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Synthesis of Bio‐Dimethyl Ether Based on Carbon Dioxide‐Enhanced Gasification of Biomass: Process Simulation Using Aspen Plus
Author(s) -
Parvez Ashak M.,
Mujtaba Iqbal M.,
Hall Philip,
Lester Edward H.,
Wu Tao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201500349
Subject(s) - dimethyl ether , syngas , biomass (ecology) , carbon dioxide , process simulation , carbon fibers , materials science , chemical engineering , integrated gasification combined cycle , pulp and paper industry , process (computing) , waste management , environmental science , process engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering , computer science , oceanography , composite number , composite material , operating system , geology
Process simulation for a single‐step synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) based on the CO 2 ‐enhanced gasification of rice straw was conducted using Aspen Plus. The process consists of a gasification unit, a heat recovery unit, a gas purification unit, a single‐step DME synthesis unit, and a DME separation unit. In the simulation, highly pure DME was produced by the control of CO 2 concentration in syngas to a very low level prior to synthesis. A gasification system efficiency of 36.7 % and CO 2 emission of 1.31 kg kg DME −1 were achieved. This bio‐DME production based on the CO 2 ‐enhanced gasification of biomass was cost‐effective as it required 19.6 % less biomass than that of DME production based on conventional biomass gasification. The performance and environmental benefits of the proposed process could be further improved by the utilization of unreacted gases and the managing of CO 2 generated by the incorporation of a polygeneration concept or carbon storage.