Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis

Methanol-based alternative energy sources are critical to maintaining energy security, reducing the need for oil imports, and safeguarding the environment in China. However, the use of methanol-based fuels in the field of thermal combustion has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an evaluat...

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Main Authors: Jing Liu, Jun Zhao, Qiang Zhu, Da Huo, Yang Li, Wenjia Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-02-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X23011917
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author Jing Liu
Jun Zhao
Qiang Zhu
Da Huo
Yang Li
Wenjia Li
author_facet Jing Liu
Jun Zhao
Qiang Zhu
Da Huo
Yang Li
Wenjia Li
author_sort Jing Liu
collection DOAJ
description Methanol-based alternative energy sources are critical to maintaining energy security, reducing the need for oil imports, and safeguarding the environment in China. However, the use of methanol-based fuels in the field of thermal combustion has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an evaluation of the costs, emissions, and usage of methanol boilers is necessary. The study finds that methanol heaters and air source heat pumps have comparable annual cost values. Methanol heating furnaces emit the least amount of NOx and produce no SO2. After the refurbishment, the boiler's emissions and energy consumption have significantly decreased upon conversion of coal-fired steam boilers to methanol-based fuel hot water boilers. Nevertheless, the economy has also somewhat declined. Additionally, 5499 tce (standard coal) less energy will be used during the heating season, and 1.8 million CNY less will be spent on dust removal and desulfurization. Unfortunately, the economic benefits of methanol are only apparent when the cost of methanol fuel is less than 1900 CNY/t. The research presented in this paper provides an essential technological foundation for the development of methanol-fueled fuel burners and for the renovation of small and medium-sized coal-fired boilers.
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spelling doaj.art-b79e9532bf844bd8b2eae505df0a6e922024-02-14T05:16:43ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2024-02-0154103885Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysisJing Liu0Jun Zhao1Qiang Zhu2Da Huo3Yang Li4Wenjia Li5Tianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCorresponding author.; Tianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaTianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaTianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaTianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaTianjin University, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, ChinaMethanol-based alternative energy sources are critical to maintaining energy security, reducing the need for oil imports, and safeguarding the environment in China. However, the use of methanol-based fuels in the field of thermal combustion has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an evaluation of the costs, emissions, and usage of methanol boilers is necessary. The study finds that methanol heaters and air source heat pumps have comparable annual cost values. Methanol heating furnaces emit the least amount of NOx and produce no SO2. After the refurbishment, the boiler's emissions and energy consumption have significantly decreased upon conversion of coal-fired steam boilers to methanol-based fuel hot water boilers. Nevertheless, the economy has also somewhat declined. Additionally, 5499 tce (standard coal) less energy will be used during the heating season, and 1.8 million CNY less will be spent on dust removal and desulfurization. Unfortunately, the economic benefits of methanol are only apparent when the cost of methanol fuel is less than 1900 CNY/t. The research presented in this paper provides an essential technological foundation for the development of methanol-fueled fuel burners and for the renovation of small and medium-sized coal-fired boilers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X23011917Methanol-based fuelPollutant emissionsEnergy sourcesThermal combustionEfficiencyNOx
spellingShingle Jing Liu
Jun Zhao
Qiang Zhu
Da Huo
Yang Li
Wenjia Li
Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Methanol-based fuel
Pollutant emissions
Energy sources
Thermal combustion
Efficiency
NOx
title Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
title_full Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
title_fullStr Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
title_full_unstemmed Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
title_short Methanol-based fuel boiler: Design, process, emission, energy consumption, and techno-economic analysis
title_sort methanol based fuel boiler design process emission energy consumption and techno economic analysis
topic Methanol-based fuel
Pollutant emissions
Energy sources
Thermal combustion
Efficiency
NOx
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X23011917
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AT junzhao methanolbasedfuelboilerdesignprocessemissionenergyconsumptionandtechnoeconomicanalysis
AT qiangzhu methanolbasedfuelboilerdesignprocessemissionenergyconsumptionandtechnoeconomicanalysis
AT dahuo methanolbasedfuelboilerdesignprocessemissionenergyconsumptionandtechnoeconomicanalysis
AT yangli methanolbasedfuelboilerdesignprocessemissionenergyconsumptionandtechnoeconomicanalysis
AT wenjiali methanolbasedfuelboilerdesignprocessemissionenergyconsumptionandtechnoeconomicanalysis