100,000 kg/h) was evidenced, where the exergy present in the form of energy
contained inside of reagents used throughout the process represents 98.88% of this
percentage (see Fig. 3). On the other hand, the stage of the process that presents a
greater exergetic consumption is the culture and harvesting of the microalgae. This
factor is presented by the high duration of microalgae cultivation, which is why an
exergetic consumption of 39.53% is present at this stage. The extraction of oil and
the production of biodiesel present a percentage of 43.77 and 16.7%, respectively.
Thus, the most inefficient stage of the process is the cultivation and harvesting of
the microalgae. Under the process conditions analyzed, an exergetic efficiency of
37.08% was presented.
In production processes, different sources of expenses are presented, such as
operating expenses, operating expenses, or operational expenses (OPEX) together
with the costs of equipments (CAPEX). Similarly, another expense is the acquisition of the raw materials needed to obtain a final product such as biodiesel.
Figure 4 shows the percentage distribution of expenses. In this figure, it can be
Fig. 2 Percentage
distribution of energy
consumption
Fig. 3 Total exergy
consumption by the
production of biodiesel from
microalgae
194
D. L. Restrepo-Serna et al.
contained inside of reagents used throughout the process represents 98.88% of this
percentage (see Fig. 3). On the other hand, the stage of the process that presents a
greater exergetic consumption is the culture and harvesting of the microalgae. This
factor is presented by the high duration of microalgae cultivation, which is why an
exergetic consumption of 39.53% is present at this stage. The extraction of oil and
the production of biodiesel present a percentage of 43.77 and 16.7%, respectively.
Thus, the most inefficient stage of the process is the cultivation and harvesting of
the microalgae. Under the process conditions analyzed, an exergetic efficiency of
37.08% was presented.
In production processes, different sources of expenses are presented, such as
operating expenses, operating expenses, or operational expenses (OPEX) together
with the costs of equipments (CAPEX). Similarly, another expense is the acquisition of the raw materials needed to obtain a final product such as biodiesel.
Figure 4 shows the percentage distribution of expenses. In this figure, it can be
Fig. 2 Percentage
distribution of energy
consumption
Fig. 3 Total exergy
consumption by the
production of biodiesel from
microalgae
194
D. L. Restrepo-Serna et al.