Air-Blown Biomass Gasification Process Intensification for Green Hydrogen Production: Modeling and Simulation in Aspen Plus

Bernardino Novais, Ana Ramos, Abel Rouboa and Eliseu Monteiro ()
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Bernardino Novais: Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Ana Ramos: LAETA-INEGI, Associated Laboratory for Energy, Transports and Aeronautics, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Abel Rouboa: Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Eliseu Monteiro: Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Hydrogen produced sustainably has the potential to be an important energy source in the short term. Biomass gasification is one of the fastest-growing technologies to produce green hydrogen. In this work, an air-blown gasification model was developed in Aspen Plus ® , integrating a water–gas shift (WGS) reactor to study green hydrogen production. A sensitivity analysis was performed based on two approaches with the objective of optimizing the WGS reaction. The gasifier is optimized for carbon monoxide production (Case A) or hydrogen production (Case B). A CO 2 recycling stream is approached as another intensification process. Results suggested that the Case B approach is more favorable for green hydrogen production, allowing for a 52.5% molar fraction. The introduction of CO 2 as an additional gasifying agent showed a negative effect on the H 2 molar fraction. A general conclusion can be drawn that the combination of a WGS reactor with an air-blown biomass gasification process allows for attaining 52.5% hydrogen content in syngas with lower steam flow rates than a pure steam gasification process. These results are relevant for the hydrogen economy because they represent reference data for further studies towards the implementation of biomass gasification projects for green hydrogen production.

Keywords: biomass gasification; hydrogen; water–gas shift reactor; Aspen Plus (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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