This paper proposes a multiobjective, mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model for the superstructure optimization of hydrocarbon biorefineries via gasification pathway under economic and environmental criteria. The proposed hydrocarbon biorefinery superstructure includes a number of major processing stages, such as drying of the cellulosic biomass feedstocks, air separation unit, gasi...

Great efforts have been spent to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the efficiency of the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC). This study focuses on investigating two approaches to achieve these goals. First, replace the traditional subcritical Rankine steam cycle of the overall plant with a supercritical steam cycle. Second, add different amounts of biomass as feed...

While biomass utilization for energy conversion in the industrialized nations is being largely developed, highly efficient and environmentally friendly, many tropical countries still use biomass at low efficiencies and high emission levels. The main reasons for these gaps are both political and technological: the energy markets are different, the Gross National Product (GDP) differs widely, and...

The goal of this project is to develop models that predict accurately coal and biomass gasification and combustion behaviors in the type environments likely to be established in advanced energy systems. This requires acquiring the information needed to understand and characterize the fundamental chemical and physical processes that govern coal and biomass conversion at high temperatures and pre...

Chars produced from the pyrolysis of different waste materials have been investigated in terms of their use as a catalyst for the catalytic cracking of biomass pyrolysis gases during the two-stage pyrolysis-gasification of biomass. The chars were produced from the pyrolysis of waste tyres, refused derived fuel and biomass in the form of date stones. The results showed that the hydrocarbon tar y...

Torrefaction is a thermo-chemical process that reduces the moisture content of wood and transforms it into a brittle, char-type material. The thermo-chemical process can reduce the mass of wood by 20-30% resulting in a denser, higher-valued product that can be transported more economically than traditional wood chips. Through torrefaction, wood may retain 90% of the energy value. This energy de...

Gasification of lignocellulosic biomass requires the effective removal method tar. This study focused on application specially designed Mg/Al-layered double hydroxides clinoptilolite (Mg/Al-LDH@clinoptilolite) to improve efficiency tar, which would eventually lead enhancing power gasification, preventing damage facilities, and deducing durability improvement plans. Zeolite-layered impregnated w...

PROCESSES – Biomass combustion is a carbon-free process because the resulting CO2 was previously captured by the plants being combusted. At present, biomass co-firing in modern coal power plants with efficiencies up to 45% is the most cost-effective biomass use for power generation. Due to feedstock availability issues, dedicated biomass plants for combined heat & power (CHP), are typically of ...

Employing biomass as a feedstock to generate fuels or power has the advantage of being carbon neutral or even becoming carbon negative, if carbon is captured and sequestrated. However, there are challenges facing the effective utilization of biomass wastes: (a) biomass supply is limited and varies with the seasons, (b) biomass density is low and expensive for long-distance transportation, and (...