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Energy efficiency analysis of biomass-based synthetic natural gas production process using interconnected fluidized beds and fluidized bed methanation reactor

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Abstract

Biomass-based synthetic natural gas (Bio-SNG) has attracted extensive attention in recent years. In order to analyze the energy efficiency of Bio-SNG production system, a simulation model of this system via interconnected fluidized beds and fluidized bed methanation reactor is built and validated. Then, the influences of operating conditions and biomass categories on the energy efficiency are studied. The results show that the Bio-SNG production process can achieve energy efficiency higher than 64 %. There exists an appropriate gasification temperature (around 750 °C), gasification pressure (about 0.3 MPa), ratio of steam to biomass (ranging from 0.4 to 0.8), methanation temperature (around 350 °C), and pressure (around 0.3 MPa) to maximize the energy efficiency. With respect to the typical biomass, the highest energy efficiency is found in sawdust, while the lowest is in rice straw. After comparing with the hydrogen production and diesel oil production from biomass, the Bio-SNG production is more competitive in the energy efficiency.

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Abbreviations

ad:

Air dried basis

db:

Dry basis

HHV :

Higher heating value (kJ kg−1)

m M :

Mass flow rate of the produced methane (kg s−1)

m g :

Mass flow rate of biomass feedstock fed to the gasifier (kg s−1)

m c :

Mass flow rate of biomass feedstock fed to the combustor (kg s−1)

p g :

Gasification pressure

p m :

Methanation pressure

q M :

HHV of methane (kJ kg−1)

q bio :

HHV of biomass (kJ kg−1)

S/B :

Ratio of the mass flow rate of steam to biomass

T g :

Gasification temperature

T m :

Methanation temperature

W:

Total work consumption of the whole Biomass-to-SNG system (kW)

η :

Energy efficiency

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Special Fund for Major State Basic Research Projects of China (2013CB228106).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Technology, Nanjing Polytechnic Institute, Nanjing, 210048, China

    Fei Feng

  2. Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China

    Fei Feng, Guo Hui Song, Lai Hong Shen & Jun Xiao

  3. Jiangsu Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Nanjing, 211102, China

    Guo Hui Song

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  1. Fei Feng
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  2. Guo Hui Song
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Correspondence to Fei Feng.

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Feng, F., Song, G.H., Shen, L.H. et al. Energy efficiency analysis of biomass-based synthetic natural gas production process using interconnected fluidized beds and fluidized bed methanation reactor. Clean Techn Environ Policy 18, 965–971 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-1069-8

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