Opportunities for renewable electricity utilization in coal to liquid fuels process: Thermodynamic and techo-economic analysis. (15th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Shiyue; Wang, Ming; Cui, Hongyou; Li, Zhihe; Yi, Weiming
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 239:Part A(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-15
• Subjects: Renewable electricity -- Coal -- Coal to liquid fuels -- Process simulation -- Thermodynamic analysis -- Techno-economic analysis; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121977
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: Renewable electricity has been developed very fast to reduce both the reliance on fossil energy and CO2 emission, and its utilization for the sustainable production of chemical products is of increasingly interest. In this work, opportunities for renewable electricity utilization in coal to liquid fuels process are studied through thermodynamic and techo-economic analysis. Three CPtL (coal and renewable power to liquid fuels) processes are investigated, namely Case GSP + E, Case Shell + E and Case Texaco + E. Exergy losses of the subsystems are quantitatively analyzed, and measures to reduce exergy losses are proposed. By integration with renewable electricity, carbon efficiency could be improved by 69.09–99.44%, and life cycle CO2 emission could be reduced by 37.81–44.85%; however, the production cost is raised by 54.18–94.07% due to the high cost of electricity and electrolyzer. Sensitivity analysis shows that electricity price has the most significant impact on the production cost. At present market conditions, CPtL is incompetent with coal to liquid fuels (CtL) process yet from the viewpoint of economics, but it might become viable in the future by decreasing electricity price (0.07–0.01 $/kWh), electrolyzer cost (1150–640 $/kW) and electricity consumption of electrolysis (4.70–4.05 kWh/Nm 3 H2 ). Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Modeling of coal and renewable electricity to liquid fuels is conducted. Effects of gasifier type and renewable electricity integration are studied. Carbon efficiency could be improved by 69.09–99.44%. Production cost may be decreased to 10.76–14.36 $/GJ in future.