• Energy Research

Bioenergy is part of the solution to decarbonize energy systems and the economy, and to decrease greenhouse gases emissions drastically. The main goal of this work is to present a participatory database of bioenergy projects, initially based on information available on the International Energy Agency website. This new database aims at being updated over time through data crowdsourcing and being easily exportable in a spreadsheet for further processing. It provides numerous information about bioenergy projects around the world like the types of technology, inputs, outputs, financial information and project status. A detailed overview of the current database is presented, as well as the modus operandi suggested to improve over time this resource through voluntary contributions. The growing quality of this database will serve future research projects and analysis, while being a relevant tool to contribute to the success of the bioenergy sector.

Abstract Forest biomass is an attractive alternative resource to fossil ones, renewable and without environmental impacts as long as forest residues are considered. Collecting and transforming fore...

AbstractA decentralized supply chain that integrates biomass depots as an intermediate pre‐processing hub may be an efficient way to obtain stable and dense non‐food carbohydrate commodities that are economically transportable over long distances. This paper presents an integrated geographic information systems (GIS) method based on transport optimization to design and compare the performance of a decentralized versus a centralized biorefinery supply system. The method determines the suitable locations, allocations, sizing, and number of depots according to different demand location scenarios. The method is exemplified by a real case study in southern Quebec. In the design, the biomass depot generates raw sugar, shipped to the biorefinery, and co‐products that are used on site without transportation as animal feed and bioenergy. This diversification strategy provided by a joint production permits savings amounting to two‐thirds of the tonnage on the second transportation arc. The results present the average travel time performance in minutes in different scenarios. In the centralized configuration, the optimized stand‐alone biorefinery location scenario is 45% (59 min) and 58% (100 min) more efficient in terms of transportation than the two biorefineries located in existing industrial parks. However, the latter have a decentralized configuration that is more efficient than their centralized equivalents. In the decentralized configuration, depending on farmer participation, the biorefineries located in the existing industrial park have a transportation performance 16–42% (27–55 min) that is more efficient than their respective centralized configuration. Smaller depots and the use of numerous depots tend to reduce the average impedance as biomass availability increases. This is due to the economies of transportation related to a denser and more meshed network. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Abstract This paper presents a new model for portable electric spas, also referred to as spas or hot tubs. The developed model is implemented in the TRNSYS simulation tool, and is referred to as Type 3252. It uses two thermal nodes to model the water temperature and the air temperature in the cavity below the spa. The model is calibrated and validated using experimental data and the results show that the thermal behavior of the spa is adequately simulated, both for quasi steady-state performance and transient performance. The validated model is used to assess demand reduction strategies in a cold climate context, with the aim of reducing peak demand during critical days, both for the morning (from 6:00 to 9:00) and the evening (from 16:00 to 20:00) peak periods.

Abstract In this paper, a model simulating bio-methanol production through gasification of different woody bioresources (pine biomass, biochar, and pyrolysis oil) is investigated using process simulation software Aspen Plus. The process consists of gasification, syngas post-treatment, methanol synthesis with recycling and purification. The model results are used as inputs in a techno-economic analysis of the process to assess the economic feasibility, as well as a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of key variables. The economic evaluation is conducted by using three indicators, i.e., the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and discounted payback period (DPBP). The sensitivity analysis is achieved to investigate the economic feasibility of different plant scales, changing parameters such as bio-methanol price, feedstock price, total capital investment (TCI), and plant lifespan. The preliminary economic evaluation results revealed that bio-methanol production from biochar can be an attractive option. The IRR obtained in the biochar scenario is greater, compared to using pine biomass. At a minimum plant scale of 1000 tons per day (TPD) and bio-methanol price of 1300$, biochar can achieve an IRR of 5.3%, which is higher than biomass at the same plant scales, although the price of biochar is higher than biomass. The IRR obtained in the pyrolysis oil scenario hardly reaches 5% unless the price considered for bio-methanol is as high as 2500 $/ton at the plant scale of 2000 TPD.

A novel process model simulating methanol production through pyrolysis oil gasification was developed, validated, then used to predict the effect of operating conditions on methanol production yield. The model comprised gasification, syngas post-treatment, and methanol synthesis units. The model was validated using experimental data from the literature, and the results obtained by the model were consistent with reference data. The simulation results revealed that gasification temperature has a significant impact on syngas composition. Indeed, rising temperature from 400 °C to 600 °C leads to higher syngas stoichiometric number (SN) value. Conversely, SN value decreases when the gasifier temperature is above 1000 °C. Moisture content in pyrolysis oil also affects both syngas composition and SN value; an increase in the first (from 10 to 30%) leads to an increase in SN value. The Rectisol unit deeply influences the syngas SN value and methanol yield, the best results being obtained with operating conditions of −20 °C and 40 bar. Increasing the operating temperature of the methanol synthesis unit from 150 °C to 250 °C leads to an increase in the yield of methanol production; the yield decreases beyond 250 °C. Although high pressures favor the methanol production yield, the operating pressure in the synthesis unit is limited at 50 bar for practical considerations (e.g., equipment price, equipment requirements, or operational risks).