Bioenergy is one of the potential solutions to satisfy the extensive demand for energy and reduce fossil fuel dependency. For biomass to be an efficient source of bioenergy, it must be converted to a usable form, one of which is pellets. This study compares three commonly used methods to produce pellets in a biomass depot and presents a framework to select the most effective and economic pelleting processes. The comparison is performed using a data driven decision-making method called the Preference Index Selection Method (PSI). We considered three main pelletization technologies and compared four of their most critical attributes. The three popular biomass pellet processing methods used for this study are the conventional pelleting process (CPP), the high moisture pelleting process (HMPP), and the ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX). These processes were evaluated from both economic and environmental perspectives. We used the state of Mississippi as a testing ground for our analyses. The results obtained through the PSI method were validated with the Grey relational analysis (GRA) method. The results revealed that of the three available pelleting processes, the conventional pelleting process and the high moisture pelleting process were the most economic and environmentally friendly.

中文翻译：

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使用数据驱动的决策方法选择生物质制粒处理场

生物能源是满足广泛能源需求并减少对化石燃料依赖性的潜在解决方案之一。为了使生物质成为有效的生物能源，必须将其转化为可用形式，其中之一是颗粒。这项研究比较了三种在生物质储库中生产颗粒的常用方法，并提出了一个框架，以选择最有效，最经济的颗粒工艺。使用称为优先索引选择方法（PSI）的数据驱动决策方法执行比较。我们考虑了三种主要的制粒技术，并比较了它们的四个最关键的属性。用于该研究的三种流行的生物质颗粒工艺方法是常规制粒工艺（CPP），高水分制粒工艺（HMPP）和氨纤维膨胀（AFEX）。从经济和环境角度对这些过程进行了评估。我们使用密西西比州作为分析的试验场。通过PSI方法获得的结果已通过灰色关联分析（GRA）方法进行了验证。结果表明，在三种可用的制粒工艺中，常规制粒工艺和高水分制粒工艺是最经济和环保的。