Novel Hydrogen and Biomethanol Production From Pinecone Biomass Using an Integrated Steam Gasification System

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This study develops a new biomass-based integrated energy system where a steam gasification process is considered for hydrogen and biomethanol production in a viable manner using woody bioresources from pinecones. The modeling and simulation studies are performed using both The Aspen Plus and Matlab software packages in a combined manner to practically investigate the integrated system's operating and management conditions and potential performance for a strategically identified location in British Columbia where bioresources are widely available, and there is a strong need to create a value out of these. The emphasis is on three main stages: gasification, syngas post-treatment, and methanol production. This comprehensive approach ensures an in-depth understanding of the production process, from resource extraction to end-product progress. A key aspect of the study is estimating essential flow rates, notably CO2, H2, and CH4O, in various operational conditions. The analysis goes beyond product yields, providing a thorough evaluation of mass flow rates for all streams in the system. This enables a more sophisticated evaluation of performance under various operating situations and component varieties. The integrated system's performance is evaluated using rigorous thermodynamic studies. This analytical technique provides details on the efficiencies and environmental impacts of the proposed system. The simulation findings show that the existing system can produce 0.17 kg/s methanol and 0.025 kg/s hydrogen. These findings establish a foundation for further improvement and scalability of the integrated system for practical applications. The study not only helps advance the field of renewable energy era but also provides a practical and sustainable solution to the pressing issue of pine beetle infestation, demonstrating the possibility of combining technology and ecology to benefit the environment.