Ex-ante viability of wonder nanomaterials from waste CO2: An ex-ante techno-economic and environmental assessment of CO2 based carbon nanomaterial production and comparison with status quo

The primary objective of this study was to address the lack of understanding of the commercial- scale implementation of novel CO2 based carbon nanomaterial (CNM) production and its comparison with status quo CNM production processes using unsustainable fossil resources. To accomplish this objective, first, a literature review was performed on...

From Sewage to Coal: New insights in Char Production: Performance evaluation with a combined Process Simulation and ex-ante Life Cycle Assessment

The aim of this study was to identify the most sustainable way to produce char from sewage sludge that later can be used as a coal substitute for the steel industry. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted on the latest technological developments for the production of char, which were subsequently simulated in Aspen Plus to obtain...

Utilisation of Heat Released During the Production of Green Hydrogen Using Alkaline Electrolysis

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit global warming, fossil fuel based energy technologies need to be replaced by clean energy technologies. Renewable energy sources are dependent on weather conditions therefore security of energy supply is not ensured and the need for energy storage is growing. Hydrogen is considered a clean energy...

Simulation of polyolefins waste gasification for chemical recycling applications in Aspen Plus

The Dutch government program “ A circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050“ prioritizes the 100% recycling of plastics used in the country by 2050 to reduce the consumption of fossil resources and increase the value of the plastic waste, which is currently incinerated or exported in its majority [1]. This objective can be facilitated by...

Process Integration of Gasification and Electrolysis for Biofuel Production: A techno-economic assessment

The decarbonization of the transport sector is a major challenge for the transition towards a sustainable economy. Amongst the different measures to lower the impact of road transportation on the environment is the use of biofuels, especially for heavy duty vehicles. For biofuels to be affordable and well integrated, improvements in the...

Techno-economic and environmental comparative assessment of two renewable methanol production routes

Simulation of CO2 capture and conversion into methanol using Aspen Plus and the design of an adaptive communication tool for the development of a shared vision within interdisciplinary virtual institutes

This interdisciplinary thesis gives a simulational approach for the production of basic chemicals in a renewable manner, while simultaneously managing uncertainty inherent in the development of novel and innovative technologies. The simulational approach focuses on the capture of CO2 and subsequent conversion into methanol using Aspen Plus. CO2...

Biomass gasification in a novel 50 kWth bubbling fluidized bed steam reformer: Kinetic Model Optimization and Preliminary Evaluation of Product Gas Recycle and Process Conditions for Methanol Production

Meeting the ever-increasing energy demands in our planet where conventional sources of energy are finite and fast depleting, controlling adverse phenomena like climate change, soil erosion, greenhouse gas emission, ozone layer thinning and pollution will remain profound challenges until widespread adoption of sustainable sources of energy is...

Kinetic Modelling of Biomass Gasification in an Indirectly Heated Bubbling Fluidized Bed Steam Reformer

The effort to reduce global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions has caused a growing interest in the use of sustainable energy sources. One of the potentially sustainable energy sources considered as an alternative for the currently used fossil sources is biomass. Biomass is organic matter that originates from plants or animals which can be...

Optimization of CO2 Capture using Chemical Solvents from Steel Mill’s Works Arising Gases

Based on the Paris Accord, various governments have agreed to a long- term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels; The Netherlands has committed to reduce its CO2 emissions with 80% by 2050; in this plan, the Dutch government has set an ambitious target for the industry to reduce...

Design and modeling of an energy storage system based on solid oxide reversible cells with syngas as fuel and co-electrolysis of CO2 and H2O

The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources makes it difficult for electric utility companies to effectively implement these technologies in the power grid due to mismatches between supply and demand. Solid oxide cells are electrochemical devices that are receiving a lot attention as an effective power grid balancing technology, given...

Small Scale Methanol Production: Process modelling and design of an autonomous, renewable container sized methanol plant

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in 2015, ambitious goals for the worldwide CO2 emissions were set. To achieve these goals, a huge reduction in CO2 emissions must be realized. For the energy market, the current aim is to use renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels. However, there are multiple sectors where...

Methanol Production from Syngas: Process modelling and design utilising biomass gasification and integrating hydrogen supply

Transitioning from a heavily fuel reliant economy to a sustainable future is one of the major challenges of our time. The high energy density and good storage properties of fossil fuels have made them the most important energy source for the last centuries. Moving away from fossil fuels towards greener, biomass-based energy and energy carriers...