title: Integrating multimodal transport into cellulosic biofuel supply chain design under feedstock seasonality with a case study based on California.
abstract: A multistage, mixed integer programing model was developed that fully integrates multimodal transport into the cellulosic biofuel supply chain design under feedstock seasonality. Three transport modes are considered: truck, single railcar, and unit train. The goal is to minimize the total cost for infrastructure, feedstock harvesting, biofuel production, and transportation. Strategic decisions including the locations and capacities of transshipment hubs, biorefineries, and terminals and tactical decisions on system operations are optimized in an integrated manner. When the model was implemented to a case study of cellulosic ethanol production in California, it was found that trucks are convenient for short-haul deliveries while rails are more effective for long-haul transportation. Taking the advantage of these benefits, the multimodal transport provides more cost effective solutions than the single-mode transport (truck).
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, United States.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, United States. Electronic address: yxhuang@clemson.edu.
authors.forename: Yongxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, United States.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eksioglu
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000191:economics; D018533:Biomass; D002140:California; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D014186:Transportation / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D000431:Ethanol; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Cellulosic biofuel supply chain; Feedstock seasonality; Multimodal transportation; Multistage mixed integer model