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Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production from Gasification of Sewage Sludge: Catalonia Case

Author

Listed:
  • Sandra Untoria

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Abel Rouboa

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
    LAETA-INEGI, Associated Laboratory for Energy, Transports and Aeronautics-Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Eliseu Monteiro

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
    LAETA-INEGI, Associated Laboratory for Energy, Transports and Aeronautics-Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The continuous tightening of legislation regulating the agricultural usage of sewage sludge in the province of Catalonia (Spain) leads us to propose its gasification to produce hydrogen-rich syngas. A thermodynamic equilibrium model was developed using Aspen Plus ® to simulate the air and steam gasification of sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in Catalonia. The syngas generated is analyzed in terms of composition and lower heating value (LHV), as a function of equivalence ratio (ER), gasification temperature (T gas ), steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR), and moisture content (MC). Results show that air-blown gasification finds the highest LHV of 7.48 MJ/m 3 at 1200 °C, ER of 0.2, and MC of 5%. Using steam as the gasifying agent, an LHV of 10.30 MJ/m 3 is obtained at SBR of 0.2, MC of 5%, and 1200 °C. A maximum of 69.7% hydrogen molar fraction is obtained at 600 °C, MC of 25%, and SBR of 1.2. This study suggests using steam as a gasifying agent instead of air since it provides a higher LHV of the syngas as well as a hydrogen-richer syngas for the implementation of gasification as an alternative method to sewage sludge treatment in the region of Catalonia. Since the economic aspect should also be considered, in this regard, our sensitivity analysis provided important data demonstrating that it is possible to reduce the gasification temperature without significantly decreasing the LHV.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Untoria & Abel Rouboa & Eliseu Monteiro, 2024. "Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production from Gasification of Sewage Sludge: Catalonia Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:6:p:1492-:d:1361008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sérgio Ferreira & Eliseu Monteiro & Luís Calado & Valter Silva & Paulo Brito & Cândida Vilarinho, 2019. "Experimental and Modeling Analysis of Brewers´ Spent Grains Gasification in a Downdraft Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Sérgio Ferreira & Eliseu Monteiro & Paulo Brito & Carlos Castro & Luís Calado & Cândida Vilarinho, 2019. "Experimental Analysis of Brewers’ Spent Grains Steam Gasification in an Allothermal Batch Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, March.
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