The course is structured to teach students a holistic and interdisciplinary approach of steering the process of converting sustainable biological sources (biomass) into energy and material flows. Biorefineries will be studied from the mechanical and chemical engineering point of view, as well as an economic and financial aspect. In addition, students will learn to optimize the supply chain of raw materials as part of the course.

Student responsibilities:

Regular attendance of classes and seminars with active participation and consultations as needed.

Grading and evaluation of student work over the course of instruction and at a final exam:

Continuous evaluation through the preparation of seminars and project assignments.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to (learning outcomes):

1 . Explain the principle of biorefinery operation

2 . Define and estimate energy and mass flows

3 . Explain the applications of different biomass conversion technologies in biorefinery processes, on case study examples

4 . Define the supply chains of raw materials, estimate the physical and chemical characteristics of raw materials, determine the technical and energy potential

5 . Explain the impact of certain raw material characteristics on process efficiency and product yield

6 . Explain the kinetics of conversion processes in biorefinery plants

7 . Explain the constraints placed on the environmental sustainability of raw materials used in biorefineries

8 . Explain the economic parameters that affect the profitability of biorefinery processes

9 . Determine the minimum cost of raw materials through supply chain optimization

Lectures

1. Introduction, principle of biorefinery operation

2. Calculation of energy and mass flows

4. Application of different biomass conversion technologies in biorefinery processes, case studies

5. Raw material supply chains, determination of physical and chemical characteristics of raw materials, determination of technical and energy potential

8. Biomass conversion processes in biorefinery processes (anaerobic and aerobic decomposition, biodiesel synthesis, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion)

9. Influence of raw material characteristics and pretreatment on process efficiency and product yield in biorefinery processes

10. Kinetics of conversion processes in biorefinery processes

11. Limitations placed on the environmental sustainability of raw materials used in biorefinery processes

12. Techno-economic analysis of biorefinery processes

13. Minimization of raw material cost through optimization of biomass supply chain using graph theory approach (p-graph tool)

14.

15.

Exercises

3. Seminar: Calculation of energy and mass flows on the example of one biorefinery

6. Seminar: Mapping the technical potential of input raw materials using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools 1

7. Seminar: Mapping the technical potential of input raw materials using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools 2

10.

11.

12.

13.

14. Seminar: Supply chain optimization using graph theory approach (p-graph tool) - solving a case study with one final product

15. Seminar: Supply chain optimization using graph theory approaches (p-graph tools) - solving examples with multiple final products

Compulsory literature:

1. Introduction to Biosystems Engineering, Nicholas M. Holden, Mary Leigh Wolfe, Jactone A. Ogejo, & Enda J. Cummins, ASABE Publications, 2020, p. 0-0

Recommended literature:

2. Biorefineries, Kurt Wagemann, Nils Tippkötter, Springer , 2019, p. 0-0