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Systems Analysis

Leveraging Hybrid Domain Knowledge and Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Plastic Pyrolysis Performance

Jiaze Ma�Pallavi Dubey�Victor Zavala�Mark Mba Wright

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Background and Motivation

Plastic Pyrolysis Data

Machine Learning Approach

Collaboration with Experimental Groups

Integration with Techno-Economic and Lifecycle Analysis

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Machine Learning for Biomass Fast Pyrolysis

Kinetics + Machine Learning

Predicted Biofuel Prices:

    • $2.62–$5.43 per gallon

Predicted GHG Emissions:

    • −13.62 to 145 kg of CO2 per MJ

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Plastic Pyrolysis Kinetics

Identified: 2087

Screened: 151

Machine Learning: 35

Quantum Mechanics: 15

Global Kinetics: 101

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Moher et al. 2009; Armenise et al. 2021

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Plastic Pyrolysis Kinetics

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Web of Science

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Plastic Pyrolysis Kinetics

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  • Limitations:
  • Single/Binary Plastic Feed(s)
  • Limited Material Characterization
  • TGA/DSC
  • Limited Reactor Representation
  • Limited Range of Operating Conditions

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Plastic Pyrolysis Machine Learning

Literature-based Dataset of 570 Points

Trained ML with ~300 points

Decision tree (DT),

Artificial neuron network (ANN),

Support vector machine (SVM),

Gaussian process (GP)

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Plastic Pyrolysis Machine Learning

Literature-based Dataset of ~300 points

Features:

    • Temperature
    • Heating Rate
    • Particle Size
    • Catalyst
    • Reactor Type
    • Oil Yield

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Other Machine Learning Approaches

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Machine Learning Approach

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  • Train a prediction model
  • Compare to experimental data
  • Identify high information regions
  • Identify high uncertainty regions

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Machine Learning Approach

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Machine Learning Approach

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Collaboration with Experimental Groups

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Integration with Techno-economic and Lifecycle Assessment

Is the Machine Learning Prediction sufficient?

    • Should we combine it with global kinetic models?
    • Should we identify the required or missing data (reactor configuration, catalyst type, equivalence ratio…)?
    • Should we define what data will be shared with the experimental groups (optimal conditions, high uncertainty conditions, feed compositions)?

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Integration with Techno-economic and Lifecycle Assessment

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Olafasakin et al. 2021

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