H. Shahbeig, Alireza Shafizadeh, M. Rosen, B. Sels
{"title":"Exergy sustainability analysis of biomass gasification: a critical review","authors":"H. Shahbeig, Alireza Shafizadeh, M. Rosen, B. Sels","doi":"10.18331/brj2022.9.1.5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Biomass gasification technology is a promising process to produce a stable gas with a wide range of applications, from direct use to the synthesis of value-added biochemicals and biofuels. Due to the high capital/operating costs of the technology and the necessity for prudent management of thermal energy exchanges in the biomass gasification process, it is important to use advanced sustainability metrics to ensure that environmental and other sustainability factors are addressed beneficially. Consequently, various engineering techniques are being used to make decisions on endogenous and exogenous parameters of biomass gasification processes to find the most efficient, viable, and sustainable operations and conditions. Among available approaches, exergy methods have attracted much attention due to their scientific rigor in accounting for the performance, cost, and environmental impact of biomass gasification systems. Therefore, this review is devoted to critically reviewing and numerically scrutinizing the use of exergy methods in analyzing biomass gasification systems. First, a bibliometric analysis is conducted to systematically identify research themes and trends in exergy-based sustainability assessments of biomass gasification systems. Then, the effects of biomass composition, reactor type, gasifying agent, and operating parameters on the exergy efficiency of the process are thoroughly investigated and mechanistically discussed. Unlike oxygen, nitrogen, and ash contents of biomass, the exergy efficiency of the gasification process is positively correlated with the carbon and hydrogen contents of biomass. A mixed gasifying medium (CO2 and steam) provides higher exergy efficiency values. The downdraft fixed-bed gasifier exhibits the highest exergy efficiency among biomass gasification systems. Finally, opportunities and limitations of exergy methods for analyzing sustainability aspects of biomass gasification systems are outlined to guide future research in this domain.","PeriodicalId":46938,"journal":{"name":"Biofuel Research Journal-BRJ","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.4000,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"29","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Biofuel Research Journal-BRJ","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.18331/brj2022.9.1.5","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 29
Abstract
Biomass gasification technology is a promising process to produce a stable gas with a wide range of applications, from direct use to the synthesis of value-added biochemicals and biofuels. Due to the high capital/operating costs of the technology and the necessity for prudent management of thermal energy exchanges in the biomass gasification process, it is important to use advanced sustainability metrics to ensure that environmental and other sustainability factors are addressed beneficially. Consequently, various engineering techniques are being used to make decisions on endogenous and exogenous parameters of biomass gasification processes to find the most efficient, viable, and sustainable operations and conditions. Among available approaches, exergy methods have attracted much attention due to their scientific rigor in accounting for the performance, cost, and environmental impact of biomass gasification systems. Therefore, this review is devoted to critically reviewing and numerically scrutinizing the use of exergy methods in analyzing biomass gasification systems. First, a bibliometric analysis is conducted to systematically identify research themes and trends in exergy-based sustainability assessments of biomass gasification systems. Then, the effects of biomass composition, reactor type, gasifying agent, and operating parameters on the exergy efficiency of the process are thoroughly investigated and mechanistically discussed. Unlike oxygen, nitrogen, and ash contents of biomass, the exergy efficiency of the gasification process is positively correlated with the carbon and hydrogen contents of biomass. A mixed gasifying medium (CO2 and steam) provides higher exergy efficiency values. The downdraft fixed-bed gasifier exhibits the highest exergy efficiency among biomass gasification systems. Finally, opportunities and limitations of exergy methods for analyzing sustainability aspects of biomass gasification systems are outlined to guide future research in this domain.
期刊介绍:
Biofuel Research Journal (BRJ) is a leading, peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on high-quality research in the field of biofuels, bioproducts, and biomass-derived materials and technologies. The journal's primary goal is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in the areas of sustainable energy solutions, environmental protection, and the circular economy. BRJ accepts various types of articles, including original research papers, review papers, case studies, short communications, and hypotheses. The specific areas covered by the journal include Biofuels and Bioproducts, Biomass Valorization, Biomass-Derived Materials for Energy and Storage Systems, Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessments, Climate Change and Sustainability, and Biofuels and Bioproducts in Circular Economy, among others. BRJ actively encourages interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, engineers, scientists, policymakers, and industry experts to facilitate the adoption of sustainable energy solutions and promote a greener future. The journal maintains rigorous standards of peer review and editorial integrity to ensure that only impactful and high-quality research is published. Currently, BRJ is indexed by several prominent databases such as Web of Science, CAS Databases, Directory of Open Access Journals, Scimago Journal Rank, Scopus, Google Scholar, Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek EZB, et al.