Challenges and Opportunities of Modeling Biomass Gasification in Aspen Plus: A Review

Aspen Plus has become one of the most common process simulation tools for both academia and industrial applications. In the last decade, the number of the papers on Aspen Plus modeling of biomass gasification has significantly increased. This review focuses on recent developments and studies on modeling biomass gasification in Aspen Plus including key aspects such as tar formation and model validation. Accordingly, challenges in modeling due to specific assumptions and limitations will be highlighted to provide a useful basis for researchers and end-users for further process modeling of biomass gasification in Aspen Plus.     

Performance assessment of drop tube reactor for biomass fast pyrolysis using process simulator

Biomass pyrolysis process from a drop tube reactor was modelled in a plug flow reactor using Aspen Plus process simulation software. A kinetic mechanism for pyrolysis was developed considering the recent improvements and updated kinetic schemes to account for different content of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In this regard, oak, beechwood, rice straw, and cassava stalk biomasses were analyzed. The main phenomena governing the pyrolysis process are identified in terms of the characteristic times. Pyrolysis process was found to be reaction rate controlled. Effects of pyrolysis temperature on bio-oil, gases, and char yields were evaluated. At optimum pyrolysis conditions (i.e., 500°C), a bio-oil yield of 67.3, 64, 43, and 52 wt.% were obtained from oak, beechwood, rice straw, and cassava stalk, respectively. Oak and beechwood were found to give high yields of bio-oil, while rice straw produced high gas and char yields compared to other biomasses. Although temperature is the main factor that plays a key role in the distribution of pyrolysis products, the composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the feedstock also determines the yield behaviour and composition of products. With the rise in pyrolysis temperature, further decomposition of intermediate components was initiated favouring the formation of lighter fractions. Comparably, species belonging to the aldehyde chemical family had the highest share of bio-oil components in all the investigated feedstocks. Overall, the present study shows a good agreement with the experimental study reported in the literature, confirming its validity as a predictive tool for the biomass pyrolysis process.     

煤制天然气过程模拟与?分析

煤制天然气过程具有设备流程简单、技术成熟可靠、单位热值投资成本低等优点。本文运用Aspen Plus软件建立煤制天然气流程的过程模型,并采用?分析法对系统主要单元进行计算分析,得出系统的?分布状况及各单元的?损失量。结果表明,低温甲醇洗单元的?效率最高,为98.22%,煤气化单元的?效率最低,为58.99%。同时,系统的?损失也主要发生在煤气化单元,占系统总?损失的72.69%。煤气化单元中主要的?损失是由于传热不可逆和化学反应的不可逆性引起的内部?损失,通过优化气化温度、汽氧摩尔比等方式改善气化炉的气化条件是提高气化?效率、降低系统?损失的关键。     

石灰法单塔脱硫系统数值模拟

通过对石灰法烟气脱硫系统工艺进行研究,以Aspen Plus模拟软件为平台,对单塔系统的化工过程进行模拟,输入热烟气的热力学参数和操作条件,采用控制变量法,模拟塔内发生的酸碱中和、吸收和氧化反应过程。通过模拟入口烟气流量、SO_2浓度、钙硫比等烟气参数变化趋势,进一步分析各因素对脱硫效率的影响,以期对系统的优化设计提供参考。根据实际装置的运行情况,优化现有的设备和流程,对进一步完善和改进脱硫工艺有着重大的理论意义和实用价值。     

亚临界燃煤电厂的用能分析

燃煤发电是我国的主要电力方式,分析燃煤电厂的能量利用情况对节能减排有重要作用。本文以国际典型亚临界燃煤电厂和我国西南地区某亚临界燃煤电厂为计算实例,结合Aspen Plus软件和有效能分析法,对其整个热力过程进行系统模拟计算和能量分析,得出每个设备的有效能损失。结果表明,热力过程中有效能损失最大的部位在锅炉;锅炉中有效能损失最大的是煤的燃烧过程,其次为锅炉受热面的换热过程。通过对国内外两个电厂的比较,发现国内亚临界燃煤电厂有效能效率较国外低约6个百分点。     

沼气低温净化工艺的模拟研究

依据气液相平衡理论,运用Aspen Plus软件,选用合适的单元操作模块,采用PENG-ROB物性计算方法,通过对沼气泡点、露点图的分析选择合适的模拟条件;在Aspen Plus软件上对沼气低温净化工艺进行模拟,并根据模拟数据分析压力、温度对低温净化工艺的效果的影响。     

Simulation of DME synthesis from coal syngas by kinetics model

DME (Dimethyl Ether) has emerged as a clean alternative fuel for diesel. There are largely two methods for DME synthesis. A direct method of DME synthesis has been recently developed that has a more compact process than the indirect method. However, the direct method of DME synthesis has not yet been optimized at the face of its performance: yield and production rate of DME. In this study it is developed a simulation model through a kinetics model of the ASPEN plus simulator, performed to detect operating characteristics of DME direct synthesis. An overall DME synthesis process is referenced by experimental data of 3 ton/day (TPD) coal gasification pilot plant located at IAE in Korea. Supplying condition of DME synthesis model is equivalently set to 80 N/m³ of syngas which is derived from a coal gasification plant. In the simulation it is assumed that the overall DME synthesis process proceeds with steadystate, vapor-solid reaction with DME catalyst. The physical properties of reactants are governed by Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) EOS in this model. A reaction model of DME synthesis is considered that is applied with the LHHW (Langmuir-Hinshelwood Hougen Watson) equation as an adsorption-desorption model on the surface of the DME catalyst. After adjusting the kinetics of the DME synthesis reaction among reactants with experimental data, the kinetics of the governing reactions inner DME reactor are modified and coupled with the entire DME synthesis reaction. For validating simulation results of the DME synthesis model, the obtained simulation results are compared with experimental results: conversion ratio, DME yield and DME production rate. Then, a sensitivity analysis is performed by effects of operating variables such as pressure, temperature of the reactor, void fraction of catalyst and H₂/CO ratio of supplied syngas with modified model. According to simulation results, optimum operating conditions of DME reactor are obtained in the range of 265–275 °C and 60 kg/cm². And DME production rate has a maximum value in the range of 1–1.5 of H₂/CO ratio in the syngas composition.     

SIMULATION STUDIES OF THE REMOVAL OF WATER FROM ETHANOL BY A CATALYTIC DISTILLATION PROCESS

A new approach based on catalytic distillation (CD) technology was proposed to remove water from ethanol. Isobutylene was introduced to react with water in the CD column. The commercial software simulation tool Aspen Plus was used to investigate the effects of key design factors such as operating pressure and temperature, reactant ratios, reflux and distillate to feed ratios, number of separation and reaction stages, and feed and reaction zone location. It was found that the CD technology offers potential advantages of reduced energy consumption and reduced capital cost over traditional approaches for the removal of water from ethanol.     

气流床粉煤气化性能模拟分析

基于Aspen Plus工作平台,运用Gibbs自由能最小化原理,对气流床粉煤气化过程进行了数值模拟,并对流程算法进行了改进。研究了氧煤比、蒸气煤比、压力及粉煤粒径对气化炉出口气体组成、温度、冷煤气效率、碳转化率及有效气产率的影响。结果表明：模拟值和实验值有良好的相似性;氧煤比对气化进程的影响较蒸汽煤比及其它操作条件更为显著;并确定了模拟煤种的最佳氧煤比是0．70～0．80kg／kg,气化炉出口CO＋H2的最大干基体积分数为96．48％,冷煤气效率最高为83．56％,最大有效气产率为1．74m^3／kg;氧煤比每升高0．1kg／kg,气化炉出口温度升高约40℃,而蒸汽煤比每升高0．1kg／kg,气化炉出口温度降低约8℃。     

基于Matlab语言的液压特性曲线的绘制

Matlab语言强大的运算、仿真能力，被广泛用在液压控制系统中。利用Matlab语言可以进行液压特性曲线的绘制，液压控制系统稳定性的检测，也可以进行液压控制系统的仿真。这里以两个实例，即单、双喷嘴挡板阀压力流量特性曲线的绘制，以及液压转矩放大器系统稳定性的检测，来说明它的强大的功能。