Thermodynamics and LCA analysis of biomass supercritical water gasification system using external recycle of liquid residual

Biomass supercritical water gasification is clean and renewable, which can convert biomass into hydrogen rich gas. Previous studies indicated that external recycle of liquid residual could improve gas yield and gasification efficiency. However, the influence mechanism of external recycle on energy and exergy efficiency is complicated and theoretical model for system optimization is insufficient. Thermodynamic model of external recycle of liquid residual was built in this paper. Exergy efficiency of the main components and exergy loss distribution were specified and the result showed that exergy loss of reactor and preheater accounted for 26.06% and 35.88% of the total exergy loss, which were the main exergy loss sources. Effective ways to reduce exergy loss of components with large exergy loss and to improve energy and exergy efficiency of the system were proposed. Moreover, life cycle assessment of biomass gasification process was carried out. The results indicated that the increase of gasification temperature, pressure and external recycle flow rate of liquid residual and decrease of biomass concentration could improve energy and exergy efficiency of the system. Energy and exergy efficiency reached 63.67% and 48.29% respectively at the condition of gasification temperature of 560 °C, pressure of 25 MPa, recycle flow ratio of 32.43%, biomass concentration of 2.78%. Besides, the increase of gasification temperature and decrease of biomass slurry concentration and pressure could decrease GWP.