Modelling and simulation of a biomass-based integrated gasification combined cycle with carbon capture: comparison between monoethanolamine and potassium carbonate

Abstract

There are global efforts to reduce the impacts from climate change by limiting increases in temperature to 1.5 °C until 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Thus, it is necessary to design new neutral processes and systems that can meet the varying and growing demands of the population in terms of energy, water and food. One of the main carbon emitters and contributors to climate change is the energy industry, which primarily uses oil and natural gas as an energy source. Fortunately, alternative resources are available such as renewable energies that assemble various environmental and economic benefits. However, more work is necessitated to efficiently utilise these resources by designing, analysing, and optimising existing and new renewable energy-based processes. Therefore, this study proposes a net negative carbon emissions energy system that utilises waste biomass as a feedstock. A biomass based integrated gasification combined cycle combined with a post combustion carbon capture unit by means of chemical absorption is designed and analysed. Two different chemical solvents are used for comparison: Monoethanolamine (MEA) and potassium carbonate. The proposed integrated system is modelled and simulated in Aspen Plus software, and is analysed thermodynamically in terms of energy and exergy efficiencies. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to assess the effect of varying operating conditions such as flowrate, and temperature of the lean solvent, and the pressure inside the stripper. At design conditions with 80% carbon capture, the system generates 419 kW of electricity and operates at -0.32 kg/kWh of CO2 for both the potassium carbonate and MEA systems.

CCU technologies as a tool to achieve Scope and ESG goals

“…Urea is considered as a major agricultural fertilizer with the largest market volume among other chemicals [19][20][21][22][23]. Urea is also used in other applications including some pharmaceuticals, fine and inorganic chemicals, and polymer synthesis [23]. Carbon dioxide can also be a fuel source to produce fuels such as methane, methanol and syngas [23].…”

Simultaneous Design of Gas Separation Membranes and Schemes through Combined Process and Materials Informatics

“…4,5 Carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology, in which the recovered CO 2 is compressed and transported before being reused in another context or stored deep underground, has received considerable attention from engineers working on environmental issues. 6 Chemical and physical absorption, 7 physical adsorption, 8,9 membrane separation, 10 and low-temperature processes 11 are the primary technologies used to separate CO 2 . Chemical absorption is the most commonly used method in the plants currently under construction.…”

“…Chemical and physical absorption, physical adsorption, , membrane separation, and low-temperature processes are the primary technologies used to separate CO 2 . Chemical absorption is the most commonly used method in the plants currently under construction.…”

A Review of Evapotranspiration Measurement Models, Techniques and Methods for Open and Closed Agricultural Field Applications

“…The EWF nexus is a holistic approach that aims to evaluate the inherent interdependencies between the energy, water and food systems, and identify trade-offs and synergies between their resources [5]. Through this, the EWF nexus approach enables the optimisation of resource consumption and the reduction of associated system environmental burdens [6][7][8]. Thus, it is necessary for agricultural food systems to adopt an EWF nexus methodology to ascertain a sustainable intensification that can meet the growing population demand for nutritious food, conserve water and energy resources, and preserve the environment from further degradation [9].…”