Volume 15: Low Carbon Cities and Urban Energy Systems: Part IV

The potential of multiproduct pipelines for sustainable biofuel transport Zhengbing Li, Yongtu Liang, Weilong Ni, Qi Liao, Lichao Li, Haoran Zhang

Abstract

As the most potential renewable energy, biofuel has become the fourth largest fuel source after coal, oil and natural gas. Promoting the extensive application of biofuel is an effective way to reduce carbon emission. At present, pipeline is one of the most efficient modes for transporting large amounts of liquid fuel over long distance. Transporting biofuel through the existing multiproduct pipelines is in line with the requirements of environmental protection, energy saving and low carbon economy. To determine the maximum transportation capacity of biofuel in a certain period is the premise of adopting multiproduct pipelines to transport biofuel. However, there are few studies on this issue. Considering the ordered pipeline capacity of clients for refined products, the limitations of existing pipeline equipment, and the transportation time limitation of biofuel, this paper develops a model for calculating the maximum transportation capacity of biofuel in pipelines. Finally, the applicability of the model is illustrated by applying it to a real-world pipeline in China. The results show that the model can reasonably calculate the maximum transportation capacity of biofuel in pipeline.

Keywords biofuel; multiproduct pipeline; maximum transportation capacity