Fuzzy modeling and particle swarm optimization for determining the optimal operating parameters to enhance the bio-methanol production from sugar cane bagasse

This work aims to maximize the production of bio-methanol from sugar cane bagasse through pyrolysis. The maximum value of the bio-methanol yield can be obtained as soon as the optimal operating parameters in a pyrolysis batch reactor are well defined. Using the experimental data, the fuzzy logic technique is used to build a robust model that describes the yield of bio-methanol production. Then, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is utilized to estimate the optimal values of the operating parameters that maximize the bio-methanol yield. Three different operating parameters influence the yield of bio-methanol from sugar cane bagasse through pyrolysis. The controlling parameters are considered as the reaction temperature (degrees C), reaction time (min), and nitrogen flow (L/min). Accordingly, during the optimization process, these parameters are used as the decision variables set for the PSO optimizer in order to maximize the yield of bio-methanol, which is considered as a cost function. The results demonstrated a well-fitting between the fuzzy model and the experimental data compared with previous predictions obtained by an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The mean square errors of the model predictions are 0.11858 and 0.0259, respectively, for the ANN and fuzzy-based models, indicating that fuzzy modeling increased the prediction accuracy to 78.16% compared with ANN. Based on the built model, the PSO optimizer accomplished a substantial improvement in the yield of bio-methanol by 20% compared to that obtained experimentally, without changing system design or the materials used.