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## The conditions of minimum energy consumption in a plant for fermentative hydrogen production from biomass

### Andrzej Budek

#### Abstract

The aim of the dissertation was to carry out energy analysis and determination of the minimum energy consumption in a plant for the production of hydrogen from biomass. The plant was assumed to use a new technology of fermentative hydrogen production, developed as part of the European research project HYVOLUTION – ”Non-thermal production of pure hydrogen from biomass”, (project completed in the years 2006-2010). The results of that project provided information about the structure and parameters of the basic plant. The research hypothesis in the first part concerns the development of a mathematical model of fermentative production of hydrogen from biomass, to investigate the energy balance and to minimize the energy consumption in the hydrogen plant. The second part of the hypothesis refers to designating the structure of the hydrogen plant and its operating parameters in such a way as to be independent of external sources of heat and electricity and to ensure minimum consumption of energy contained in the hydrogen . It was assumed the plant will be equipped with a heating plant featuring a steam boiler or a CHP system comprising fuel cells, catalytic oxidizer and steam boiler. In both cases hydrogen is the source of energy for heat generation and in the case with CHP also for power generation. The scope of the work included the creation of computer models of the hydrogen plant based on the developed mathematical models, using Aspen HYSYS software. On the basis of numerical simulations mass and heat balances of the considered systems were developed. Using the balance data, Pinch Point Technology and Aspen Energy Analyzer software, heat integration was performed which included an analysis of energy demand and assessment of the heat recovery. This combination of research methods and tools provided the maximum heat recovery ratio for each system variant in question. Among the different variants of the energy supply for hydrogen production, a heating plant – only system and three CHP systems featuring various types of fuel cells (PEMFC, PAFC and SOFC) were examined. In all variants the equal hydrogen production of 60 kg/h was assumed. The energy demand was studied as a function of selected process parameters; among them, CO2 content in the product gas is of key importance. The aim of the dissertation was achieved. The data obtained from project HYVOLUTION made it possible to verify the correctness of mathematical models. The 8 obtained results of the energy analysis indicated the options to optimize the hydrogen plant in order to minimize its energy consumption.
Record ID
WUT90488ffebb8f48868b7cd4dc47a3f4b5
Diploma type
Doctor of Philosophy
Author
Andrzej Budek Andrzej Budek,, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry (FCEMP)
Title in Polish
Warunki minimalnego zużycia energii w instalacji do fermentacyjnej produkcji wodoru z biomasy
Title in English
The conditions of minimum energy consumption in a plant for fermentative hydrogen production from biomass
Language
(pl) Polish
Certifying Unit
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry (FCEMP)
Discipline
mechanical engineering / (technology domain) / (technological sciences)
Status
Finished
Start date
24-03-2009
Defense Date
28-04-2015
Title date
26-05-2015
Supervisor
Internal reviewers
External reviewers
Romuald Mosdorf Romuald Mosdorf,, External affiliation of publication: Bialystok University of Technology
Pages
183
Keywords in English
hydrogen production, biomass, thermophilic fermentation, photofermentation, optimization, energy demand, energy efficiency, pinch point technology, fuel cell, catalytic oxidizer
Abstract in English
The aim of the dissertation was to carry out energy analysis and determination of the minimum energy consumption in a plant for the production of hydrogen from biomass. The plant was assumed to use a new technology of fermentative hydrogen production, developed as part of the European research project HYVOLUTION – ”Non-thermal production of pure hydrogen from biomass”, (project completed in the years 2006-2010). The results of that project provided information about the structure and parameters of the basic plant. The research hypothesis in the first part concerns the development of a mathematical model of fermentative production of hydrogen from biomass, to investigate the energy balance and to minimize the energy consumption in the hydrogen plant. The second part of the hypothesis refers to designating the structure of the hydrogen plant and its operating parameters in such a way as to be independent of external sources of heat and electricity and to ensure minimum consumption of energy contained in the hydrogen . It was assumed the plant will be equipped with a heating plant featuring a steam boiler or a CHP system comprising fuel cells, catalytic oxidizer and steam boiler. In both cases hydrogen is the source of energy for heat generation and in the case with CHP also for power generation. The scope of the work included the creation of computer models of the hydrogen plant based on the developed mathematical models, using Aspen HYSYS software. On the basis of numerical simulations mass and heat balances of the considered systems were developed. Using the balance data, Pinch Point Technology and Aspen Energy Analyzer software, heat integration was performed which included an analysis of energy demand and assessment of the heat recovery. This combination of research methods and tools provided the maximum heat recovery ratio for each system variant in question. Among the different variants of the energy supply for hydrogen production, a heating plant – only system and three CHP systems featuring various types of fuel cells (PEMFC, PAFC and SOFC) were examined. In all variants the equal hydrogen production of 60 kg/h was assumed. The energy demand was studied as a function of selected process parameters; among them, CO2 content in the product gas is of key importance. The aim of the dissertation was achieved. The data obtained from project HYVOLUTION made it possible to verify the correctness of mathematical models. The 8 obtained results of the energy analysis indicated the options to optimize the hydrogen plant in order to minimize its energy consumption.
PKT classification
Energetyka o źródłach odnawialnych i inne rodzaje energetyki
KBN classification
Budowa i eksploatacja maszyn
Thesis file
• File: 1
Budek.pdf
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Uniform Resource Identifier
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info/phd/WUT90488ffebb8f48868b7cd4dc47a3f4b5/
URN
urn:pw-repo:WUT90488ffebb8f48868b7cd4dc47a3f4b5

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