Techno-economic and life-cycle analysis of strategies for improving operability and biomass quality in catalytic fast pyrolysis of forest residues

Journal Article · Tue Dec 17 00:00:00 UTC 2024 · Next Energy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxener.2024.100225 · OSTI ID:2558934

Thompson, David N.  ^[1]; Hartley, Damon S.  ^[1]; Wiatrowski, Matthew R.  ^[2]; Klinger, Jordan Lee  ^[1]; Paudel, Rajiv  ^[1]; Ou, Longwen  ^[3]; Cai, Hao  ^[3]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
3. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Many of the challenges faced by the first commercial biorefineries were associated with feedstock handling, quality, and cost. Strategies are needed to enable further expansion of biorefineries and meet the growing demand for bio-based fuels and products. Here, we examine 2 key feedstock challenges and mitigation strategies in the context of a catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) biorefinery: (1) the operability of the feed system, which may be improved by modifying the minimum particle size fed to the reactor, and (2) the quality of the biomass, which may be improved by employing air classification to remove undesirable material and increase fuel yields. We conduct techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle analysis for these strategies, employing a discrete event simulation model for biomass preprocessing combined with a series of correlations developed from literature data and a rigorous CFP conversion model. Our results highlight the importance of balancing increased cost and material losses from preprocessing against improved operability and fuel yields. Economics and sustainability were optimized when operating at the lowest minimum particle size, emphasizing the importance of minimizing material losses while maintaining the operability of the process. Economically, additional costs and material losses from air classification could be acceptable due to improved biomass conversion, and an optimum air classification speed was identified; however, the fuel GHG emissions were minimized when air classification was not used. Valorizing material removed during preprocessing as a coproduct could improve economics and sustainability, decreasing the burden of material losses.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357; AC07-05ID14517; AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 2558934
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU--24-78807; NREL/JA--5100-90337; MainId:92115; UUID:d3ae620c-7e09-4931-9e0b-aee91df23892; MainAdminId:76157
• Journal Information: Next Energy, Journal Name: Next Energy Vol. 7; ISSN 2949-821X
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English