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Published in: Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 1/2015

01-03-2015 | Original Article

Light olefins and transport fuels from biomass residues via synthetic methanol: performance and cost analysis

Authors: Ilkka Hannula, Vesa Arpiainen

Published in: Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

A thermochemical processing route from biomass residues to light olefins (ethylene and propylene) is assessed by means of process simulation and cost analysis. A two-step process chain is proposed where (1) biomass residues are first converted to synthetic methanol in a gasification plant situated close to feedstock resources and (2) the produced methanol is transported to a steam cracking site where it is further converted in a methanol to olefins (MTO) plant. Possibilities for heat and product integration as well as equipment sharing with a steam cracking plant are discussed. Overall mass yields from dry biomass to light olefins range from 169 to 203 kg/t. Based on cursory capital cost estimates, the maximum methanol purchase price for such integrated MTO plants is estimated to be in the range of 420–450 €/t.

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Footnotes
1
1 These include Shenhua Baotou’s methanol to olefins (300 kt/a ethylene and 300 kt/a propylene) and Shenhua Ningmei’s methanol to propylene (500 kt/a propylene) [4].
 
2
2 The PDU was run circa 4,000 h in pressurised oxygen-blown mode using various wood residues as feedstock.
 
3
3 The heat of combustion is defined on lower heating value basis and calculated for the wet biomass prior drying.
 
4
4 Higher costs are due to more expensive double fluidised-bed reactor/regenerator system, reactor internals, catalyst and combustion air blower.
 
5
5 Following breakdown is assumed for the O&M: personnel costs 0.5 %, maintenance & insurances 2.5 %, catalysts & chemicals 1 %.
Table 10
Financial parameters assumed for the purpose of cost analysis
Investment factors
 
Annuity factor (10 %, 20 a)
0.12
Annual O&M cost factor 0.04 a
 
Annual operating hours
7890
Investment support, M€
0
Product values, €/tonne
 
Ethylene
1,100
Propylene
1,200
H 2
1,500
C 4+
600/1,015 b
Fuelgas
500
Ethane
500
Propane
500
Utilities
 
Electricity, €/MWh
50
High pressure steam, €/t
35
Low pressure steam, €/t
30
a Fraction of Total Capital Investment
b When end-product conv. motor fuel / biofuel
 
6
6 The C 4+ is valued at 80 % of the end-product value, which we assume to be 750 €/t for conventional motor fuel and 1,269 €/t for biofuel
 
7
7 Both plants having 10 % internal rate on return and paying 12 €/MWh for the feedstock
 
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Metadata
Title
Light olefins and transport fuels from biomass residues via synthetic methanol: performance and cost analysis
Authors
Ilkka Hannula
Vesa Arpiainen
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 2190-6815
Electronic ISSN: 2190-6823
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-014-0123-9

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