Now showing 1 - 10 of 17
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    Process Improvement and Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Bio-Hydrogenated Diesel Production from Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil
    (2025-01-01) ;
    Simasatitkul, Lida
    ;
    Yooyen, Kanokporn
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    Amornraksa, Suksun
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    Assabumrungrat, Suttichai
    The co-production of BHD with other renewable fuels (i.e., using a novel process involving carbon dioxide utilization to achieve the global sustainability goal) is presented. The three configurations of BHD production from refined bleached deodorized palm oil (RBDPO), including (1) the conventional BHD process with hydrogen recovery (BHD process), (2) the BHD process coupled with the Fischer–Tropsch process (BHD-FT process), and (3) the BHD process coupled with the bio-jet fuel and methanol processes (BHD-BIOJET-MEOH process) are investigated using the process model developed in Aspen Plus. The effect of the operating parameters is studied, and the condition of each process offering the highest BHD yield is proposed. Then, the pinch analysis and heat exchanger network (HEN) design of each proposed process are performed to find the highest energy-efficient configuration. The economic and environmental analysis is later performed to investigate the sustainability performance of each configuration. The conventional BHD process requires less hydrogen and consumes less energy than the others. The BHD-BIOJET-MEOH process is the most economically feasible, offering the highest net present value (NPV) of USD 7.93 million and the shortest payback period of 3 years and 1 month. However, it offers the highest carbon footprint of 0.820 kgCO<inf>2</inf> eq./kg of BHD, and it presented the highest potential environmental impact (PEI) in all categories.
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    Performance Assessment of Co-Gasification Process for Syngas Production Using Multi-Biomass Feedstocks
    (2026-06-15)
    Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan
    ;
    Detchusananard, Thanaphorn
    ;
    Piroonlerkgul, Pakorn
    ;
    The investigation focused on alternative energy production from biomass residuals, predominantly located in Northern Thailand, for year-round utilization. The biomass gasification model was created in Aspen Plus. The cassava stalk served as a foundational biomass for blending with additional materials. Increased equivalent ratio (ER) increased syngas yield, while higher gasifying temperatures decreased it. The total energy demand rose with increasing ER, whereas it decreased with higher gasifying temperatures. The gasification process may transition from exothermic to endothermic when the ER exceeds 0.25. The effect of mixing ratio of 1) cassava stalk and 2) rice straw, or 3) cane stalks, or 4) corn stalk at 1:0, 4:1, 3:2, and 2:3 on the gasification performance was investigated. The maximum syngas yield of all mixture cases at each gasifying temperature was achieved at mixing ratio of 2:3 and ER of 0.3. This study discovered blending cassava stalk with seasonal leftovers like rice straw, cane stalks, and corn stalks in a 2:3 ratio generated outstanding syngas year-round in Thailand. For the blended biomass feed rate of 10 kg/h, the maximum syngas yield of 0.356 kmol/h was achieved for the mixture of cassava stalk and rice straw at a gasifying temperature of 900°C.
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    Assessment of bio-methanol and electricity co-production via the integration of biomass-to-methanol process, solid oxide electrolyzer, and power generator
    (2025-11-01)
    Detchusananard, Thanaphorn
    ;
    Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan
    ;
    The performance assessment of an integrated biomass to methanol and solid oxide electrolyzer with and without a power generation unit (BtM-SOEC-PG and BtM-SOEC), utilizing purge gas from BtM for production of bio-methanol and electricity, is performed. For BtM-SOEC-PG, two utilization routes of low pressure (LP) steam leaving the power generation system (case 1: LP steam is exported to external users (BtM-SOEC-PG-LPEX) and case 2: LP steam is utilized in the process (BtM-SOEC-PG-LPUT)) are examined to determine the impact on process performance of recycling purge gas from BtM to either the methanol reactor or the power generation unit. In all cases, the bio-methanol production increases with increased purge gas recycling, whereas the power generation decreases. The direct CO<inf>2</inf> emissions are also improved with increased recycling. Two BtM-SOEC-PG cases are an exothermic process, and the degree of exothermicity increased with purge gas recycling. However, the BtM-SOEC-PG-LPUT with 90 % purge gas recycling offers a maximum methanol production rate of 15.99 kg/h, and under these conditions, 3.17 kW of electricity is generated and 56.18 % energy efficiency is obtained. The energy efficiency of the BtM-SOEC-PG-LPUT, with 90 % purge gas recycling, could potentially be enhanced by 10.42 % due to pinch analysis and heat exchanger network (HEN) design. Exergy analysis indicates that the gasifier is the primary unit of exergy destruction, followed by the combustion unit and the autothermal reformer (ATR) in the second and third positions, respectively. Furthermore, the BtM-SOEC-PG-LPUT with 90 % purge gas recycling offers a competitive cost of bio-methanol (824.37 USD/ton) compared to BtM-SOEC.
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    Exergy and exergoeconomic analyses of sustainable furfural production via reactive distillation
    (2021-07-01)
    Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan
    ;
    ;
    Panpranot, Joongjai
    ;
    Maréchal, François
    ;
    Arpornwichanop, Amornchai
    Lignocellulosic biomass is a potential renewable resource for production of high-value, sustainable products. Furfural is among the important bio-based chemicals in biorefineries. However, the conventional process of furfural production using a reaction-separation network entails low product yield but high fixed and operating costs owing to the complex process of separation. In this study, a process of furfural production via reactive distillation (RD) was investigated and designed based on the concept of process intensification. Exergy and exergoeconomic analyses were applied to evaluate the process performance. When the RD column was operated at its optimal configuration, furfural production of 81.78 kg h<sup>−1</sup> was achieved with xylose conversion and furfural yield of 97.9% and 97.4%, respectively. The exergy efficiency of furfural production was 56.41%, while the RD column exhibited the maximum exergy destruction rate among all components with an exergy efficiency of 69.82%. The exergy destruction rate declined with decrease in the reboiler duty of the RD column and increase in xylose concentration. The exergoeconomic analysis revealed that decreasing the reboiler duty had the highest impact on the total cost of furfural production. Decreases in feedstock and catalyst costs as well as interest rate additionally lowered the total cost rate of the system.
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    Sustainability analysis of the bio-dimethyl ether (bio-DME) production via integrated biomass gasification and direct DME Synthesis Process
    (2023-05-01) ;
    Piroonlerkgul, Pakorn
    The sustainability analysis based on life cycle assessment (LCA) of bio-dimethyl ether (bio-DME) production via an integrated biomass gasification and direct DME synthesis (IBG-DME) process, using oil palm residue as feedstock, was performed. The IBG-DME process was simulated in Aspen plus. Operating at selected condition, the IBG-DME was an exothermic process, whereas for 1 kg h<sup>−1</sup> of oil palm trunk, bio-DME of 0.3456 kg h<sup>−1</sup> and bio-methanol of 0.015 kg h<sup>−1</sup> were produced as main product and by product, respectively, with energy efficiency at 59.5%. The energy consumption increased as gasifying temperature increased and reached thermal self-sufficient condition at approximately 890 °C but the CO<inf>2</inf> emission showed opposite trend. LCA result indicated that the carbon footprint of each unit operation relied on the energy consumption. For biomass gasification section, the global warming potential (GWP) accounted for approximately 91% of the total impact. The DME production section highly contributed toward the ozone depletion potential (ODP), eco-toxicity (ET), and human toxicity-non-carcinogenics (HTNC) whereas the syngas cleaning and conditioning section highly contributed toward GWP, human toxicity potential by ingestion (HTPI), and aquatic toxicity potential (ATP). The endpoint impact on the ecosystem were higher than the human health for all process sections.
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    Comparative techno-economic and energy analyses of integrated biorefinery processes of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from biomass residue
    (2023-04-01)
    Wiranarongkorn, K.
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    ; ;
    Maréchal, F.
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    Arpornwichanop, A.
    For efficient feedstock and energy utilization, integrated biorefinery processes are applied to furfural production from bagasse to convert furfural residue into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)—an important intermediate building block for the production of various biochemicals. Here, a techno-economic analysis of the integrated processes of furfural and HMF production combined with electricity generation under different scenarios was performed to identify the most suitable process design. Simulations revealed that using the whole bagasse in the biorefinery plant and recycling 50% waste from the HMF production to recover unreacted sugar (scenario 2) achieved the maximum furfural and HMF production with minimum CO<inf>2</inf> emission, compared with integrated processes without sugar recycling (scenario 1), with 80% (scenario 3) and 60% biomass (scenario 4) bypassed to the biorefinery, and with a standalone combined heat and power system (scenario 5). Moreover, heat integration improved the efficiency of biorefinery plant (scenario 2), with an energy recovery potential of 71%, leading to the maximum profit at 11% internal rate of return. However, the high operating cost associated with the requirement of solvents and catalysts for HMF production represents the largest cost distribution in the proposed integrated processes. Sensitivity analysis revealed that solvent cost was the most important parameter for economic benefit. In addition, improving technological efficiency in the pretreatment and HMF production phases can enhance product yield, thereby benefiting the profitability of this process.
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    Assessment and analysis of multi-biomass fuels for sustainable electricity generation
    (2021-12-01)
    Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan
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    Phajam, Picharporn
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    Saebea, Dang
    ;
    Arpornwichanop, Amornchai
    Many biomass power plants are not flexible, using only one fuel type, and have high CO<inf>2</inf> emissions. In this study, a new methodology to assess the multi-biomass utilization for a power plant is proposed. The results provide that the proportions of mixed biomass residues in different regions of Thailand are appropriate with lower chloride content and slagging inclination than the standard specification. However, high alkali metal oxides in biomass in the southern region lead to high fouling inclination with high fly ash deposition. The electricity production using multi-biomass fuel is more efficient with lower fuel consumption than that with single-type biomass. To generate 103.43 MW electricity production, 107.89 t h<sup>−1</sup> consumption of mixed biomass fuels in the central is lower than that with multi-biomass in other regions. However, it generates a maximum of 12.5 mol% CO<inf>2</inf> in exhaust gases which can be captured by suitable amine-based absorbents with 90.82% efficiency.
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    Performance Analysis of Integral Process of Bio-Oil Production, Bio-Oil Upgrading, and Hydrogen Production from Sewage Sludge
    (2023-09-14)
    Simasatitkul, Lida
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    Lakkhanasombut, Apiwat
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    Morin, Worawit
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    Jedsadajerm, Supachai
    ;
    Amornraksa, Suksun
    This research investigated the production of bio-oil through the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process using sewage sludge from wastewater, along with the hydrotreating of the bio-oil. The simulation process began with a wastewater flow rate of 460 tonnes/day, where the feedstock was divided into two streams. The first stream underwent the HTL process, while the other was directed towards hydrogen production. The resulting products included gaseous products, crude bio-oil, and heavy liquid. The crude bio-oil was further upgraded by introducing hydrogen, which was obtained through gasification and purified by gas separation using a palladium membrane. The primary product mainly comprised alkane, with a carbon content of 85.89% and hydrogen content of 14.11%. For the purification of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and fuel oil, a fractionation distillation tower arrangement was designed. In addition, Additionally, the gaseous products underwent fractionation distillation to obtain 98% nitrogen and 99.9% liquid carbon dioxide. Considering the carbon footprint, it was observed that the bio-oil production process resulted in the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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    Process analysis of an integrated gasification and methanol synthesis process for bio-methanol production from untreated and torrefied biomass
    (2021-01-01) ;
    Arpornwichanop, Amornchai
    The integrated biomass gasification and methanol synthesis process is investigated in this study. The different types of biomass i.e., the untreated and torrefied biomass at 250 oC (TB250) and torrefied biomass at 300 oC (TB300) are considered feedstock. The influence of torrefying temperature on the yield and composition of raw syngas derived gasifier is investigated. The biomass processed torrefaction leads to an increase in syngas and methanol yields. Moreover, the bio-methanol production process using torrefied biomass releases lower amount of CO2 than the raw one. An energy analysis is also performed using overall energy consumption and cold gas efficiency (CGE) of the integrated process as the indicators. The TB300 offers better performance in methanol production and CO2 emission. However, it requires high energy for methanol synthesis unit and offers low CGE.
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    Process Analysis of Integrated Biomass Gasification and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) for Syngas Production
    (2023-01-01)
    Detchusananard, Thanaphorn
    ;
    Wiranarongkorn, Kunlanan
    ;
    The integrated biomass gasification and SOEC process (IBG-SOEC), which O2 from SOEC was used as gasifying agent while the separated H2 could be used for H2/CO adjustment or sell as a valuable byproduct, was studied to find the sustainable syngas production process. The model of IBG-SOEC was developed in Aspen Plus. The parametric analysis was performed to investigate the effect of operating conditions of SOEC (i.e., cell temperature and number of cells) on the overall process performance. For energy performance, the total energy demand decreased as cell temperature increased while increased with number of cells. The changes in cell temperature had no effect on the yield and composition of syngas from gasifier. The maximum yield of syngas, with H2/CO of 0.96, of 1.9 kmol/h was achieved at cell temperature of 790°C and number of cells of 600. At this condition, the overall efficiency of IBG-SOEC of 63 % was achieved and H2 byproduct of 1 kmol/h could obtained from SOEC.