Design and Pinch Analysis of a GFT Process for Production of Biojet Fuel from Biomass and Plastics

Alejandro López-Fernández, David Bolonio, Isabel Amez, Blanca Castells, Marcelo F. Ortega and María-Jesús García-Martínez
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Alejandro López-Fernández: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain
David Bolonio: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Isabel Amez: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Blanca Castells: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Marcelo F. Ortega: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain
María-Jesús García-Martínez: Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-31

Abstract: Environmental problems are frequently related to energy use, estimated to grow at 1.6% per year until 2035. The transport sector accounts for 30% of energy demand and aviation is growing around 2.6% per year. Thus, low-emissions policies promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels. This work simulates a gasification and Fischer-Tropsch process to obtain biojet fuel from biomass and plastic waste. Syngas obtained through cogasification is purified by amine scrubbing and subjected to a Fischer-Tropsch process to produce hydrocarbons, which are upgraded for optimal fuel properties. Pinch analysis is applied to minimize energy usage, while Rankine cycles and a cooling tower are designed to cover the demand of electricity and cooling water. Results show that mass yields of the process towards biofuels are 13.06%, with an output of 1697.45 kg/h of biojet fuel. Density, kinematic viscosity, pour and flammability points and the lower calorific value of the biojet fuel comply with the ASTM D7566 standard. Pinch analysis allows to reduce 41.58% and 100% of cooling and heating demands, respectively, using biomass as renewable energy for heating. Moreover, steam generation covers 38.73% of the required electricity. The produced biojet fuel emits 20.14 g CO2eq /MJ and has a minimum selling price of 1.37 EUR/L.

Keywords: biojet fuel; cogasification; Fischer-Tropsch; upgrading; hydrocracking; pinch; thermodynamic cycle; cooling tower; economic analysis; Aspen; Ebsilon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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