Technoeconomic analysis of jet fuel production from hydrolysis, decarboxylation, and reforming of camelina oil

Abstract

The commercial production of jet fuel from camelina oil via hydrolysis, decarboxylation, and reforming was simulated. The refinery was modeled as being close to the farms for reduced camelina transport cost. A refinery with annual nameplate capacity of 76,000 cubic meters hydrocarbons was modeled. Assuming average camelina production conditions and oil extraction modeling from the literature, the cost of oil was 0.31 $ kg -1 . To accommodate one harvest per year, a refinery with 1 year oil storage capacity was designed, with the total refinery costing 283 million dollars in 2014 USD. Assuming co-products are sold at predicted values, the jet fuel break-even selling price was 0.80 $ kg -1 . The model presents baseline technoeconomic data that can be used for more comprehensive financial and risk modeling of camelina jet fuel production.Decarboxylation was compared to the commercially proven hydrotreating process. The model illustrated the importance of refinery location relative to farms and hydrogen production site.

Biorefinery for combined production of jet fuel and ethanol from lipid‐producing sugarcane: a techno‐economic evaluation

“…Some studies have used allocation methods for distributing the operating and capital costs and calculating unit production cost of two main products; however, in those cases, results are highly dependent on the allocation method used (market value, energy basis, or mass basis). Due to fluctuations and uncertainties about fuel prices and government policies (incentives, subsidies), calculation of minimum fuel selling price with an acceptable investor return is a common method for an economic comparison and profitability analysis of the plant (Kazi et al, 2010;Humbird et al, 2011;Pearlson, 2011;Klein-Marcuschamer et al, 2013;Natelson et al, 2015;Crawford et al, 2016;Diederichs et al, 2016;Wang & Tao, 2016). Selling price of another coproduct naphtha was assumed $1.607 per kg (Diederichs et al, 2016).…”

“…Jet fuel is a very valuable product obtained from crude oil processing, and about 4 gallons out of each barrel of crude oil is used to produce jet fuel (Klein-Marcuschamer et al, 2013;Chu et al, 2016;Diederichs et al, 2016). About 565 109 thousand barrels (23.73 billion gal, in year 2015) of jet fuel is used in United States every year, and this demand of commercial jet fuel is expected to rise by 25% by 2035 (Natelson et al, 2015;EIA, 2016a). About 565 109 thousand barrels (23.73 billion gal, in year 2015) of jet fuel is used in United States every year, and this demand of commercial jet fuel is expected to rise by 25% by 2035 (Natelson et al, 2015;EIA, 2016a).…”

“…Globalization and improved international trades have resulted in increase in air travel, and subsequently aviation fuel use. battery operated vehicles) (Klein-Marcuschamer et al, 2013;Natelson et al, 2015). Aviation fuel has stringent quality requirements compared to fuel used in ground vehicles and is one of the major operational cost in aviation industry.…”

“…The fluctuating oil prices, desire to achieve long-term energy security, and rising environmental concerns from fossil fuel burnings have led to interest in plant-derived aviation fuels. Biojet fuel can be produced through various chemical and biological routes, such as gasification-Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), sugar to hydrocarbon process, catalytic hydrothermolysis, alcohol to jet, and hydrotreated depolymerized cellulosic jet (Natelson et al, 2015;Chu et al, 2016;Wang & Tao, 2016). Biojet fuel can be produced through various chemical and biological routes, such as gasification-Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), sugar to hydrocarbon process, catalytic hydrothermolysis, alcohol to jet, and hydrotreated depolymerized cellulosic jet (Natelson et al, 2015;Chu et al, 2016;Wang & Tao, 2016).…”

The bio-based economy can serve as the springboard for camelina and crambe to quit the limbo

“…Several studies tested camelina and crambe as potential biodiesel crops (Fröhlich and Rice 2005;Wazilewski et al, 2013), but due to their peculiar oil composition they would likely deserve higher consideration as a source for bio-based industry. Recently camelina oil has been identified as potential feedstock for the production of aviation fuel at both European and international level (Li and Mupondwa, 2014;Natelson et al, 2015). In particular, the European project ITAKA (www.…”