Biorefinery Complexity Profile

For each of the four features (platforms, feedstocks, products, and processes) of a biorefinery the TRL can be assessed using level description between 1 ( basic research ) to 9 ( system proven and ready for full commercial deployment ). Based on the TRL the feature complexity (FC) for each single feature of a biorefinery is calculated. With the number of features and the FC of each single feature the Feature Complexity Index (FCI) for each of the four features (platforms, feedstocks, products and processes) is calculated. The BCI is the sum of the four FCIs.To simplify the presentation the Biorefinery Complexity Profile (BCP) is introduced.The BCP is a compact format to present the complexity of a biorefinery by giving the BCI and the four FCIs of each feature. The BCP, which includes the BCI and the four FCIs has the following format BCP ... 

Figure 1.8 A 3-platform (CS and C6 sugars, electricity and heat, lignin) biorefinery using wood chips for bioethanol, electricity, heat, and phenols with a Biorefinery Complexity Profile of 29(8/1/4/16).

Figure 1.7 A 1-platform (oil) biorefinery using oilseed crops for biodiesel, glycerin, and feed with a Biorefinery Complexity Profile of 8 (1/1/3/3).

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