Sorption Enhanced Gasification (SEG) of Biomass with CO2 Capture for the Production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and DME for Transport Sector with Negative Emissions

Abstract

In this work, a process assessment of two synthetic fuel production plants based on a flexible Sorption Enhanced Gasification (SEG) of biomass is carried out, one focused on Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and the other on dimethyl ether (DME) production. Mass and energy balances of these two synthetic fuel production plants have been solved and their performance has been compared. The calculated biomass-to-fuel equivalent cold gas efficiency CGEeq (i.e. accounting for energy credits/debits associated to electricity export/import) ranges from 53.8% of the bio-SNG plant to almost 52% of the bio-DME plant. The WTW greenhouse gases emission saving of a bio-DME vehicle in comparison with a conventional diesel vehicle is around 100 g CO2-eq/km. The assessed plants are also able to capture 63-67% of the inlet biomass carbon, equivalent to 155 g CO2-eq/km removed from the atmosphere and stored.