Bio-oil transport by pipeline: a techno-economic assessment.
Bio-oil, produced by fast pyrolysis of biomass, has high energy density compared to 'as received' biomass. The study assesses and compares the cost of transportation ($/liter of bio-oil) of bio-oil by pipeline and truck. The fixed and variable cost components of transportation of bio-oil at a pipeline capacity of 560 m(3)/day and to a distance of 100 km are 0.0423$/m(3) and 0.1201$/m(3)/km, respectively. Pipeline transportation of bio-oil costs less than transportation by liquid tank truck (load capacity 30 m(3)) and super B-train trailer (load capacity 60 m(3)) above pipeline capacities of 1000 and 1700 m(3)/day, respectively. When transportation distance is greater than 100 km, bio-oil must be heated at booster stations. When transporting bio-oil by pipeline to a distance of 400 km, minimum pipeline capacities of 1150 and 2000 m(3)/day are required to compete economically with liquid tank trucks and super B-train tank trailers, respectively.
Pootakham
Thanyakarn
T
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G2G8.
Kumar
Amit
A
D056804:Biofuels / Q000191:economics*; D002170:Canada; D018803:Models, Economic; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D014186:Transportation / Q000191:economics*
D056804:Biofuels