiphysics® that takes into account the internal microstructure of biomass particles, the team aims to improve heat and mass transfer during pyrolysis. This involves characterizing the external morphology and internal microstructure of biomass using imaging methods and generating 3D models for simulation. The simulations, run on a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, evaluate heat transfer and mass transport in biomass particles, providing insights into optimizing biofuel production processes.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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