Utilization of Low-Rank Coals for Producing Syngas to Meet the Future Energy Needs: Technical and Economic Analysis

Usama Ahmed, Muhammad Arsalan Hussain, Muhammad Bilal, Hassan Zeb, Umer Zahid, Sagheer A. Onaizi and Abdul Gani Abdul Jameel
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Usama Ahmed: Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Arsalan Hussain: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, New Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, New Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
Hassan Zeb: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, New Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
Umer Zahid: Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Sagheer A. Onaizi: Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Abdul Gani Abdul Jameel: Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Increased energy demand in recent decades has resulted in both an energy crisis and carbon emissions. As a result, the development of cleaner fuels has been under the research spotlight. Low-rank coals are geographically dispersed, abundant, and cheap but are not utilized in conventional processes. Syngas can be produced from coal-using gasification which can be used in various chemical engineering applications. In this study, the process model for syngas production from low-rank coal is developed and the effects of various process parameters on syngas composition are evaluated, followed by a technical and economic evaluation. The syngas production rate for the low-rank coal has been evaluated as 25.5 kg/s, and the contribution to H 2 and CO production is estimated as 1.59 kg/s and 23.93 kg/s, respectively. The overall syngas production and energy consumed in the process was evaluated as 27.68 kg/GJ, and the CO 2 specific emissions were calculated as 0.20 (mol basis) for each unit of syngas production. The results revealed that the syngas production efficiency for low-rank coals can be as high as 50.86%. Furthermore, the economic analysis revealed that the investment and minimum selling prices per tonne of syngas production are EUR 163.92 and EUR 180.31, respectively.

Keywords: syngas; low-rank coals; gasification; cold gas efficiency; techno-economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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