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Beneficial Reuse of Industrial CO 2 Emissions Using a Microalgae Photobioreactor: Waste Heat Utilization Assessment

Author

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  • Daniel T. Mohler

    (Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA)

  • Michael H. Wilson

    (Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA)

  • Zhen Fan

    (Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA)

  • John G. Groppo

    (Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA)

  • Mark Crocker

    (Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA
    Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

Abstract

Microalgae are a potential means of recycling CO 2 from industrial point sources. With this in mind, a novel photobioreactor (PBR) was designed and deployed at a coal-fired power plant. To ascertain the feasibility of using waste heat from the power plant to heat algae cultures during cold periods, two heat transfer models were constructed to quantify PBR cooling times. The first, which was based on tabulated data, material properties and the physical orientation of the PBR tubes, yielded a range of heat transfer coefficients of 19–64 W m −2 K −1 for the PBR at wind speeds of 1–10 m s −1 . The second model was based on data collected from the PBR and gave an overall heat transfer coefficient of 24.8 W m −2 K −1 . Energy penalties associated with waste heat utilization were found to incur an 18%–103% increase in energy consumption, resulting in a 22%–70% reduction in CO 2 capture for the scenarios considered. A techno-economic analysis showed that the cost of heat integration equipment increased capital expenditures (CAPEX) by a factor of nine and increased biomass production costs by a factor of three. Although the scenario is thermodynamically feasible, the increase in CAPEX incurs an increase in biomass production cost that is economically untenable.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel T. Mohler & Michael H. Wilson & Zhen Fan & John G. Groppo & Mark Crocker, 2019. "Beneficial Reuse of Industrial CO 2 Emissions Using a Microalgae Photobioreactor: Waste Heat Utilization Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:13:p:2634-:d:246825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leffler, Robert A. & Bradshaw, Craig R. & Groll, Eckhard A. & Garimella, Suresh V., 2012. "Alternative heat rejection methods for power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 17-25.
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    Cited by:

    1. Beata Brzychczyk & Tomasz Hebda & Jakub Fitas & Jan Giełżecki, 2020. "The Follow-up Photobioreactor Illumination System for the Cultivation of Photosynthetic Microorganisms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Daniel Borowiak & Małgorzata Krzywonos, 2022. "Bioenergy, Biofuels, Lipids and Pigments—Research Trends in the Use of Microalgae Grown in Photobioreactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-48, July.
    3. Beata Brzychczyk & Jan Giełżecki & Krzysztof Kijanowski & Tomasz Hebda & Filip Rzepka, 2023. "Automation of the Photobioreactor Lighting System to Manage Light Distribution in Microalgae Cultures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-20, October.

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