Catalytic Conversion of e-Methanol to eSAF with Thermal System Integration of Modeled Amine-Based Carbon Capture, Alkaline Water Electrolysis, Methanol Synthesis, and Experimental-Based Methanol-to-Hydrocarbons
Authors
Morel, Rasmus Ask Bjørnemose ; Blankenfeldt, Aske Vincent
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-28
Pages
133
Abstract
This thesis examines the methanol‑to‑jet (MTJ) pathway as a route to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It assesses whether energy can be saved by placing three steps at the same site and sharing heat across them: carbon capture with monoethanolamine, H2 production via alkaline water electrolysis, and methanol synthesis from CO2 and H2. This system view is linked to laboratory experiments that convert methanol to hydrocarbons (methanol‑to‑hydrocarbons, MTH) to understand how heat integration affects the chain from CO2 to jet fuel. Experiments tested zeolite‑based catalysts modified with metals such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and indium (In) for converting wet methanol (methanol with water) into liquid hydrocarbons. Analytical methods—including simulated distillation, gas chromatography mass-spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis—showed that Co‑ZSM‑5(50) favored stable aliphatic products in the gasoline range. Ni‑ZSM‑5(50) showed the opposite: mainly aromatic products in the kerosene range, but with a significantly shorter lifetime and increased coke formation. In‑ZSM‑5(50) showed intermediate behavior. Pinch analysis indicated that adding heat integration increased the efficiency of liquid fuel production by nearly 50%, highlighting its value. The model also showed overall carbon and hydrogen efficiencies of 8.85–16.69% and 2.94–5.83%, respectively. Overall, the results emphasize that both heat integration and catalyst choice are key to improving MTJ performance.
Dette speciale undersøger metanol‑til‑jet (MTJ) som en vej til at fremstille bæredygtigt flybrændstof (SAF). Fokus er på, om man kan spare energi ved at placere tre trin på samme anlæg og udnytte deres overskudsvarme på tværs: kulstofopsamling med monoethanolamin, H2‑produktion via alkalisk vand-elektrolyse og metanolfremstilling fra CO2 og H2. Denne systemtilgang kobles til laboratorieforsøg, hvor metanol omdannes til kulbrinter (methanol‑to‑hydrocarbons, MTH), for at se, hvordan varmeintegration påvirker hele kæden fra CO2 til flybrændstof. I forsøgene blev forskellige zeolitbaserede katalysatorer, modificeret med metaller som kobolt (Co), nikkel (Ni) og indium (In), testet for deres evne til at omdanne våd metanol (metanol med vand) til flydende kulbrinter. Analysemetoder som simuleret destillation, gas chromatography mass-spectroscopy og termogravimetrisk analyse viste, at Co‑ZSM‑5(50) gav en stabil produktion af alifatiske forbindelser i benzinområdet. Ni‑ZSM‑5(50) gav det modsatte: overvejende aromatiske forbindelser i kerosenområdet, men med markant kortere levetid og mere koksdannelse. In‑ZSM‑5(50) udviste en mellemliggende adfærd. En pinch‑analyse viste, at effektiviteten for produktion af flydende brændstoffer steg med næsten 50% ved at tilføje varmeintegration, hvilket understreger dens værdi. Modellen viste desuden en samlet kulstof- og hydrogeneffektivitet på henholdsvis 8,85–16,69% og 2,94–5,83%. Samlet peger resultaterne på, at både varmeintegration og valg af katalysator er afgørende for at forbedre MTJ‑processens ydeevne.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords