Energy-efficient algae utilization based on enhanced process integration

State-of-the-art marine microalgae utilization processes were proposed and their performance with respect to energy consumption was evaluated. Enhanced process integration technology was developed and applied in continuous integrated energy utilization processes of microalgae. The enhanced process integration was developed based on two main principles, first, conventional process integration and, second, a thorough exergy recovery through exergy elevation and effective heat coupling for each type of energy/heat. In this study, the proposed utilization processes include the integration of drying, gasification and combined cycle. The analysis focuses mainly on the application of propose enhanced process integration in microalgae drying. Furthermore, the energy efficiency was analyzed in term of the relation between total required energy and target moisture content of drying. From the results, it is very clear that the proposed processes can reduce the required energy significantly and drying to moisture content of 10 wt% wb seems to be the most energy-efficient. The proposed enhanced process integration could minimize the exergy loss occurred in the whole process.