Simulation of Biomass Gasification and Syngas Methanation for Methane Production with H 2 /CO Ratio Adjustment in Aspen Plus

Suaad Al Zakwani, Miloud Ouadi, Kazeem Mohammed and Robert Steinberger-Wilckens ()
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Suaad Al Zakwani: School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Miloud Ouadi: School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Kazeem Mohammed: School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Robert Steinberger-Wilckens: School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: In the context of advancing sustainable energy solutions, this paper provides a detailed modelling study of the process integration of biomass gasification to produce syngas and subsequent methanation for methane production. The process is assumed to take place in a circulating fluidised bed and three adiabatic fixed-bed reactors. To address the low H 2 /CO ratio of syngas produced from biomass gasification using air, three pre-methanation scenarios were evaluated: water gas shift reaction (scenario 1), H 2 addition through Power-to-Gas (scenario 2), and splitting syngas into pure H 2 and CO and then recombining them in a 3:1 ratio (scenario 3). The findings reveal that each scenario presents a unique balance of efficiency, decarbonisation potential, and technological integration. Scenario 2 achieves the highest overall efficiency at 62%, highlighting the importance of integrating renewable electricity into the methane industry. Scenario 1, which incorporates WGS and CO 2 capture, offers an environmentally friendly solution with an overall efficiency of 59%. In contrast, Scenario 3, involving H 2 /CO separation and recombination, achieves only 44.4% efficiency due to energy losses during separation, despite its operational simplicity. Methane yields were highest in Scenario 1, while Scenario 2 offers the most significant potential for integration with decarbonised power systems. The model was validated using published data and feedstock characteristics from experimental work and industrial projects. The results showed good agreement and supported the accuracy of the simulation in reflecting realistic biomass processing for methane production.

Keywords: biomass gasification; biomass-to-energy; circulating fluidised bed (CFB); syngas production; syngas cleanup and conditioning; adiabatic methanation (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: 2025
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