Process Simulation and Economic Evaluation of Bio-Oil Two-Stage Hydrogenation Production

Abstract

Bio-oil hydrogenation upgrading process is a method that can convert crude bio-oil into high-quality bio-fuel oil, which includes two stages of mild and deep hydrogenation. However, coking in the hydrogenation process is the key issue which negatively affects the catalyst activity and consequently the degree of hydrogenation in both stages. In this paper, an Aspen Plus process simulation model was developed for the two-stage bio-oil hydrogenation demonstration plant which was used to evaluate the effect of catalyst coking on the bio-oil upgrading process and the economic performance of the process. The model was also used to investigate the effect of catalyst deactivation caused by coke deposition in the mild stage. Three reaction temperatures in the mild stage (250 °C, 280 °C, and 300 °C) were considered. The simulation results show that 45% yield of final product is obtained at the optimal reaction condition which is 280 °C for the mild stage and 400 °C for the deep stage. Economic analysis shows that the capital cost of industrial production is $15.2 million for a bio-oil upgrading plant at a scale of 107 thousand tons per year. The operating costs are predicted to be $1024.27 per ton of final product.</jats:p>