PROCESS SIMULATION OF SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PRODUCTION VIA ETHANOL

Resumo

This study aims to evaluate the route to obtain Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from ethanol, using the DWSIM process simulator. The methodology consisted of the computational simulation of the stages of ethanol dehydration, ethylene oligomerization, olefin hydrogenation, and fractional distillation of hydrocarbons, as well as the sensitivity analysis of these steps, with the aim of increasing the process's energy efficiency. Two scenarios were evaluated: a base scenario, with the conversion reactors based on literature and patent data, and an analytic scenario, which implemented kinetic models for the reaction stages and refined the separation processes. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of the process, as the optimization increased the mass yield of biokerosene from 10.3% to 21.9% and reduced the specific energy consumption from 20.5 kWh/kg to 9.01 kWh/kg. It is concluded that the implementation of kinetic models and process optimization, especially in the distillation stage, were effective in increasing productivity and energy efficiency, yielding a final product in compliance with the specifications of the ASTM D7566 standard. The study reinforces the potential of the ATJ route and the use of simulators for the development of biofuels, impacting the global energy transition process.