Emission Reduction Using RTP Green Fuel in Industry Facilities: A Life Cycle Study

Fan, Jiqing; Shonnard, David R.; Kalnes, Tom N.; Streff, Monique; Geoff, Hopkins,

doi:10.1021/ef400926x

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A major difference between the EDOx and HDO processes is the scale. While the HDO process requires a scale of 2000 MTPD of biomass to be economical, EDOx may be economical at a scale of 300 MTPD, similar to other fast pyrolysis-based processes. ,, The plant size of 2000 t/day (MTPD) was chosen in order to be consistent with biorefinery sizes considered in previous research, ,,− which are consistent with feasible agricultural residue supply. In addition, some studies ,, have looked at the economic feasibility of smaller scales for bio-oil production.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Pyrolysis-Based Transport Fuels: Implications of Upgrading Technology, Scale, and Hydrogen Requirement

Sorunmu

Billen

Elangovan³

et al. 2018

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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Bio-oil produced from fast pyrolysis of biomass is a promising substitute for crude oil that can meet climate change mitigation goals, but due to its high oxygen content, it requires upgrading to remove oxygen in order to be used as a transportation fuel. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is one means of upgrading fast pyrolysis oil; however, its main limitation is its large hydrogen requirement. We evaluate an alternative electrochemical deoxygenation (EDOx) method that uses catalytic electrode membranes on a ceramic, oxygen-permeable support to generate hydrogen in situ for deoxygenation at the cathode and oxygen removal at the anode. We analyze the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and scale effects of gas-phase upgrading of pyrolysis oil [300 t/day (MTPD)] using different configurations of EDOx and compare it with the large-scale HDO process (2000 MTPD). We observe that the EDOx configurations have lower total GHG emissions of 5–8.4 and 7.4–11 g of CO2 equiv/MJ for vehicles operated with diesel and gasoline, respectively, compared to HDO (39 g of CO2 equiv/MJ). Furthermore, the EDOx processes offers potentially 10 times more small-scale pyrolysis upgrading facilities in the United States compared to HDO, suggesting that small-scale on-site EDOx processes can reach more inaccessible forest biomass resources.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Pyrolysis-Based Transport Fuels: Implications of Upgrading Technology, Scale, and Hydrogen Requirement

Sorunmu

Billen

Elangovan³

et al. 2018

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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“…HDO has several limitations, particularly its need for large quantities of external hydrogen and biomass supply that can accommodate an economic scale of 2,000 MTPD. Carrasco et al (; TRL 3) proposed in situ hydrogen generation with feedstock residuals, and other studies propose small/distributed scale pyrolysis operation (e.g., 200–500 MTPD) to overcome feedstock supply barriers (Fan et al, ; Fan, Shonnard, Kalnes, Streff, & Hopkins, ; Pourhashem, Spatari, Boateng, McAloon, & Mullen, ; Sorunmu et al, ). While supplying hydrogen from renewable sources as proposed by Carrasco et al () could lower GHG emissions while keeping all other HDO factors constant, it could raise the MFSP, which would affect its commercial attractiveness.…”

Section: Integration Of Technological Economic and Environmental Crmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of thermochemical upgrading of pyrolysis bio‐oil: Techno‐economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and technology readiness

2019

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Technologies for upgrading fast pyrolysis bio‐oil to drop‐in fuels and coproducts are under development and show promise for decarbonizing energy supply for transportation and chemicals markets. The successful commercialization of these fuels and the technologies deployed to produce them depend on production costs, scalability, and yield. To meet environmental regulations, pyrolysis‐based biofuels need to adhere to life cycle greenhouse gas intensity standards relative to their petroleum‐based counterparts. We review literature on fast pyrolysis bio‐oil upgrading and explore key metrics that influence their commercial viability through life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno‐economic analysis (TEA) methods together with technology readiness level (TRL) evaluation. We investigate the trade‐offs among economic, environmental, and technological metrics derived from these methods for individual technologies as a means of understanding their nearness to commercialization. Although the technologies reviewed have not attained commercial investment, some have been pilot tested. Predicting the projected performance at scale‐up through models can, with industrial experience, guide decision‐making to competitively meet energy policy goals. LCA and TEA methods that ensure consistent and reproducible models at a given TRL are needed to compare alternative technologies. This study highlights the importance of integrated analysis of multiple economic, environmental, and technological metrics for understanding performance prospects and barriers among early stage technologies.

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“…LCA has been used to investigate environmental attributes and consequences of pursuing multiple lignocellulosic biofuel pathways, including ethanol, − renewable diesel, , and multiple biofuel pathways such as ethanol, butanol, fatty acid ethyl esters, and diesel. , Most LCA studies have focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cumulative energy demand; however, more recently a broader set of metrics that include land use and water quality, water intensity, and green and blue water concepts has gained attention. , Prior LCA research on relatively small-scale (200–400 dry tons/day) fast pyrolysis of agricultural residues for electricity production focused on quantification of GHG emissions . Previous studies have also measured cumulative energy demand (CED) and GHG emissions for pyrolysis of forestry based feedstocks. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…33 Previous studies have also measured cumulative energy demand (CED) and GHG emissions for pyrolysis of forestry based feedstocks. 34,35 A process based on CExD is a critical part of an exergetic life cycle assessment (ExLCA). 36 The exergy measure, when calculated as a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) metric, can be integrated with other more commonly used LCIA metrics such as global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), the depletion of abiotic resources, and other midpoint LCIA metrics to provide a more comprehensive description of the sustainability of a product.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exergy Based Assessment of the Production and Conversion of Switchgrass, Equine Waste, and Forest Residue to Bio-Oil Using Fast Pyrolysis

Keedy

Prymak

Macken

et al. 2014

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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The resource efficiency of biofuel production via biomass pyrolysis is evaluated using exergy as an assessment metric. Three feedstocks, important to various sectors of U.S. agriculture, switchgrass, forest residue, and equine waste, are considered for conversion to bio-oil (pyrolysis oil) via fast pyrolysis, a process that has been identified as adaptable to on-or near-farm application. Biomass and biofuel production pathways are defined, material flows are determined, and exergy in-and outflows associated with biomass production and conversion are computed, including the depletion of exergy from its natural state (cumulative exergy demand, CExD). Sources of exergy depletion are quantified and categorized by energy carriers, e.g., electricity and diesel fuel, and materials, e.g., fertilizer, as well as renewable and nonrenewable resources. Yields for biomass to bio-oil conversion by fast pyrolysis are determined experimentally. Breeding factors, a measure of exergy production (the ratio of the chemical exergy of the output product to process exergy inputs), are determined for the production of biomass and bio-oil. The quantification of exergy depletion for process pathways enables the possible identification of more sustainable (resource efficient) pathways for biomass and bio-oil production. It is shown, for example, that feedstocks grown primarily for biomass such as switchgrass may be less sustainable using the exergy measure compared to use of residue (e.g., forest thinnings) or waste biomass (e.g., equine waste). With regard to the pyrolysis process, there is substantial reduction in exergy depletion when the coproducts noncondensable gases and biochar are recycled and utilized as a source of heat. The sustainability of biomass production and conversion, as measured by exergy depletion, is strongly influenced by energy carriers. The study reveals that the method of electricity production, i.e., on-site generation or grid electricity, as well as the choice of grid electricity can have a significant impact on sustainability. The exergy content of the bio-oil produced varies from 24 to 27 MJ/kg bio-oil, which is much lower than traditional fuels. However, the cumulative exergy depletion for the production and conversion to bio-oil varies from approximately 4 to 11 MJ/kg bio-oil, which is also much lower than traditional fuels. Breeding factors for biomass production and conversion to bio-oil based on cumulative exergy depletion vary from approximately 2 to 5, demonstrating the potential exergy benefit of bio-oil production using fast pyrolysis.

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Emission Reduction Using RTP Green Fuel in Industry Facilities: A Life Cycle Study

Abstract: Table S.1. Inputs of pyrolysis oil production (1 MJ) from woody biomass a Woody biomass 0.08 kg Sand Water 7.2 kg Electricity (pyrolysis) 0.01 kWh Electricity (feed pretreatment) 0.01 kWh Natural gas 4.5×10 -5 MJ a data taken from Fan et al 1

Cited by 4 publications

References 23 publications

Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Pyrolysis-Based Transport Fuels: Implications of Upgrading Technology, Scale, and Hydrogen Requirement

Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Pyrolysis-Based Transport Fuels: Implications of Upgrading Technology, Scale, and Hydrogen Requirement

A review of thermochemical upgrading of pyrolysis bio‐oil: Techno‐economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and technology readiness

Exergy Based Assessment of the Production and Conversion of Switchgrass, Equine Waste, and Forest Residue to Bio-Oil Using Fast Pyrolysis

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