Application of the Aspen Plus Software Package for Simulation of the Synthesis-Gas Composition in Oxygen-Free Steam Gasification of Biomass

• Published in: Thermal engineering 2021-09, Vol.68 (9), p.698-704
• Main Author: Shevyrev, S. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air separation; Boiler Auxiliary Equipment; Burners; Electric industries; Electric power systems; Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Gas composition; Gas generators; Gasification; Heat and Mass Transfer; Hydrogen production; Liquid fuels; Nuclear fuels; Oxidation; Oxygen production; Power Plant Fuel; Production methods; Simulation; Software; Software packages; Steam Boilers; Steam electric power generation; Synthesis gas; Thermal power plants; Thermoelectricity
• ISSN: 0040-6015; 1555-6301
• DOI: 10.1134/S0040601521080097

The gasification process is among the hydrogen production methods finding ever increasing application in the world practice. In its industrial implementation, a steam-oxygen mixture is employed most often as a gasifying agent. However, superheated steam is more promising for this purpose, since water is a hydrogen donor. It is essential to have an oxygen-free gasifying agent. This not only saves fuel eliminating its oxidation in the gasification process but also reduces the cost of synthesis gas (syngas) due to the fact that energy-consuming air separation units for oxygen production are not needed. Superheated steam for the gasification process can be generated at thermal power plants of various thermal and electrical power. This will enable the superheated steam to be generated at conditions in a wide range of temperatures and pressures and with high flowrates as required for gas generators with high specific thermal power. This process was modeled in the Aspen Plus software package widely used for simulation of chemical process and power systems in many countries of the world. The gasification process is generally modeled using the RYield or RGibbs reactor. The effect of superheated steam temperature (750–965°С) and pressure (0.1 to 3.0 MPa) of the syngas composition is demonstrated. Depending on the superheated steam pressure and temperature, the generated syngas can be used as a fuel for power units (in power industry) or as a feedstock for the production of various chemicals, such as hydrogen and synthetic liquid fuel. Comparison of the simulation results with the published data revealed that their difference does not exceed 15%.