Exergy-Based Improvements of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Comparing Biorefinery Pathways

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

P. Silva Ortiz (Technische Universität München)

Silvio de Oliveira (Universidade de São Paulo)

Adriano Pinto Mariano (University of Campinas)

Agnes Jocher (Technische Universität München)

John A. Posada-Duque (TU Delft - BT/Biotechnology and Society)

Research Group
BT/Biotechnology and Society
Copyright
© 2024 P. Silva Ortiz, Silvio de Oliveira Junior, Adriano Pinto Mariano, Agnes Jocher, J.A. Posada Duque
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12030510
More Info
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Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Copyright
© 2024 P. Silva Ortiz, Silvio de Oliveira Junior, Adriano Pinto Mariano, Agnes Jocher, J.A. Posada Duque
Research Group
BT/Biotechnology and Society
Issue number
3
Volume number
12
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Abstract

The aeronautical sector faces challenges in meeting its net-zero ambition by 2050. To achieve this target, much effort has been devoted to exploring sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Accordingly, we evaluated the technical performance of potential SAF production in an integrated first- and second-generation sugarcane biorefinery focusing on Brazil. The CO2 equivalent and the renewability exergy indexes were used to assess environmental performance and impact throughout the supply chain. In addition, exergy efficiency (ηB) and average unitary exergy costs (AUEC) were used as complementary metrics to carry out a multi-criteria approach to determine the overall performance of the biorefinery pathways. The production capacity assumed for this analysis covers 10% of the fuel demand in 2020 at the international Brazilian airports of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, leading to a base capacity of 210 kt jet fuel/y. The process design includes sugarcane bagasse and straw as the feedstock of the biochemical processes, including diverse pre-treatment methods to convert lignocellulosic resources to biojet fuel, and lignin upgrade alternatives (cogeneration, fast pyrolysis, and gasification Fischer-Tropsch). The environmental analysis for all scenarios shows a GHG reduction potential due to a decrease of up to 30% in the CO2 equivalent exergy base emissions compared to fossil-based jet fuel.