Performance improvement on biofuels using MPC

The Pavilion Technologies Ethanol Solution will help maximise plant performance, increase ethanol yield, and reduce energy consumption for leading ethanol producer White Energy of Dallas

Leading ethanol producer White Energy, of Dallas, Texas, has awarded a multisite Model Predictive Control (MPC) project to Pavilion Technologies, a Rockwell Automation company.

The project will help improve ethanol production at the three White Energy plants located in Russell, Kansas, Hereford, Texas and Plainview, Texas.

White Energy is the first and largest producer of ethanol in Texas and the fifth largest ethanol producer in the United States.

"Pavilion has an impressive record and reputation for providing major and sustainable benefits to ethanol producers," said David Diwik, president and Chief Executive Officer of White Energy.

"This project will help maximize plant performance, increase ethanol yield, and reduce energy consumption, helping us meet our goal of becoming one of the most efficient producers of ethanol in the biofuels industry".

The Pavilion Model Predictive Control (MPC) solution creates a comprehensive model of the production process that predicts and analyses variable process parameters to optimise nearly every step of production, including milling/cooking, fermentation, distillation/sieving and stillage.

White Energy will also implement the Pavilion Production Performance Management (PPM) at each plant as well as its Dallas headquarters to manage and adjust ethanol production and yield based on shifting materials, energy costs and ethanol prices.

"I've spent more than 15 years in ethanol plant operations and strive to get every last ounce of ethanol out of a plant and a bushel of corn," said Ron Dunbar, vice president of Operations for White Energy: "The Pavilion solution will help us do exactly that - maximize our resources while helping our plants run at top efficiency and capacity".

Pavilion has installed its MPC Ethanol Solution in more than 30 ethanol plants, consistently helping customers increase production, improve product consistency, reduce energy consumption, and generate a return on investment within six to 12 months.

"We are very proud that White Energy has chosen Pavilion Technologies to help continually improve its long-term performance and production," said Ralph Carter, director of Pavilion Technologies.

"Their investment will provide great returns, and we look forward to delivering major results".

Back to top