Techno-economic sustainability assessment for bio-hydrogen production based on hybrid blend of biomass: A simulation study

Abstract

This study investigates the potential use of a blend of different types of biomass for sustainable bio-hydrogen production through steam gasification. Simulation models were developed and optimized using Aspen Plus V.11 to achieve optimal bio-hydrogen production while minimizing carbon monoxide production and maintaining a set amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the syngas. The effects of varying the composition of the feedstock material and steam to biomass ratio on hydrogen yield were investigated for five different blends, including leather and municipal solid waste. The study found that the composition of the feedstock played a crucial role in gasification, with higher calorific values for blends containing higher leather content. Additionally, the study showed that specific energy consumption decreased with an increase in total heat duty for four out of the five blends, with Case V having the lowest specific energy consumption of 39.28 kW/kmol of bio H2. The economic analysis further established the potential for the effective utilization of hybrid biomass for renewable bio-hydrogen production. The optimal case V provides total capital cost of USD 1.42 × 106 and the operating cost of the proposed system accounts to USD 2.99 × 105/yr. The unit production cost involved for the optimal case is USD 0.66/kg of H2. Overall, this study provides a basis for further investigation of hybrid biomass blends as a source of renewable energy.