title: Thermodynamic modelling of supercritical water gasification: investigating the effect of biomass composition to aid in the selection of appropriate feedstock material.
abstract: A process model developed in Aspen Plus®, was used for the thermodynamic modelling of supercritical water gasification (SCWG) using a wide variety of biomass materials as feedstock. The influence of the composition of the biomass material (in terms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen content) on various performance indicators (such as gas yields, cold gas efficiency, calorific value of product gas and heat of reaction), were determined at various temperatures (600, 700 and 800°C) and biomass feed concentrations (5, 15 and 25wt.%). Generalised contour plots, based on the biomass composition, were developed for these performance indicators to provide the thermodynamic limits at various operating conditions. These plots can aid in the selection or screening of potential biomass materials and appropriate operating conditions for SCWG prior to conducting experimental work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: jeannedp@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: cschwarz@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Cara E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: jhk@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Johannes H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Knoetze
authors.affiliation: Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: ajburger@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Andries J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry; D018533:Biomass; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Aspen Plus®; Biomass composition; Process model; Supercritical water gasification; Thermodynamic limit