Método para a determinação da sequência de operações unitárias de limpeza e condicionamento de gás de síntese para o processo Fischer-Tropsch, utilizando a modelagem em Aspen Plus

Abstract

The biomass-to-liquid (BtL) pathway, particularly the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, represents a route for converting biomass into liquid biofuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel, and kerosene), including sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). The use of biofuels in the aviation market is a growing trend, with some future projections anticipating a significant increase in their integration into commercial products. However, the costs of the BtL route remain prohibitive for commercial applications due to technical challenges, such as the cleaning and conditioning of synthesis gas. In an ideal sequence of gas cleaning processes, the aim is to optimize impurity removal and adjust the gas composition for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, thus reducing costs and increasing biomass conversion efficiency. Therefore, this work is based on process engineering principles to guide technological (choice of chemical route), structural (flowchart design and equipment layout), and parametric (performance evaluation) decisions. The objective is to synthesize an efficient gas cleaning process for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, using Aspen Plus modeling software. The methodology initially involved identifying the main gas contaminants, determining their concentrations in gasification processes, researching gas cleaning methods and their respective efficiencies, and evaluating the currently available cleaning routes. This led to the definition of three main gas cleaning routes, each with its own sequence of processes. The processes were then individually modeled and validated, followed by integration and testing in line with the defined routes. Finally, the gas cleaning routes simulated in this work provided a comprehensive view of impurity removal efficiency, allowing for the identification of possible process sequences.