Techno-enviro-economic analysis of integrated direct chemical looping coal-based power generation and methanol synthesis using renewable hydrogen

By Surya Ayuati Ning Asih, Ahmad Syauqi, Widodo Wahyu Purwanto | Publication, Scientific Paper

Techno-enviro-economic assessment was performed for an integrated coal power generation system with chemical looping and methanol synthesis using renewable hydrogen. The proposed process was simulated using Aspen Plus®. Chemical looping technology was applied to coal combustion simulated under various operating conditions to produce electricity and CO2-rich flue gas. Subsequently, the effects of the steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) and oxygen carrier to fuel ratio (ϕ) on various parameters were evaluated. The CO2-rich flue gas was fed to a methanol synthesis plant, along with H2 produced from various technologies, such as methane steam reforming, biomass gasification, and photovoltaic (PV) electrolysis. Integrated direct chemical looping coal-based power generation and the methanol plant were evaluated from technical, environmental, and economical standpoints. The results show that the optimum S/C and ϕ are 0.93 and 1.4, respectively. Technical assessment to compare the hydrogen production technologies showed that PV electrolysis is the most efficient technology, with an efficiency of 67.08 %. Methanol production using hydrogen from a PV-solid oxide electrolyzer cell resulted in the lowest emission (0.013 kgCO2eq/MJ MeOH). Levelized cost analysis showed that the lowest methanol cost (434 $/ton) was obtained when hydrogen was produced by steam methane reforming.