Thermochemical biorefinery based on dimethyl ether as intermediate: Technoeconomic assessment

• Published in: Applied energy 2013-02, Vol.102, p.950-961
• Main Authors: Haro, P., Ollero, P., Villanueva Perales, A.L., Gómez-Barea, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetates; Applied sciences; Assessments; Biomass; biorefining; coproducts; Dimethyl ether; DME; Electricity; Energy; energy efficiency; Ethanol; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; gasification; heat; hydrogen; market prices; Methyl acetate; Natural energy; operating costs; Power plants; products; Refining; synthesis gas; Technoeconomic assessment; Thermochemical biorefinery
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.051

► A thermochemical biorefinery based on bio-DME as intermediate is studied. ► The assessed concepts (12) lead to multi-product generation (polygeneration). ► In all concepts DME is converted by carbonylation or hydrocarbonylation. ► Rates of return are similar to or higher than plants producing a single product. Thermochemical biorefinery based on dimethyl ether (DME) as an intermediate is studied. DME is converted into methyl acetate, which can either be hydrogenated to ethanol or sold as a co-product. Considering this option together with a variety of technologies for syngas upgrading, 12 different process concepts are analyzed. The considered products are ethanol, methyl acetate, H2, DME and electricity. The assessment of each alternative includes biomass pretreatment, gasification, syngas clean-up and conditioning, DME synthesis and conversion, product separation, and heat and power integration. A plant size of 500MWth processing poplar chips is taken as a basis. The resulting energy efficiency to products ranges from 34.9% to 50.2%. The largest internal rate of return (28.74%) corresponds to a concept which produces methyl acetate, DME and electricity (exported to grid). A sensitivity analysis with respect to total plant investment (TPI), total operation costs (TOC) and market price of products was carried out. The overall conclusion is that, despite its greater complexity, this kind of thermochemical biorefinery is more profitable than thermochemical bioprocesses oriented to a single product.