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Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis

Author

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  • Michela Lucian

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Luca Fiori

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

Abstract

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 CO 2 neutral biofuel attractive.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Lucian & Luca Fiori, 2017. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:2:p:211-:d:90156
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Volpe, Roberto & Messineo, Antonio & Millan, Marcos & Volpe, Maurizio & Kandiyoti, Rafael, 2015. "Assessment of olive wastes as energy source: pyrolysis, torrefaction and the key role of H loss in thermal breakdown," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 119-127.
    2. Antonio Messineo & Roberto Volpe & Francesco Asdrubali, 2012. "Evaluation of Net Energy Obtainable from Combustion of Stabilised Olive Mill By-Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Ramy Gamgoum & Animesh Dutta & Rafael M. Santos & Yi Wai Chiang, 2016. "Hydrothermal Conversion of Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical Red Liquor into Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-18, June.
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