Comparative Analysis of Synthetic Natural Gas versus Hydrogen Production from Bagasse. Issue 3 (24th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Michailos, Stavros; Parker, David; Webb, Colin
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering & technology. Volume 40:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 546
• Page End: 554
• Publication Date: 2017-01-24
• Subjects: Bagasse utilization -- Hydrogen production -- Multicriteria analysis -- Process simulation -- Synthetic gaseous fuels; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical processes -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201600424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0930-7516

Abstract

Abstract: A rigorous and comparative evaluation of two biomass‐to‐gases (BtG) conversion routes was performed and, according to this outcome, it is suggested which of the options evaluated is most desirable. These options, the hydrogen and synthetic natural gas (SNG) production, were designed in Aspen Plus process simulation software. Sugar cane bagasse was considered as feedstock. Mass and energy balance data were extracted from the simulations, and consequently thermodynamic (exergy analysis), economic (financial and uncertainty analysis), and environmental (CO2 emissions) evaluations were carried out. Exergy and environmental analysis favor the SNG production while the hydrogen route provides higher profits. Abstract : Two biomass‐to‐gases conversion routes, namely, hydrogen and synthetic natural gas production, with sugar cane bagasse as feedstock, were simulated and compared. Mass and energy balance data were derived from the simulations, and thermodynamic, economic, and environmental evaluations were performed. The synthetic natural gas production proved to be the overall most efficient option.