Abstract
In this study, biorefinery as a concept is applied to thermomechanical pulp (TMP)-based paper production to evaluate the possibility of co-production of synthetic natural gas (SNG), electricity and district heating in addition to mechanical pulp and paper. The combined heat and power plant (CHP) associated to TMP is replaced by a biomass-to-SNG (BtSNG) plant. Implementing BtSNG in a mechanical pulp production line might improve the profitability of a TMP mill and also help to commercialize the BtSNG technology by taking into account of some key issues such as biomass availability, heat utilization, etc. A TMP + BtSNG mathematical model is developed with ASPEN Plus. The model prediction shows that the scale of the TMP + BtSNG mill and SNG price are two strong factors for the implementation of BtSNG in a TMP mill. A BtSNG plant associated to a TMP mill should be built at a scale above 100 MW of biomass thermal input. For the case of Swedish economic condition, commercialization of SNG production as a transport biofuel has not matured yet. Political instruments to support commercialization of transport biofuel are necessary.
Highlights
The possibility of producing transport fuels from biomass and wastes has become a more and more important issue with regard to the global challenges of energy security and climate change
Compared to the results of the case of Thermomechanical Pulp (TMP) + biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC), represented by the dashed curves in Figures 6c,d, the net revenue (NR) and internal return rate (IRR) of TMP + BtSNG are much lower. This is attributed to three reasons: (1) the specific investment cost is much higher for BtSNG; (2) the electricity certificate instrument in Sweden has added a credit to the electricity 1p2r8od0u5ction, and (3) much more district heating (DH) is produced by BIGCC, and DH has a price unusually high
Compared to the results of the case of TMP + BIGCC, represented by the dashed curves in Figure 6c,d, the NR and IRR of TMP + BtSNG are much lower. This is attributed to three reasons: (1) the specific investment cost is much higher for BtSNG; (2) the electricity certificate instrument in Sweden has added a credit to the electricity production; and (3) much more DH is produced by BIGCC, and DH has a price unusually high
Summary
The possibility of producing transport fuels from biomass and wastes has become a more and more important issue with regard to the global challenges of energy security and climate change. Scale, and energy prices, the most economic configuration may provide a net SNG yield of 66% to 75% from wood (based on lower heating value (LHV) of the dry substance). The scale has expanded rapidly in recent years This provides an excellent infrastructure and market opportunity for bio-SNG production as a transport fuel. To substantially reduce specific electricity consumption (SEC) while maintaining pulp quality is the most important issue for the high-yield pulp and paper industry [5]. The Fibre Science and Communication Network (FSCN) at Mid Sweden University, together with Scandinavian forest and pulp & paper companies and research institutes, is running a large research program with the goal of showing how to design the TMP and CTMP production lines of the future to reduce SEC by 50%. Three cases are studied: 1) Sctahleinfegasoifbitlhitey TofMbPiom+ aBstsSgNaGsifimcaitlilo;n-based technology to produce CH4 in a TMP mill is evaluated 2) AdanddincgomthpearreedjewcitthfiTbMrePs +inBtIhGeCgCaisniftieerrm; s of the technical and economic aspects. 3) DecreaAsiTnMgPth+eBTtSMNPG‐smpaetchiefmicaetilceacltrmicoidtyel cisondseuvemloppteidonw(itShEACS)PbEyNuPplutso. 5B0y%m.eans of modeling, three cases are studied: The p1r)ofSictaalbinilgitoyf othfethTMe TPM+ BPtS+NBGtSmNilGl; mill is analyzed in comparison with a previously studied TMP + BIG2C) CAdmdiilnlg. the reject fibres in the gasifier; 3) Decreasing the TMP-specific electricity consumption (SEC) by up to 50%
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