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HYNOL PROCESS EVALUATION
Citation:
Borgwardt*, R H. HYNOL PROCESS EVALUATION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-97/153 (NTIS PB98-127319), 1997.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
The report examines process alternatives for the optimal use of natural gas and biomass for production of fuel-cell vehicle fuel, emphasizing maximum displacement of petroleum and maximum reduction of overall fuel-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at least cost. Three routes are evaluated: (1) production of methanol from biomass and from natural gas by independent processes, (2) production of methanol or hydrogen by hydrogasification of biomass using natural gas as co-feedstock supplemented with and without the use of carbonaceous municipal wastes as co-feedstocks, and (3) production of methanol or hydrogen by addition of natural gas to biomass-to-methanol process originally designed for biomass only. The results show that the combined use of natural gas and biomass in a single process can reduce net fuel-cycle CO2 emissions by 20% relative to separate systems and reduce the cost of fuel production to a range competitive with the current cost of gasoline. A plant optimized for efficiency and size, with 25% of the feedstock energy consisting of biomass, should be able to produce methanol at a cost of $0.42/gal ($6.09/GJ), or hydrogen at $5.98/GJ. This technology represents a cost-effective use of biomass as a source of fuel energy.