LAPSE:2023.2578
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.2578
A Techno-Economic Assessment of Fischer−Tropsch Fuels Based on Syngas from Co-Electrolysis
February 21, 2023
Abstract
As a part of the worldwide efforts to substantially reduce CO2 emissions, power-to-fuel technologies offer a promising path to make the transport sector CO2-free, complementing the electrification of vehicles. This study focused on the coupling of Fischer−Tropsch synthesis for the production of synthetic diesel and kerosene with a high-temperature electrolysis unit. For this purpose, a process model was set up consisting of several modules including a high-temperature co-electrolyzer and a steam electrolyzer, both of which were based on solid oxide electrolysis cell technology, Fischer−Tropsch synthesis, a hydrocracker, and a carrier steam distillation. The integration of the fuel synthesis reduced the electrical energy demand of the co-electrolysis process by more than 20%. The results from the process simulations indicated a power-to-fuel efficiency that varied between 46% and 67%, with a decisive share of the energy consumption of the co-electrolysis process within the energy balance. Moreover, the utilization of excess heat can substantially to completely cover the energy demand for CO2 separation. The economic analysis suggests production costs of 1.85 €/lDE for the base case and the potential to cut the costs to 0.94 €/lDE in the best case scenario. These results underline the huge potential of the developed power-to-fuel technology.
As a part of the worldwide efforts to substantially reduce CO2 emissions, power-to-fuel technologies offer a promising path to make the transport sector CO2-free, complementing the electrification of vehicles. This study focused on the coupling of Fischer−Tropsch synthesis for the production of synthetic diesel and kerosene with a high-temperature electrolysis unit. For this purpose, a process model was set up consisting of several modules including a high-temperature co-electrolyzer and a steam electrolyzer, both of which were based on solid oxide electrolysis cell technology, Fischer−Tropsch synthesis, a hydrocracker, and a carrier steam distillation. The integration of the fuel synthesis reduced the electrical energy demand of the co-electrolysis process by more than 20%. The results from the process simulations indicated a power-to-fuel efficiency that varied between 46% and 67%, with a decisive share of the energy consumption of the co-electrolysis process within the energy balance. Moreover, the utilization of excess heat can substantially to completely cover the energy demand for CO2 separation. The economic analysis suggests production costs of 1.85 €/lDE for the base case and the potential to cut the costs to 0.94 €/lDE in the best case scenario. These results underline the huge potential of the developed power-to-fuel technology.
Record ID
Keywords
co-electrolysis, CO2 electrolysis, electrofuels, power-to-fuel, power-to-liquid, solid oxide electrolysis, synthetic diesel, synthetic kerosene, water electrolysis
Subject
Suggested Citation
Peters R, Wegener N, Samsun RC, Schorn F, Riese J, Grünewald M, Stolten D. A Techno-Economic Assessment of Fischer−Tropsch Fuels Based on Syngas from Co-Electrolysis. (2023). LAPSE:2023.2578
Author Affiliations
Peters R: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany [ORCID]
Wegener N: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum
Samsun RC: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany [ORCID]
Schorn F: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Techno-Economic System Analysis (IEK-3), Forschung [ORCID]
Riese J: Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, 44721 Bochum, Germany [ORCID]
Grünewald M: Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, 44721 Bochum, Germany
Stolten D: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Techno-Economic System Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Chair for Fuel Cells, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany
Wegener N: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum
Samsun RC: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany [ORCID]
Schorn F: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-14), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Techno-Economic System Analysis (IEK-3), Forschung [ORCID]
Riese J: Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, 44721 Bochum, Germany [ORCID]
Grünewald M: Laboratory for Fluid Separations, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, 44721 Bochum, Germany
Stolten D: Institute of Energy and Climate Research-Techno-Economic System Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52428 Jülich, Germany; Chair for Fuel Cells, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
10
Issue
4
First Page
699
Year
2022
Publication Date
2022-04-04
ISSN
2227-9717
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PII: pr10040699, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.2578
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https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10040699
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