Energy Hybridization with Combined Heat and Power Technologies in Supercritical Water Gasification Processes

Abstract

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) has been shown to be an effective technology to valorize a wide range of organic waste by transforming them into gases with high energy potential, such as hydrogen and methane. However, the industrial implementation of these processes is rarely extended due to the huge energy requirements during plant start-up and operation. The purpose of this study is to explore feasible ways of energy integration by hybridizing SCWG processes with combined heat and power technologies, such as exhaust gases coming from (i) internal combustion engines or (ii) gas turbines. The analysis focuses on energy consumption with the aim of optimizing the operation and design of plants. System configurations are simulated with Aspen Plus considering data from the literature for the gasification of glycerol and using typical plant capacities on an industrial scale. Results show the thermal power required in heat exchangers and the electricity generation from residual energy in hot effluents as a needed step to optimize the plant configuration and boost energy synergies with other technologies.

Hydrothermal Treatment of Biomass Feedstocks for Sustainable Production of Chemicals, Fuels, and Materials: Progress and Perspectives

“…HTG is an attractive technology for the conversion of organic carbon rich biomass into biogases such as hydrogen and methane . Application of renewable solar energy to heat the hydrothermal reactor may improve both the yield and energy efficiency of the HTG process. , Boujjat et al conducted the solar energy-based thermochemical gasification of two types of biomass, namely beech wood and waste (SRF: solid recovered fuel) in two types of heating conditions: (1) solar-only reactor system (i.e., steam gasification), and (2) hybrid reactor system (steam gasification plus oxygen addition) .…”