Synthesis of Bio‐Dimethyl Ether Based on Carbon Dioxide‐Enhanced Gasification of Biomass: Process Simulation Using Aspen Plus

Abstract

9Process simulation of a single-step synthesis of DME based on CO 2 -enhanced gasification of 10 rice straw was conducted using Aspen Plus TM . The process consists of gasification unit, heat 11 recovery unit, gas purification unit, single-step DME synthesis, and DME separation unit. In the 12 simulation, highly pure DME was produced by the control of CO 2 concentration in syngas to a 13 very low level prior to synthesis. A gasification system efficiency of 36.7% and CO 2 emission of 14 1.31 kg/kg of DME were achieved. Bio-DME production based on CO 2 -enhanced gasification of 15 biomass was found to be more cost-effective as it required 19.6% less biomass than that of DME 16 production based on conventional biomass gasification. The performance and environmental 17 benefits of the proposed process could be further improved by the utilization of unreacted gases 18 and the handling of CO 2 generated via incorporating poly-generation concept or carbon storage, 19 which could also potentially improve process economics. 20

Validation of a Fixed Bed Reactor Model for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Using Pilot-Scale Plant Data

“…Conventionally, the synthesis of DME includes two stages: the synthesis of methanol from syngas and the dehydration of methanol to DME [9]. The process which conducts the stages via two different reactors is called indirect or two-step production [10]. On the other hand, DME production through a single reactor is known as the direct method or one-step production [11].…”

Dimethyl ether production from rice straw: process modelling and simulation

“…Therefore, the conversion pathway that turns rice straw into DME is worth considering, providing a sustainable approach for agricultural residue utilization and global warming reduction. Overall, the DME production process from rice straw consists of two major stages: feedstock gasification and DME synthesis from rice straw-derived syngas 7 . Regarding the DME synthesis section, the single-step method, where DME is directly formed from syngas within one reactor, has been recently prioritized rather than the two-step one using methanol as the intermediate feedstock between rice straw and DME 3 .…”