Controlling the cooling of fermenters of a biofuel production plant
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPatrick D. Noll, James F. Bartee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to various embodiments, a biofuel production system includes a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, and a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system. The cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters based upon temperatures of fermentation products of the fermenters.
Claims25
A biofuel production system, comprising:
- a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of cooling tower water control valves configured to meter the cooling water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of chiller water control valves configured to meter the chiller water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- and
- a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system, wherein the cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters by adjusting the plurality of cooling tower water control valves and the plurality of chiller water control valves to control a recirculation temperature.
A biofuel production system, for use in a facility having a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system, and a chiller water system, the biofuel production system comprising:
- a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system, wherein the cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters by adjusting a plurality of cooling tower water control valves configured to meter the cooling water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and a plurality of chiller water control valves configured to meter the chiller water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- and
- a process controller configured to determine desired flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to each of the parallel-operated fermenters, wherein the flow rate of the cooling water has a negative relationship with the flow rate of the chiller water.
A biofuel production system, comprising:
- a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of cooling tower water control valves configured to meter the cooling water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and comprising a plurality of chiller water control valves configured to meter the chiller water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- and
- a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system, wherein the cooling system controls supply of the cooling water and/or the chiller water to the parallel-operated fermenters during normal operation by adjusting the plurality of cooling tower water control valves and/or the plurality of chiller water control valves to control a recirculation temperature, and provides prioritized supply of the chiller water from the chiller water system to any fermenter with a temperature approaching or meeting a threshold temperature by adjusting the plurality of chiller water control valves.
A biofuel production system, for use in a facility having a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system, and a chiller water system, the biofuel production system comprising:
- a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system, wherein the cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters by adjusting a plurality of cooling tower water control valves configured to meter the cooling water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters and a plurality of chiller water control valves configured to meter the chiller water to each of the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters;
- and
- a process controller configured to determine desired flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to each of the parallel-operated fermenters, wherein the flow rate of the cooling water has a negative relationship with the flow rate of the chiller water, and to provide prioritized supply of the chiller water from the chiller water system to any fermenter with a temperature approaching or meeting a threshold temperature.
A method for controlling the cooling of a plurality of parallel-operated batch processes in a production plant using a cooling system comprising a plurality of cooling fluids, comprising:
- (a) determining operating variables of the plurality of parallel-operated batch processes and the cooling system;
- (b) determining constraints of the plurality of parallel-operated batch processes and the cooling system;
- (c) determining desired flow rates of the plurality of cooling fluids through the plurality of parallel-operated batch processes based upon the determined operating variables, constraints, and an overall optimization objective, wherein a first flow rate has a negative relationship with a second flow rate;
- and
- (d) controlling the flow rates of the plurality of cooling fluids through the plurality of parallel-operated batch processes based upon the desired flow rate determinations by adjusting a plurality of cooling fluid control valves configured to meter each of the plurality of cooling fluids to each of the plurality of parallel-operated batch processes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.