Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Methanol and Green BTX Production from Syngases
Authors
Rasmussen, Nicolai Hermann ; Elimar, Frederik Meyer ; Petersen, Nikolaj Hornshøj
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2021
Pages
166
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger den teknisk-økonomiske gennemførlighed af at producere grøn metanol og videre omdanne metanol til grønne aromater (BTX: benzen, toluen og xylen) ud fra syntesegasser dannet af CO2 og H2. CO2 indfanges fra RenoNords røggas via et absorber/stripper-anlæg, mens H2 produceres i en alkalisk elektrolysecelle; den nødvendige el kommer fra lokale vindmøller og solceller suppleret af eksterne vedvarende kilder. Metanol syntetiseres i en adiabatisk reaktor med Cu/ZnO/Al2O3-katalysator efterfulgt af destillation til brændstofkvalitet; alternativt føres metanolstrømmen til en ZSM-5-baseret adiabatisk reaktor for at danne BTX, hvorefter produkterne separeres ved kompression og destillation. Processerne modelleres i Aspen Plus, og anlægs- og driftsomkostninger estimeres via Aspen Process Economic Analyzer og litteraturdata. Den økonomiske levedygtighed vurderes for to systemer (System 1: metanol, System 2: BTX) og belyses med følsomhedsanalyser af bl.a. elpris, elektrolyse CAPEX/OPEX, rentevilkår, ilt-biproduktets pris, prispræmie for grønne produkter samt BTX-separationsomkostninger. Resultaterne viser, at metanolproduktion ved basisantagelser giver underskud, medmindre metanol kan sælges til en grøn præmiepris, mens BTX-ruten ved baseline giver et mindre overskud, men kan blive urentabel ved ugunstige el- og elektrolyseforhold. Overordnet peger studiet på, at premium-prissætning er nødvendig for at gøre grøn metanol og især grøn BTX økonomisk attraktive i forhold til konventionelle (”sorte”) alternativer.
This thesis assesses the techno-economic feasibility of producing green methanol and upgrading methanol to green aromatics (BTX: benzene, toluene, xylene) from syngases derived from CO2 and H2. CO2 is captured from RenoNord flue gas using an absorber/stripper process, and H2 is generated by alkaline electrolysis; electricity is supplied by on-site wind turbines and photovoltaic panels, supplemented by external renewable sources. Methanol is synthesized in an adiabatic reactor with a Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst and distilled to fuel grade; alternatively, the methanol stream is converted to BTX in an adiabatic ZSM-5 reactor, followed by product separation via compression and distillation. The process is modeled in Aspen Plus, with capital and operating costs estimated using the Aspen Process Economic Analyzer and literature sources. Economic performance is evaluated for two systems (System 1: methanol, System 2: BTX) and explored through sensitivity analyses of key factors, including electricity price, electrolyzer CAPEX/OPEX, financing terms, oxygen by-product price, green product premiums, and BTX separation costs. Findings indicate that, under baseline assumptions, methanol production runs at a deficit unless premium green pricing is achieved, while the BTX pathway shows a small baseline profit but becomes unprofitable under unfavorable electricity and electrolyzer conditions. Overall, premium pricing relative to conventional (“black”) products is required to render green methanol—and especially green BTX—economically viable.
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