Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis
In this paper, a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process is designed and modeled on the basis of experimental data previously obtained for two representative organic waste materials: off-specification compost and grape marc. The process accounts for all the steps and equipment necessary to convert...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/2/211 |
| _version_ | 1798005428641071104 |
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| author | Michela Lucian Luca Fiori |
| author_facet | Michela Lucian Luca Fiori |
| author_sort | Michela Lucian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process is designed and modeled on the basis of experimental data previously obtained for two representative organic waste materials: off-specification compost and grape marc. The process accounts for all the steps and equipment necessary to convert raw moist biomass into dry and pelletized hydrochar. By means of mass and thermal balances and based on common equations specific to the various equipment, thermal energy and power consumption were calculated at variable process conditions: HTC reactor temperature T: 180, 220, 250 °C; reaction time θ: 1, 3, 8 h. When operating the HTC plant with grape marc (65% moisture content) at optimized process conditions (T = 220 °C; θ = 1 h; dry biomass to water ratio = 0.19), thermal energy and power consumption were equal to 1170 kWh and 160 kWh per ton of hydrochar produced, respectively. Correspondingly, plant efficiency was 78%. In addition, the techno-economical aspects of the HTC process were analyzed in detail, considering both investment and production costs. The production cost of pelletized hydrochar and its break-even point were determined to be 157 €/ton and 200 €/ton, respectively. Such values make the use of hydrochar as a CO2 neutral biofuel attractive. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:40:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b3b818e087aa4c95844945c0c0ebc27a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:40:02Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b3b818e087aa4c95844945c0c0ebc27a2022-12-22T04:23:32ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732017-02-0110221110.3390/en10020211en10020211Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost AnalysisMichela Lucian0Luca Fiori1Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, ItalyIn this paper, a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process is designed and modeled on the basis of experimental data previously obtained for two representative organic waste materials: off-specification compost and grape marc. The process accounts for all the steps and equipment necessary to convert raw moist biomass into dry and pelletized hydrochar. By means of mass and thermal balances and based on common equations specific to the various equipment, thermal energy and power consumption were calculated at variable process conditions: HTC reactor temperature T: 180, 220, 250 °C; reaction time θ: 1, 3, 8 h. When operating the HTC plant with grape marc (65% moisture content) at optimized process conditions (T = 220 °C; θ = 1 h; dry biomass to water ratio = 0.19), thermal energy and power consumption were equal to 1170 kWh and 160 kWh per ton of hydrochar produced, respectively. Correspondingly, plant efficiency was 78%. In addition, the techno-economical aspects of the HTC process were analyzed in detail, considering both investment and production costs. The production cost of pelletized hydrochar and its break-even point were determined to be 157 €/ton and 200 €/ton, respectively. Such values make the use of hydrochar as a CO2 neutral biofuel attractive.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/2/211hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)wet torrefactionhydrocharprocess modelingprocess designenergy analysiscost analysis |
| spellingShingle | Michela Lucian Luca Fiori Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis Energies hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) wet torrefaction hydrochar process modeling process design energy analysis cost analysis |
| title | Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis |
| title_full | Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis |
| title_short | Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis |
| title_sort | hydrothermal carbonization of waste biomass process design modeling energy efficiency and cost analysis |
| topic | hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) wet torrefaction hydrochar process modeling process design energy analysis cost analysis |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/2/211 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michelalucian hydrothermalcarbonizationofwastebiomassprocessdesignmodelingenergyefficiencyandcostanalysis AT lucafiori hydrothermalcarbonizationofwastebiomassprocessdesignmodelingenergyefficiencyandcostanalysis |