Techno-economic Analysis of Biogas Conversion to Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels through Production of Lean-Hydrogen Syngas

Abstract

Large-scale biogas plants are a viable source of CH4 and CO2 to be converted efficiently into high-value products. Specifically, production of liquid hydrocarbons can enhance the availability of green fuels while achieving significant CO2 reductions on site. In this study, the production of liquid hydrocarbons is simulated by dry reforming of biogas into lean-hydrogen syngas, further converted in CO hydrogenation and oligomerization reactors. The process was modeled by using CHEMCAD based on published experimental results with the projected feed composition. A high molar feed ratio of CO2/CH4 (>1.7) was set for the reformer to minimize steam requirement while avoiding carbon formation and reaching an optimal H2 to CO molar ratio (0.7). Two options were techno-economically evaluated based on a biogas plant with a capacity of 5000 N m3/h that produces between 13.8 and 15.7 million liters per year of blending stock for transportation fuels. The economics of the process depends mainly on the cost and availability of the biogas. The minimum selling price of the liquid fuels is $1.47/L and $1.37/L for options 1 (once-through conversion of syngas to liquid fuels) and 2 (recycle of tail gas from oligomerization reactor), respectively, and can be significantly reduced in case the biogas throughput is increased to >20 000 N m3/h. Recycling of the tail gas (option 2) yielded higher productivity, resulting in higher carbon yield (77.9% on the basis of methane) and energy efficiency (67.1%). The economic viability of the process can be improved by implementing CO2 tax or other incentives to reduce capital investment. It provides a potential route for efficient conversion of biogas into liquid hydrocarbons to meet the increased demand for renewable fuels as blending stock in the transportation sector while improving the sustainability of the plant.

Evaluation of the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis product selectivity over iron‐based silica‐supported catalyst under mild temperatures

“…FTS tail gas can be partly recycled back to the CO hydrogenation reactor to increase the productivity of the process, or it can be combusted with air to supply the energy requirements for the process and to produce steam. 20,21 The aqueous phase, often referred as wastewater, contains considerable amounts of water-soluble compounds and requests purification, which requires additional resources. 22 Nowadays, sustainable development based on circular economy concept is being promoted as a solution to reduce fossil fuel consumption.…”

“…Since most of the effluent gases are greenhouse gases, they require environmentally friendly post‐treatment. FTS tail gas can be partly recycled back to the CO hydrogenation reactor to increase the productivity of the process, or it can be combusted with air to supply the energy requirements for the process and to produce steam 20,21 . The aqueous phase, often referred as wastewater, contains considerable amounts of water‐soluble compounds and requests purification, which requires additional resources 22 …”