Title:
Supercritical Water Gasification vs. Biomethanation: Process Simulation Under Norwegian Conditions
Author(s):
Ballenghien, D., Kempegowda, R. S., Tran, K.-Q.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Biomass as an energy source currently generates a growing interest worldwide. However, it has been highlighted that energy production from biomass must not compete with food production. In this regard, non edible feedstocks are of interest, and among them wet biomass. That name encompasses macro algae and microalgae, sludge from waste water treatment plants, cattle manures, wastes from the food industry and any other biomass stock or waste with very high moisture content, around 70% or more. For such feedstocks, conventional methods such as direct combustion, pyrolysis or gasification are not adapted. However, biomethanation and supercritical water gasification (SCWG) are two possible conversion methods. The purpose of this work was to compare them from and energy efficiency and from an economic point of view. Based on a former paper by Y. Matsumura (1), the aforementioned SCWG process is modeled under Aspen Plus, while the biomethanation process is modeled with Superpro. The final product is a methane-enriched gas for the SCWG process, and a mixture of CO2 and CH4 for the biomethanation process. Different raw materials are used as input. Experimental yields found in the literature are used to calculate the energy efficiency of the biomethanation process, while the higher heating value is calculated for the simulated composition of the methane enriched gas from the SCWG process. Eventually, an economic analysis is conducted to compare the two processes with another criterion in the Norwegian context.
Keywords:
anaerobic digestion, hydrogasification, thermochemical conversion, economical aspects
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for synthesis gas production
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2BV.2.53
Pages:
1132 - 1141
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2BV.2.53
Price:
FREE
