Simulation software aids renewable fuel processes

Invensys Process Systems has won a major contract to supply a new version of its PRO/II simulation software to a German synthetic biofuel manufacturer, Choren Industries

Invensys Process Systems has won a major contract to supply a new version of its PRO/II simulation software to a German synthetic biofuel manufacturer.

The five-year simulation software contract was awarded by UET, the process engineering division of Freiberg-based Choren Industries.

UET activities include technology development, process optimisation, engineering, materials testing and customer advisory services.

Much of this work is based around the Carbo-V process, the Choren three-stage gasification process.

This process converts biomass such as waste lumber and agricultural waste into a raw gas that can then be used either as a combustion gas to produce electricity and heat, or as synthesis gas for producing renewable, synthetic automotive fuels.

The latter is typically accomplished in combination with a traditional Fisher-Tropsch synthesis.

Due to the use of biomass in the Carbo-V process, the generated electrical energy, as well as the produced fuels are largely CO2 neutral.

One of the key projects in which SimSci-Esscor simulation technology is now involved is the first industrial plant for the manufacture of SunDiesel fuel from wood.

The plant is located in Freiberg/Saxony and has an annual fuel output of up to 15,000 tons.

Developed in conjunction with DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen, this is the latest Choren automotive fuel.

SunDiesel has a higher cetane number and therefore much better ignition properties than conventional diesel.

In addition, it is odour-free and sulphur-free, leading to a significant reduction in the emission of pollutants.

The new fuel can be used without any need to adjust a car's existing infrastructure or drive systems and is largely neutral in terms of carbon dioxide.

"Our newly designed Excel engine for the PRO/II software has allowed Choren to successfully reuse its existing legacy code," said Alastair Fraser, Vice President of the SimSci-Esscor unit of Invensys Process Systems.

"For example, the company has formulated process blocks such as the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis in Excel spreadsheets," he added.

According to Choren spokesperson Dietmar Ruger, this has been the great benefit of the new simulation software.

"The ability to seamlessly integrate these calculations into recycle-intense PRO/II process flow sheets allows us to continue using our own proven calculation routines within the PRO/II engineering environment," he explained.

"There's no doubt that the Excel engine for PRO/II makes our software extremely versatile and especially interesting for niche markets such as the renewable energy sector," concluded Alastair Fraser.

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