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Comparison of energy efficiency assessment methods: Case Bio-SNG process

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  • Kohl, T.
  • Laukkanen, T.
  • Tuomaala, M.
  • Niskanen, T.
  • Siitonen, S.
  • Järvinen, M.P.
  • Ahtila, P.

Abstract

The goal of biofuel production is to partially replace fossil fuels in energy generation and transport. For the evaluation of biofuel production processes different criteria are applied and usually they include costs, efficiency aspects and emissions. However, evaluation of the energy efficiency of biofuels production is difficult since no general standard method exists for that. This paper compares three different assessment methods of energy efficiency both qualitatively and quantitatively. The methods are: thermal efficiency, exergy analysis and primary energy analysis. The feasibility of the methods is tested on a Bio-SNG (synthetic natural gas) production process which was modelled in AspenPlus and MS Excel. The results show that the exergy analysis seems to be advantageous when it comes to detailed (sub-) process analysis whereas the primary energy analysis offers the advantage of showing how the system is influencing the global primary energy resources. The results obtained by the thermal efficiency analysis do not add any new information to the results obtained by exergy and primary energy analyses. Exergy and primary energy analyses should be the preferred means for process assessment. Especially a combination of the two methods could offer the chance to develop a more holistic energy efficiency indicator.

Suggested Citation

  • Kohl, T. & Laukkanen, T. & Tuomaala, M. & Niskanen, T. & Siitonen, S. & Järvinen, M.P. & Ahtila, P., 2014. "Comparison of energy efficiency assessment methods: Case Bio-SNG process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 88-98.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:74:y:2014:i:c:p:88-98
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Fiorentino, Gabriella & Zucaro, Amalia & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2019. "Towards an energy efficient chemistry. Switching from fossil to bio-based products in a life cycle perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 720-729.
    3. Natalia Kabalina & Mário Costa & Weihong Yang & Andrew Martin, 2016. "Production of Synthetic Natural Gas from Refuse-Derived Fuel Gasification for Use in a Polygeneration District Heating and Cooling System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Kluczek, Aldona, 2019. "An energy-led sustainability assessment of production systems – An approach for improving energy efficiency performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 190-203.
    5. Kouhia, Mikko & Laukkanen, Timo & Holmberg, Henrik & Ahtila, Pekka, 2019. "Evaluation of design objectives in district heating system design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 369-378.
    6. Nunes, L.J.R. & Matias, J.C.O. & Catalão, J.P.S., 2015. "Analysis of the use of biomass as an energy alternative for the Portuguese textile dyeing industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 503-508.
    7. Kabalina, Natalia & Costa, Mário & Yang, Weihong & Martin, Andrew, 2017. "Energy and economic assessment of a polygeneration district heating and cooling system based on gasification of refuse derived fuels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 696-705.

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