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Energy efficient thermochemical conversion of very wet biomass to biofuels by integration of steam drying, steam electrolysis and gasification

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  • Clausen, Lasse R.

Abstract

A novel system concept is presented for the thermochemical conversion of very wet biomasses such as sewage sludge and manure. The system integrates steam drying, solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) and gasification for the production of synthetic natural gas (SNG). The system is analyzed by thermodynamic modelling and the analysis shows that the system can handle mechanically dried biomasses with a water content of 70 wt% and an ash content of up to 50 wt% (dry basis). A high tolerable ash content is an advantage because very wet biomasses, such as sewage sludge and manure, have a high ash content. The analysis shows that the total efficiency of the novel system is 69–70% depending on the biomass ash content, while the biomass to SNG energy ratio is 165%, which is near the theoretical maximum because electrolytic hydrogen is supplied to the synthesis gas. It is proposed to combine the novel system with an anaerobic digester for conversion of biomasses with high nitrogen content, such as sewage sludge. The organic nitrogen in the sewage sludge will be mineralized in the digester instead of ending up as N2 in the SNG product.

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  • Clausen, Lasse R., 2017. "Energy efficient thermochemical conversion of very wet biomass to biofuels by integration of steam drying, steam electrolysis and gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 327-336.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:125:y:2017:i:c:p:327-336
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.132
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clausen, Lasse R. & Houbak, Niels & Elmegaard, Brian, 2010. "Technoeconomic analysis of a methanol plant based on gasification of biomass and electrolysis of water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2338-2347.
    2. Gil-Lalaguna, N. & Sánchez, J.L. & Murillo, M.B. & Atienza-Martínez, M. & Gea, G., 2014. "Energetic assessment of air-steam gasification of sewage sludge and of the integration of sewage sludge pyrolysis and air-steam gasification of char," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 652-662.
    3. Clausen, Lasse R., 2015. "Maximizing biofuel production in a thermochemical biorefinery by adding electrolytic hydrogen and by integrating torrefaction with entrained flow gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 94-104.
    4. Ud Din, Zia & Zainal, Z.A., 2016. "Biomass integrated gasification–SOFC systems: Technology overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1356-1376.
    5. Gassner, M. & Maréchal, F., 2008. "Thermo-economic optimisation of the integration of electrolysis in synthetic natural gas production from wood," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 189-198.
    6. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik, 2011. "Thermodynamic analysis of small-scale dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol plants based on the efficient two-stage gasifier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 5805-5814.
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    1. Clausen, Lasse R. & Butera, Giacomo & Jensen, Søren Højgaard, 2019. "Integration of anaerobic digestion with thermal gasification and pressurized solid oxide electrolysis cells for high efficiency bio-SNG production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Pecchi, Matteo & Baratieri, Marco, 2019. "Coupling anaerobic digestion with gasification, pyrolysis or hydrothermal carbonization: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 462-475.
    3. Anna Grzegórska & Piotr Rybarczyk & Valdas Lukoševičius & Joanna Sobczak & Andrzej Rogala, 2021. "Smart Asset Management for District Heating Systems in the Baltic Sea Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-25, January.
    4. Clausen, Lasse R. & Butera, Giacomo & Jensen, Søren Højgaard, 2019. "High efficiency SNG production from biomass and electricity by integrating gasification with pressurized solid oxide electrolysis cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1117-1131.
    5. Saheli Biswas & Shambhu Singh Rathore & Aniruddha Pramod Kulkarni & Sarbjit Giddey & Sankar Bhattacharya, 2021. "A Theoretical Study on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells as Key Enablers of Cyclic Conversion between Electrical Energy and Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Gadsbøll, Rasmus Østergaard & Clausen, Lasse Røngaard & Thomsen, Tobias Pape & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik Birk, 2019. "Flexible TwoStage biomass gasifier designs for polygeneration operation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 939-950.
    7. Sigurjonsson, Hafthor Ægir & Clausen, Lasse R., 2018. "Solution for the future smart energy system: A polygeneration plant based on reversible solid oxide cells and biomass gasification producing either electrofuel or power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 323-337.

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