Integration of Biomass Conversion Technologies and Geothermal Heat into a Model Wood Processing Cluster

Abstract

Due to the anticipated future demand for bio-derived fuels and chemicals it is important to identify which processes would benefit from integration with existing industrial clusters, especially those producing wood based products such as pulp and paper. Specific integration schemes need to be identified and benefits, both economic and environmental, quantified to assist the successful commercialisation and adoption of these new technologies. These synergies are examples of industrial symbiosis; the sharing of resources, including utilities and services between different co-located production facilities. Total site analysis is an important tool to accomplish this task. A model of a typical wood processing cluster including a thermo-mechanical pulp and paper mill, kraft pulp and paper mill, and saw mill have been used to evaluate the integration potential of possible new entrants into the cluster. A background/foreground analysis was used to assess any heat recovery potential between the cluster and the new entrant. Some of the processes considered had little or no integration potential due to having approximately the same pinch temperature as the cluster. Large potential was found to occur where the pinch temperatures were dissimilar and the shape of the grand composite curves complimentary. The integration of geothermal heat as a means of generating surplus black liquor as a feed to a biorefinery process was also examined.