Integration of biomasses gasification and renewable-energies-driven water electrolysis for methane production

In this work, an innovative process layout for methane production is proposed and investigated with the aim to promote the integration of renewable energies chemical storage via hydrogen production by water electrolysis and biomass gasification. The core of the proposed layout is the integration between an experimental fluidized bed gasification system, fed with spruce wood pellets and using Fe/Al2O3 catalyst, and a conceptual methanation unit. This latter was modelled as a series of adiabatic fixed bed reactors with inter-cooling, water condensation at the exit of each reactor, and product recycle. The performance of the methanation system was evaluated by considering that the product stream coming from the gasifier system reacts, after purification and mixing with pure hydrogen coming from an electrolysis cells array, over Ni supported on alumina catalyst. The number of electrolysis cells to be stacked in the hydrogen production unit was evaluated by considering that a constant H-2 production able to reach 7:1:1H(2):CO:CO2 ratio at the inlet of the methanation unit should be attained. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

An innovative process layout for methane production integrating renewable energies chemical storage via hydrogen production by water electrolysis and biomass gasification was proposed in this work. The layout includes an experimental fluidized bed gasification system and a conceptual methanation unit, with the hydrogen production unit using electrolysis cells and a catalyst to achieve a constant H-2 production for methane production.