scholarly journals Bioh2, Heat and Power from Palm Empty Fruit Bunch via Pyrolysis-Autothermal Reforming: Plant Simulation, Experiments, and CO2 Mitigation

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4767
Author(s):  
Lifita N. Tande ◽  
Erik Resendiz-Mora ◽  
Valerie Dupont
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Autothermal Reforming ◽  
Packed Bed Reactor ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Pure Hydrogen ◽  
Empty Fruit Bunch ◽  
Bio Oil

Empty fruit bunch, a significant by-product of the palm oil industry, represents a tremendous and hitherto neglected renewable energy resource for many countries in South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The design and simulation of a plant producing pure hydrogen through autothermal reforming (ATR) of palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB) was carried out based on successful laboratory experiments of the core process. The bio-oil feed to the ATR stage was represented in the experiments and in the simulation by a surrogate bio-oil mixture of 11 organic compounds shown to be main constituents of PEFB oil from previous work, and whose combined elemental composition and volatility was determined to be as close as possible to that of the real PEFB bio-oil. The experiments confirmed that H2 yields close to equilibrium predictions were achievable using an in-house synthetised Rh-Al2O3 catalyst in a packed bed reactor. Initial sensitivity analysis on the plant revealed that feed molar steam to carbon ratio should not exceed 3 for the optimal design of the ATR hydrogen production plant. An overall plant efficiency of 39.4% was obtained for the initial design, this value was improved to 67.5% by applying pinch analysis to enhance the integration of heat in the design. The proposed design renders CO2 savings of about 0.56 kg per kg of raw PEFB processed. The proposed design and accompanying experimental studies together make a strong case on the possibility of polygeneration of H2, heat, and power from an otherwise discarded agricultural waste.

scholarly journals SPEAR (Solar Pyrolysis Energy Access Reactor): Theoretical Design and Evaluation of a Small-Scale Low-Cost Pyrolysis Unit for Implementation in Rural Communities

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2189
Author(s):  
Cesare Caputo ◽  
Ondřej Mašek
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Tracking Error ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Pyrolysis Unit

Energy access and waste management are two of the most pressing developmental and environmental issues on a global level to help mitigate the accelerating impacts of climate change. They are particularly relevant in Sub–Saharan Africa where electrification rates are significantly below global averages and rural areas are lacking a formal waste management sector. This paper explores the potential of integrating solar energy into a biomass pyrolysis unit as a potentially synergetic solution to both issues. The full design of a slow pyrolysis batch reactor targeted at biochar production, following a strict cost minimization approach, is presented in light of the relevant considerations. SPEAR is powered using a Cassegrain optics parabolic dish system, integrated into the reactor via a manual tracking system and optically optimized with a Monte-Carlo ray tracing methodology. The design approach employed has led to the development an overall cost efficient system, with the potential to achieve optical efficiencies up 72% under a 1.5° tracking error. The outputs of the system are biochar and electricity, to be used for soil amendment and energy access purposes, respectively. There is potential to pyrolyze a number of agricultural waste streams for the region, producing at least 5 kg of biochar per unit per day depending on the feedstock employed. Financial assessment of SPEAR yields a positive Net Present Value (NPV) in nearly all scenarios evaluated and a reasonable competitiveness with small scale solar for electrification objectives. Finally, SPEAR presents important positive social and environmental externalities and should be feasibly implementable in the region in the near term.

scholarly journals BioLPG for Clean Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Present and Future Feasibility of Technologies, Feedstocks, Enabling Conditions and Financing

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3916
Author(s):  
Kimball C. Chen ◽  
Matthew Leach ◽  
Mairi J. Black ◽  
Meron Tesfamichael ◽  
Francis Kemausuor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Liquefied Petroleum Gas ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Energy supply for clean cooking is a priority for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, i.e., propane or butane or a mixture of both) is an economically efficient, cooking energy solution used by over 2.5 billion people worldwide and scaled up in numerous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Investigation of the technical, policy, economic and physical requirements of producing LPG from renewable feedstocks (bioLPG) finds feasibility at scale in Africa. Biogas and syngas from the circular economic repurposing of municipal solid waste and agricultural waste can be used in two groundbreaking new chemical processes (Cool LPG or Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH2)) to selectively produce bioLPG. Evidence about the nature and scale potential of bioLPG presented in this study justifies further investment in the development of bioLPG as a fuel that can make a major contribution toward enabling an SSA green economy and universal energy access. Techno-economic assessments of five potential projects from Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda illustrate what might be possible. BioLPG technology is in the early days of development, so normal technology piloting and de-risking need to be undertaken. However, fully developed bioLPG production could greatly reduce the public and private sector investment required to significantly increase SSA clean cooking capacity.

Catalytic steam reforming of simulated bio-oil for green hydrogen production using highly active LaNixCo1-xO3 perovskite catalyst

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Pratap Singh ◽  
Neelkanth Nirmalkar ◽  
Tarak Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Steam Reforming ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Perovskite Catalyst ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Bio Oil ◽  
Catalytic Steam Reforming

Catalytic steam reforming (SR) of agricultural waste derived bio-oil for hydrogen production is a unique technology, offering twin benefits of waste management as well as sustainable energy production. In the...

scholarly journals Conversion of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Biomass to Bio-Oil and Jet Bio-Fuel by Catalytic Fast-Pyrolysis Process

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Haryanti Yahaya ◽  
Rozzeta Dollah ◽  
Norsahika Mohd Basir ◽  
Rohit Karnik ◽  
Halimaton Hamdan
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Zeolite Y ◽  
Fast Pyrolysis ◽  
Batch Process ◽  
Zeolite Catalysts ◽  
Catalyst Loading ◽  
Empty Fruit Bunch ◽  
Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis ◽  
Compound Distribution ◽  
Bio Oil

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass is a potential source of renewable energy. Catalytic fast-pyrolysis batch process was initially performed to convert oil palm EFB into bio-oil, followed by its refinement to jet bio-fuel. Crystalline zeolites A and Y; synthesised from rice husk ash (RHA), were applied as heterogeneous catalysts. The catalytic conversion of oil palm EFB to bio-oil was conducted at a temperature range of 320-400°C with zeolite A catalyst loadings of 0.6 - 3.0 wt%. The zeolite catalysts were characterised by XRD, FTIR and FESEM. The bio-oil and jet bio-fuel products were analysed using GC-MS and FTIR. The batch fast-pyrolysis reaction was optimised at 400°C with a catalyst loading of 1.0 wt%, produced 42.7 wt% yields of liquid bio-oil, 35.4 wt% char and 21.9 wt% gaseous products. Analysis by GCMS indicates the compound distribution of the liquid bio-oil are as follows: hydrocarbons (23%), phenols (61%), carboxylic acids (0.7%), ketones (2.7%), FAME (7.7%) and alcohols (0.8%). Further refinement of the liquid bio-oil by catalytic hydrocracking over zeolite Y produced jet bio-fuel, which contains 63% hydrocarbon compounds (C8-C18) and 16% of phenolic compounds.

Diffusion Combustion Of The Round Microjet Mixture Of Hydrogen With Metane, Helium And Nitrogen

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-76
Author(s):  
Andrey Shmakov ◽  
Genrich Grek ◽  
Viktor Kozlov ◽  
Yuriy Litvinenko ◽  
Oleg Korobeinichev
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Diffusion Combustion ◽  
Pure Hydrogen ◽  
Hydrogen Mixture ◽  
Combustion Features ◽  
The Given ◽  
Stabilization Of Combustion

The purpose of the given work will consist in an experimental studies of the diffusion combustion features of the hydrogen round microjet mixtures with the metane, helium and nitrogen. It is found, that the mechanism and characteristics of a microjet and a flame evolution at diffusion combustion of the hydrogen mixture with the metane, helium or nitrogen are connected with the «bottleneck» flame area formation, as well as in a situation of a pure hydrogen microjet diffusion combustion. It is revealed, that process of diffusion combustion of a hydrogen / metane mixture in a round microjet is accompanied by stage-by-stage stages of a turbulent flame detachment at preservation of combustion in the «bottleneck» flame area, and, at last extinction of microjet combustion that correlates with combustion process of a similar microjet of pure hydrogen. It is found, that all above-listed stages of a hydrogen / metane mixture combustion are realized in a range considerably smaller speeds of a microjet (200÷500 m/sec), than in a similar situation of a pure hydrogen microjet combustion (600÷800 m/sec). It is shown, that at diffusion combustion of a mixture of hydrogen with metane or helium or nitrogen in a round microjet for stabilization of combustion with growth of a microjet speed it is necessary to increase a portion of hydrogen (or to reduce a portion of an impurity) in a mixture of gases.

scholarly journals Techno-Economic Analysis for Bioethanol Plant with Multi Lignocellulosic Feedstocks

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-328
Author(s):  
Penjit Srinophakun ◽  
Anusith Thanapimmetha ◽  
Thongchai Rohitatisha Srinophakun ◽  
Pramuk Parakulsuksatid ◽  
Chularat Sakdaronnarong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Cost Estimation ◽  
Production Cost ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Ethanol Yield ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Empty Fruit Bunch

Oil palm empty fruit bunch and trunk are classified as primary lignocellulosic residues from the palm oil industry. They are considered to be promising feedstocks for bioconversion into value-added products such as bioethanol. However,using these lignocellulosic materials to produce bioethanol remains a significant challenge for small and medium enterprises. Hence, techno-economic and sensitivity analyses of bioethanol plant simultaneously treating these materials were performed in this study. The information based on preliminary experimental data in batch operations wasemployed to develop a simulation of an industrial-scale semi-continuous production process. Calculations of mass balance, equipment sizes, and production cost estimation of the production plant of various capacities ranging from 10,000 L/day to 35,000 L/day were summarized. The result based on 20 years of operation indicated that the net present value of theplant of lower capacities was negative. However,thisvalue became positive when the plant operated with a higher capacity, 35,000 L/day.The highest ethanol yield, 294.84 LEtOH/tonfeedstock, was produced when the planttreated only an empty fruit bunch generating 8.94% internal rate of return and US$0.54 production cost per unit.Moreover, the higher oil palm trunk ratio in the feedstock, the lower ethanol yield contributing to the higher production cost per unit.©2020. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved

Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of a Dual-Fuel Dry-Low-NOx Micromix Combustor for Industrial Gas Turbine Applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald H. W. Funke ◽  
Nils Beckmann ◽  
Jan Keinz ◽  
Sylvester Abanteriba
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Pure Hydrogen ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine

Abstract The dry-low-NOx (DLN) micromix combustion technology has been developed originally as a low emission alternative for industrial gas turbine combustors fueled with hydrogen. Currently, the ongoing research process targets flexible fuel operation with hydrogen and syngas fuel. The nonpremixed combustion process features jet-in-crossflow-mixing of fuel and oxidizer and combustion through multiple miniaturized flames. The miniaturization of the flames leads to a significant reduction of NOx emissions due to the very short residence time of reactants in the flame. The paper presents the results of a numerical and experimental combustor test campaign. It is conducted as part of an integration study for a dual-fuel (H2 and H2/CO 90/10 vol %) micromix (MMX) combustion chamber prototype for application under full scale, pressurized gas turbine conditions in the auxiliary power unit Honeywell Garrett GTCP 36-300. In the presented experimental studies, the integration-optimized dual-fuel MMX combustor geometry is tested at atmospheric pressure over a range of gas turbine operating conditions with hydrogen and syngas fuel. The experimental investigations are supported by numerical combustion and flow simulations. For validation, the results of experimental exhaust gas analyses are applied. Despite the significantly differing fuel characteristics between pure hydrogen and hydrogen-rich syngas, the evaluated dual-fuel MMX prototype shows a significant low NOx performance and high combustion efficiency. The combustor features an increased energy density that benefits manufacturing complexity and costs.

Thermal Behaviour of Slurry Prepared from Clermont Bituminous Coal and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Bio-Oil

2014 ◽  
Vol 906 ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazlin Hamdan ◽  
Munawar Zaman Shahruddin ◽  
Ahmad Rafizan Mohamad Daud ◽  
Syed Shatir A. Syed-Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Bituminous Coal ◽  
Inert Atmosphere ◽  
Empty Fruit Bunch ◽  
Blend Ratio ◽  
Thermogravimetric Analyzer ◽  
Bio Oil ◽  
Pyrolysis Behaviour ◽  
Fuel Technology

Investigation on the pyrolysis behaviour of coal-biooil slurry (CBS) fuel prepared at different ratios (100:0; 70:30; 60:40;0: 100) were conducted using a Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The selected coal sample was Clermont bituminous coal (Australia), while Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) was used as source of bio-oil that was thermally converted by means of pyrolysis. Thermal degradation of CBS fuel was performed in an inert atmosphere (50mL/min nitrogen) under non-isothermal conditions from room temperature to 1000°C at heating rate of 10°C/min. The proportions of CBS fuel at 70:30 and 60:40 blends were observed to have influenced the fuel properties of the slurry. The addition of bio-oil will shift the temperature region towards early devolatilization. Meanwhile, the thermal profiles of the blends, showed potential trends that followed the characteristics of an ideal slurry fuel where highest degradation rate was found at the blend ratio of 60:40 biooil/coal. These findings can be useful to the development of a slurry fuel technology for application in the vast existing conventional power plants.

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