Modeling Tools for Planning Sustainable Biomass and Waste Conversion into Energy and Chemicals

Modeling Tools for Planning Sustainable Biomass and Waste Conversion into Energy and Chemicals: Optimization of Technical, Economic, Environmental and Social Key Aspects provides practical knowledge on the technical, economic and environmental aspects of bioenergy, biorefining, and waste-to-energy systems through modeling. The book covers key-technologies and cutting-edge advances for biomass assessment using statistics and GIS systems, logistics optimization using Vehicle Routing Problem solvers, Neural Networks and Optimization models based on MILP and NLP, and energy demand assessment. Finally, the book illustrates the application of the methodologies covered through a number of case studies, quizzes and exercises. In addition, sections cover feasibility plans for biorefineries and combined heat and power systems, and the fundamentals and challenges of modeling biomass and waste conversion processes, such as anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, transesterification, fermentation and hydroprocessing. The authors also examine economic and market factors influencing feedstock availability and price and provide tools for environmental and social impact analysis.