Simulation of a Pilot Scale Power-to-Liquid Plant Producing Synthetic Fuel and Wax by Combining Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis and SOEC

Abstract

Power-to-Liquid (PtL) plants can viably implement carbon capture and utilization technologies in Europe. In addition, local CO2 sources can be valorized to substitute oil and gas imports. This work’s aim was to determine the PtL efficiency obtained by combining a solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. In addition, a recommended plant configuration to produce synthetic fuel and wax at pilot scale is established. The presented process configurations with and without a tail gas reformer were modeled and analyzed using IPSEpro as simulation software. A maximum mass flow rate of naphtha, middle distillate and wax of 57.8 kg/h can be realized by using a SOEC unit operated in co-electrolysis mode, with a rated power of 1 MWel.. A maximum PtL efficiency of 50.8% was found for the process configuration without a tail gas reformer. Implementing a tail gas reformer resulted in a maximum PtL efficiency of 62.7%. Hence, the reforming of tail gas is highly beneficial for the PtL plant’s productivity and efficiency. Nevertheless, a process configuration based on the recirculation of tail gas without a reformer is recommended as a feasible solution to manage the transition from laboratory scale to industrial applications.

Economic and Ecological Impacts on the Integration of Biomass-Based SNG and FT Diesel in the Austrian Energy System

“…If the CO 2 footprint of the Austrian electricity mix were chosen for calculating the CO 2 footprint of electricity and hydrogen, the total CO 2 footprint of the produced FT diesel would increase by 64% to 0.440 kgCO 2 e/l FT diesel . In Figure 8 (right), the CO2 footprint of the wood-based FT diesel is compared with that of fossil diesel, according to Federal Environmental Agency Austria [49], and of RES alternatives, according to studies from Aichmayer et al [61] and Pratschner et al [62]. The CO2 footprints of the wood-based FT diesel and the e-fuels, both based on green electricity, are the lowest and more than 90% lower compared to the CO2 footprint of fossil diesel.…”

“…After the second compression step, CO 2 is removed in an amine scrubber at 10 bar, and recycled tail gas from the steam reformer is added to the product gas stream. Similar to the SNG route, the syngas is preheated, passes a ZnO guard bed and enters a FT slurry reactor at 230 • C. For the simulation of the FT reactor, the extended Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution from Förtsch et al [39], with modeling parameters according to Pratschner et al [40], and a single-pass CO conversion of 50% are assumed. Liquid FT products are withdrawn from the slurry reactor and pumped into a hydrocracker.…”

“…The biomass potential analysis (from Section 2.1) and the techno-economic (from Section 3.2) and ecological (from Section 3.3) results form the basis for discussing integration In Figure 8 (right), the CO 2 footprint of the wood-based FT diesel is compared with that of fossil diesel, according to Federal Environmental Agency Austria [49], and of RES alternatives, according to studies from Aichmayer et al [61] and Pratschner et al [62]. The CO 2 footprints of the wood-based FT diesel and the e-fuels, both based on green electricity, are the lowest and more than 90% lower compared to the CO 2 footprint of fossil diesel.…”

The Efficient Utilization of Carbon Dioxide in a Power-to-Liquid Process: An Overview

“…However, the hybrid PTL/PTG process coupled with AEM technology had the highest carbon efficiency (75.04%) and net CO 2 reduction rate (70.58%), due to its relatively mild operating conditions [8]. In addition to the aforementioned water electrolysis technologies, co-electrolysis technology has shown a strong application potential in PTL processes [128,136]. In the work of Marchese et al, they used a co-electrolysis device instead of an electrolyzer and RWGS reactor to generate syngas with a suitable ratio of H 2 to CO (See Figure 9).…”

Environmental Impact of e-Fuels via the Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) Route for Use in Germany

“…For the assessment of the environmental impacts, data from the literature can hardly be referred to, since to date, only a few life cycle analyses exist on the production of liquid hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide via the Fischer-Tropsch route [5]. To the authors' knowledge, no study has previously examined the environmental impacts of precisely the system configuration at hand with the combination of Co-SOEC and FTS, although [6][7][8] have examined its technical performance. Another relevant aspect is the distribution of environmental impacts among the individual process steps in order to identify the levers (other than electrolysis) for increasing overall efficiency.…”