Techno-Economic Assessment of Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of a Coal-Miscanthus Blend

Abstract

Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization (Co-HTC) is a thermochemical process, where coal and biomass were treated simultaneously in subcritical water, resulting in bulk-homogenous hydrochar that is carbon-rich and a hydrophobic solid fuel with combustion characteristics like coal. In this study, technoeconomic analysis of Co-HTC was performed for a scaled-up Co-HTC plant that produces fuel for 110 MWe coal-fired power plant using Clarion coal #4a and miscanthus as starting feedstocks. With precise mass and energy balance of the Co-HTC process, sizing of individual equipment was conducted based on various systems equations. Cost of electricity was calculated from estimated capital, manufacturing, and operating and maintenance costs. The breakeven selling price of Co-HTC hydrochar was $117 per ton for a 110 MWe. Sensitivity analysis indicates that this breakeven selling price could be as low as $106 per ton for a higher capacity plant. Besides plant size, the price of solid fuel is sensitive to the feedstock costs and hydrochar yield.

Hydrochars production, characterization and application for wastewater treatment: A review

“…In addition, pH solution and the hydrochar surface (pHzpc) control also the removal efficiency of charged pollutants [84,105]. Furthermore, usually, the adsorption efficiency of hydrochars generally increases with the solution temperature [158,159]. Since the application of the adsorptive capacity of hydrochars is recently exploited, the following section will target the adsorption of dyes as an example of organic molecules and, heavy metals and nutrients as examples of mineral matters (Table 4).…”

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Organic Waste and Biomass: A Review on Process, Reactor, and Plant Modeling

“…Saba et al [115] performed a techno-economic analysis for the co-processing of coal and miscanthus for producing a solid fuel. A blend of coal and miscanthus (50:50, about 65,000 kg h −1 ) was treated in an HTC reactor.…”

Hydrothermal Carbonization and Pellet Production from Egeria densa and Lemna minor

“…Wang et al [34] calculated the HHV of Eucommia ulmoides and their results ranged from 20.00 MJ/kg at 180 • C to 29.61 MJ/kg at 320 • C. Krylova and Zaitchenko [35] calculated the heating value of plant biomass, such as softwood, hardwood, and pine bark, and found values between 18.50 and 21.00 MJ/kg. Saba et al [36] also calculated the HHV of miscanthus at 230 • C, obtaining a value of 24.60 MJ/kg. Wilk et al [37] obtained a value for LHV of 20.26 MJ/kg for Acacia and 22.64 MJ/kg for Pine.…”