Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
A substantial number of off-grid olive oil mills in Morocco are powered by diesel-fired generators, which hugely contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this research work, a biomass gasification combined heat and power (CHP) plant fueled with local by-products was explored as a...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| author | Daniel Sánchez-Lozano Antonio Escámez Roque Aguado Sara Oulbi Rachid Hadria David Vera |
| author_facet | Daniel Sánchez-Lozano Antonio Escámez Roque Aguado Sara Oulbi Rachid Hadria David Vera |
| author_sort | Daniel Sánchez-Lozano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A substantial number of off-grid olive oil mills in Morocco are powered by diesel-fired generators, which hugely contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this research work, a biomass gasification combined heat and power (CHP) plant fueled with local by-products was explored as a renewable alternative to electrify off-grid olive oil mills in this country. The case study considered a gasification CHP plant with a rated power of 80 kW<sub>e</sub>, in order to enable adaptation of the producer gas flow rate to abrupt changes in the power generation unit under dynamic operation. A downdraft gasifier and a producer gas conditioning unit were modeled under steady state operation using Cycle-Tempo, while the power generation unit was modeled in the Thermoflex simulation environment under partial and full load operation. Olive cake pellets and olive pruning chips were evaluated as biomass feedstock, with moisture contents ranging from 5% to 20% (wet basis). The results from the simulation of the gasification CHP plant showed net electrical efficiencies and CHP efficiencies around 18% and 35%, respectively. Finally, a profitability assessment of the gasification CHP plant was developed for 2 months of continuous operation, together with a sensitivity analysis. The results for the baseline scenario reveal a payback period of 7–8 years and a 68.5% accumulated profit based on the capital investment, which suggest that biomass gasification CHP plants can represent an economically feasible and sustainable solution for the electrification of off-grid areas in Morocco. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:59:10Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:59:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecc266aa5eed44a9bea4059ea599f68e2023-11-18T00:18:29ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-05-011310596510.3390/app13105965Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, MoroccoDaniel Sánchez-Lozano0Antonio Escámez1Roque Aguado2Sara Oulbi3Rachid Hadria4David Vera5Department of Electrical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 23700 Linares, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 23700 Linares, SpainDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 23700 Linares, SpainNational Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Rabat P.O. Box 415, MoroccoNational Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Rabat P.O. Box 415, MoroccoDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 23700 Linares, SpainA substantial number of off-grid olive oil mills in Morocco are powered by diesel-fired generators, which hugely contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this research work, a biomass gasification combined heat and power (CHP) plant fueled with local by-products was explored as a renewable alternative to electrify off-grid olive oil mills in this country. The case study considered a gasification CHP plant with a rated power of 80 kW<sub>e</sub>, in order to enable adaptation of the producer gas flow rate to abrupt changes in the power generation unit under dynamic operation. A downdraft gasifier and a producer gas conditioning unit were modeled under steady state operation using Cycle-Tempo, while the power generation unit was modeled in the Thermoflex simulation environment under partial and full load operation. Olive cake pellets and olive pruning chips were evaluated as biomass feedstock, with moisture contents ranging from 5% to 20% (wet basis). The results from the simulation of the gasification CHP plant showed net electrical efficiencies and CHP efficiencies around 18% and 35%, respectively. Finally, a profitability assessment of the gasification CHP plant was developed for 2 months of continuous operation, together with a sensitivity analysis. The results for the baseline scenario reveal a payback period of 7–8 years and a 68.5% accumulated profit based on the capital investment, which suggest that biomass gasification CHP plants can represent an economically feasible and sustainable solution for the electrification of off-grid areas in Morocco.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/10/5965combined heat and power (CHP)downdraft gasifierload profile adjustmentoff-grid electrificationproducer gassensitivity analysis |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Sánchez-Lozano Antonio Escámez Roque Aguado Sara Oulbi Rachid Hadria David Vera Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco Applied Sciences combined heat and power (CHP) downdraft gasifier load profile adjustment off-grid electrification producer gas sensitivity analysis |
| title | Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco |
| title_full | Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco |
| title_short | Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Biomass Gasification CHP Plant for an Olive Oil Mill in the Region of Marrakech-Safi, Morocco |
| title_sort | techno economic assessment of an off grid biomass gasification chp plant for an olive oil mill in the region of marrakech safi morocco |
| topic | combined heat and power (CHP) downdraft gasifier load profile adjustment off-grid electrification producer gas sensitivity analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/10/5965 |
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