Abstract
The techno-economic performance analysis of biofuel production and electric power generation from biomass fast pyrolysis and bio-oil hydroprocessing is explored through process simulation. In this work, a process model of 72 MT/day pine wood fast pyrolysis and bio-oil hydroprocessing plant was developed with rate based chemical reactions using Aspen Plus® process simulator. It was observed from simulation results that 1kgs−1 pine wooddb generate 0.64kgs−1 bio-oil, 0.22kgs−1 gas and 0.14kgs−1 char. Simulation results also show that the energy required for drying and fast pyrolysis operations can be provided from the combustion of pyrolysis by-products, mainly, char and non-condensable gas with sufficient residual energy for miniature electric power generation. The intermediate bio-oil product from the fast pyrolysis process is upgraded into gasoline and diesel via a two-stage hydrotreating process, which was implemented by a pseudo-first order reaction of lumped bio-oil species followed by the hydrocracking process in this work. Simulation results indicate that about 0.24kgs−1 of gasoline and diesel range products and 96W of electric power can be produced from 1kgs−1 pine wooddb. The effect of initial biomass moisture content on the amount of electric power generated and the effect of biomass feed composition on product yields were also reported in this study. Aspen Process Economic Analyser® was used for equipment sizing and cost estimation for an nth plant and the product value was estimated from discounted cash flow analysis assuming the plant operates for 20years at a 10% annual discount rate. Economic analysis indicates that the plant will require £16.6 million of capital investment and product value is estimated at £6.25/GGE. Furthermore, the effect of key process and economic parameters on product value and the impact of electric power generation equipment on capital cost and energy efficiency were also discussed in this study.
Highlights
Crude oil remains the main source of transport fuel and is projected to continue to dominate the fuel market over the three decades [1]
Biomass fast pyrolysis presents the best case for maximising bio-oil yields, which can be subsequently upgraded into transport fuels [7; 8]
The fast pyrolysis reactor model result and experiment data at 500°C reactor temperature are presented in Table 6, which indicate that the gas, bio-oil and char yields of the model agree with reported experimental data, and is consistent with pyrolysis product distribution reported in literature [7,8,9]
Summary
Crude oil remains the main source of transport fuel and is projected to continue to dominate the fuel market over the three decades [1]. Thermochemical conversion processes, which include pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction, have a great potential for producing the intermediate bio-oil required for advanced biofuels production that can compete directly with fossil fuels [3; 4]. Biomass fast pyrolysis presents the best case for maximising bio-oil yields, which can be subsequently upgraded into transport fuels [7; 8]. Fast pyrolysis bio-oil can be upgraded into naphtha range transport fuels via two major conventional refinery operations that have been broadly identified and reviewed in literature, which are hydroprocessing and catalytic cracking [6; 10; 11]. Different fast pyrolysis reactor configurations have been demonstrated on commercial and pilot scales worldwide, the bubbling fluid bed reactor has been identified as the best in terms of ease of scalability, biomass heat transfer efficiency and relative simplicity in construction [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
