Applications: Bioconversion

The numerical simulation of real-world systems frequently requires linking multiple models together—potentially spanning multiple levels of physical fidelity and computational resources—such that the outputs of one model can inform the inputs of another. Virtual Engineering (VE) is a Python package that enables the creation of this type of model sequence. It was originally developed to support the simulation and optimization of the low-temperature conversion of biomass to fuel which is typically performed as a three-step process.

These three separately developed computational unit operations of bioconvertion are:

• the pretreatment of the feedstock to make cellulose more accessible,

• an enzymatic hydrolysis step to digest cellulose into sugars, and

• a bioconversion step to convert sugars into products in a reactor.

• Background
• Bioconversion GUI using Widgets
• Bioconversion with Optimization
• Using OpenFOAM Unit Models