With the current trend of CO2 mitigation in process industries, the primary goal of this thesis is to promote biomass as an energy and reduction agent source to substitute fossil sources in the steel industry. The criteria for this substitution are that the steel process retains the same function and the integrated energy efficiency is as high as possible. This work focuses on advanced gasification of biomass and waste for substitution of fossil fuels in steel industry heat treatment furnaces. To achieve this, two approaches are included in this work. The first investigates the gasification performance of pretreated biomass and waste experimentally using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a pilot plant gasifier. The second assesses the integration of the advanced gasification system with a steel heat treatment furnace. First, the pyrolysis and char gasification characteristics of several pretreated biomass and waste types (unpretreated biomass, steam-exploded biomass, and hydrothermal carbonized biomass) were analyzed with TGA. The important aspects of pyrolysis and char gasification of pretreated biomass were identified. Then, with the objective of studying the gasification performance of pretreated biomass, unpretreated biomass pellets (gray pellets), steam-exploded biomass pellets (black pellets), and two types of hydrothermal carbonized biomass pellets (spent grain biocoal and horse manure biocoal) were gasified in a fixed bed updraft gasifier with high-temperature air/steam as the gasifying agent. The gasification performance was analyzed in terms of syngas composition, lower heating value (LHV), gas yield, cold gas efficiency (CGE), tar content and composition, and particle content and size distribution. Moreover, the effects on the reactions occurring in the gasifier were identified with the aid of temperature profiles and gas ratios. Further, the interaction between fuel residence time in the bed (bed height), conversion, conversion rate/specific gasification rate, and superficial velocity (hearth load) was revealed. Due to the effect of bed height on the gasification performance, the bed pressure drop is an important parameter related to the operation of a fixed bed gasifier. Considering the limited studies on this relationship, an available pressure drop prediction correlation for turbulent flow in a bed with cylindrical pellets was extended to a gasifier bed with shrinking cylindrical pellets under any flow condition. Moreover, simplified graphical representations based on the developed correlation, which could be used as an effective guide for selecting a suitable pellet size and designing a grate, were introduced. Then, with the identified positive effects of pretreated biomass on the gasification performance, the possibility of fuel switching in a steel industry heat treatment furnace was evaluated by effective integration with a multi-stage gasification system. The performance was evaluated in terms of gasifier system efficiency, furnace efficiency, and overall system efficiency with various heat integration options. The heat integration performance was identified based on pinch analysis. Finally, the efficiency of the co-production of bio-coke and bio-H2 was analyzed to increase the added value of the whole process. It was found that 1) the steam gasification of pretreated biomass is more beneficial in terms of the energy value of the syngas, 2) diluting the gasifying agent and/or lowering the agent temperature compensates for the ash slagging problem in biocoal gasification, 3) the furnace efficiency can be improved by switching the fuel from natural gas (NG) to syngas, 4) the gasifier system efficiency can be improved by recovering the furnace flue gas heat for the pretreatment, and 5) the co-production of bio-coke and bio-H2 significantly improves the system efficiency. / <p>QC 20160825</p>

The co-firing of biomass and coal plays an important role in increasing the biomass power capacity and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The challenges of the large percentage biomass co-firing (over 20% on energy basis) in existing pulverized coal boilers are keeping the same steam parameters and having a high boiler efficiency and a stable operating. The primary goal of this thesis is to develop a combustion concept for coal-fired boilers to enablea large percentage of biomass co-firing with up to a 100% fuel switch; these changes should increase the combustion efficiency, reduce CO2  and NOx emissions, improve the process efficiency, while maintaining the same steam parameters after switching fuels. To achieve these goals,  a  typical  biomass  pretreatment technology  called  torrefaction  has  been  employed to upgrade  the  biofuel  quality  in  terms  of  both  energy  density  and  chemical  properties. Consequently, a torrefaction based co-firing system has been proposed. In addition, a novel biomass combustion method called volumetric combustion has been designed; this process involves intense mixing and flue gas internal recirculation inside the combustion chamber, increasing the residence time of the biomass particles and making the temperature and gas species more uniform. In this thesis, a series of studies based on experiments, CFD modelling, and process simulations have been performed. First, the raw material was palm kernel shells (PKS) that were torrefied over same residence time but at different temperatures in a laboratory-scale torrefaction reactor, producing three torrefied biomasses with different degrees of torrefaction. The devolatilization kinetics and char oxidation kinetics were determined based a series of high-temperature high-heating-rate tests in an isothermal plug flow reactor (IPFR), the obtained kinetic parameters were adopted for CFD modeling. Continually, the numerical investigations on the flame properties of the torrefied biomass and a 220 MWe coal-fired boiler performance were conducted, to understand the predicted results of the coal-fired boiler performance at varying biomass co-firing ratios. Afterward, analyses of the impacts of the degree of torrefaction and the biomass co-firing ratio on process operation, performance and electricity efficiency of a torrefaction based co-firing power plant were performed. Finally, the properties of the pollutants emitted from biomass volumetric combustions under various combustion modes and co-firing ratios were studied using Aspen Plus. According to the results, the following conclusions can be reached: 1) a high heating rate enhances the yields of the volatiles for biomass devolatilization processes with the same final temperature; 2) the enhanced drag force on the biomass particles causes a late release of volatile matter and delays the ignition of the fuel-air mixture. Furthermore, oxidizers with lower oxygen concentrations normally generate larger flame volumes, lower peak flame temperatures and lower NO emission; 3) the co-firing simulation reveals that a boiler load reduction of less than 10% is observed when firing 100% torrefied biomass; 4) deep torrefaction is not recommended because the energy saved during biomass grinding is lower than that consumed by the additional torrefaction process; the electrical efficiency of power plant is reduced when increasing either the degree of torrefaction or the biomass substitution ratio; 5) the amount of flue gas that needs to be recycled for NOx reduction decreased when the percentage of co-fired biomass increased. Overall, from the perspective of combustion, both the torrefaction process and volumetric combustion are promising steps toward realizing large percentage biomass co-firing in coal-fired boilers with high efficiency and reduced emissions. / <p>QC 20140130</p>

Res-IRF is an energy-economy model of heating consumption in French dwellings developed at CIRED and calibrated against 2012. It is meant to project the evolution of the building stock and the heating demand by 2050 in response to socio-economic parameters, such as energy price and population, and public policies, such as thermal regulations or incentives for renovation. Res-IRF captures the relevant determinants of household decisions related to energy efficiency improvements and energy demand (sufficiency). The aim of the work presented in this report is to calibrate the model against a past year, to run it from this start date to 2012, and to compare the simulation results with observed data on this period. After an overview of the French residential sector in the last 40 years, this report aims at presenting the model and how it was calibrated against year 1984 and adjusted to the past situation of the building stock. Then, the results of a sensitivity analysis on key parameters of the model are compared to reality and it is discussed how the model can be improved to fit the data better. The main results show that the model accurately replicates the evolution of the building stock until 2012. However, the results do not fit well the data of repartition of heating fuels, especially for fuel oil and natural gas. This may be due to the structure of the model which allows fuel switch only for renovating dwellings; then it could miss possible fuel switches from fuel oil to natural gas without renovation due to the expansion of the natural gas network in France between 1980 and 2000. Furthermore, the actual unit consumption, which is a key output of the model, is well replicated by the model, with an error of 5 to 10%. / Res-IRF är en energi-ekonomi modell av värmebehovet i franska byggnader utvecklad av CIRED och kalibrerad mot data för 2012. Det är avsett att förutsäga utvecklingen för byggnadsbeståndet och värmebehovet fram till 2050 med utgångspunkt från socio-ekonomiska parametrar såsom energipriser och befolkningsmängd, politiska beslut som regleringar rörande uppvärmningssektorn och incitament för renoveringar. Res-IRF fångar upp de relevanta faktorer som påverkar hushållens beslut relaterade till förbättringar av energieffektiviteten och energibehoven. Målet med arbetet som presenteras i denna rapport är att kalibrera modellen mot ett redan passerat år, att köra modellen från startåret till 2012, och att jämföra simuleringsresultaten med verkliga observationer för denna period. Efter en översikt över den franska bostadssektorn de senaste 40 åren, följer i rapporten en presentation av modellen och hur den kalibrerades mot året 1984 och sedan anpassats till det dåvarande läget i byggnadsbeståndet. Därefter jämförs resultaten av en känslighetsanalys av nyckelparametrar i modellen med verkligt utfall och en diskussion följer om hur modellen kan förbättras för att bättre passa verkliga data. Huvudresultaten visar att modellen på ett korrekt sätt avbildar utvecklingen av byggnadsbeståndet fram till 2012. Däremot ger resultaten inte god överensstämmelse vad gäller fördelning av bränslen, speciellt inte fördelningen mellan olja och naturgas. Detta kan bero på modellens struktur, som tillåter bränslebyte bara vid renovering; därmed missar den bränslebyten som görs utan samtidig renovering, som tillkommit på grund av utbyggnaden av naturgasnäten i Frankrike mellan 1980 och 2000. Vidare visar modellen god överensstämmelse vad gäller energitillförsel per enhet, vilket är en nyckelparameter bland resultaten från modellen. Denna parameter predikteras med ett fel av 5 till 10%.

Atualmente é de complexa equalização o problema advindo da elevação da demanda energética e das ações antrópicas que corroboram para o aquecimento global e, neste sentido, apesar de o Brasil ser abundante em hidroeletricidade, há ainda um grande espaço para o uso de outras fontes renováveis de energia, como a biomassa residual. Na indústria, projetos de adoção de novos e eficientes processos para a redução da carga térmica, bem como o uso de biomassa e de biogás das estações de tratamentos de efluentes podem ser um diferencial no conjunto de soluções para o dilema energético-ambiental, uma vez vão ao encontro dos objetivos das políticas energéticas globais em vigência, as quais pregam a segurança e sustentabilidade. Porém, verifica-se que tais medidas ainda têm sido desprezadas por muitas empresas, pois os investimentos são ainda muito elevados, ressaltando-se ainda que, talvez por não se entender como esses projetos podem internalizar as externalidades positivas que os acompanham, essas empresas seguem alheias aos benefícios socioambientais e econômicos advindos dos créditos de carbono, que podem compensar os altos investimentos realizados em racionalização energética. Desta maneira, essa dissertação analisa a viabilidade econômica da implantação de projetos de substituição de combustíveis fósseis por biomassa renovável para geração de vapor de processos; de uso de biogás de ETEs para geração de eletricidade e de implementação de tecnologias para a redução do consumo de vapor industrial, com foco em cervejarias, considerando-se nas análises econômico-financeiras os créditos de carbono recebidos pelas reduções de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Pelas análises de cenários, verificou-se que quando as medidas de eficiência energética reduzirem pelo menos 5% da demanda energética, com um custo de energia de pelo menos R$ 187,50/MWh, bem como reduções de consumo de energia acima de 10%, com custo energético mínimo de R$ 122,50/MWh, e preço de das RCE acima de 5,00, os projetos mencionados são viáveis, e as receitas dos créditos podem internalizar as externalidades positivas desses projetos, compensando os investimentos. / Nowadays it´s quite complex to solve the problem between energy demand growth and the human activities, which have negative, widespread effects on the global climate. In this sense, apart from the fact that Brazil adopts massivelythe hydropower, there is a large potential for the use of renewable energy sources, as biomass. In process industries, techologies for reducing thermal energy consumption associated with the use of the sustainable biomass and biogas from wastewater treatment systems can be one among other solutions for equalizing the energy-environment dilemma, also targeting the prorrogatives of the current global policies on safety and sustainable energy sypply. Anyway, such measures have still been left aside by many industries, because it´s still not properly understood regarding the way these projects can internilize their positive externalities, some enterprises keep distant from the social, economic and environmental beneffits that carbon credit projects can bring up to help them in succeeding and rationalizing energy consumption. This dissertation evaluates and assesses the economic viablitity of projects of fuel switch (from fossil fuels to renewable biomass); use of biogas from industrial wastewater treatment systems and also the implementation of technologies and processes for reducing steam comsumption, focusing on breweries. By means of economic sceneries, it´s shown that the revenues from carbon credits can significantly have positive impacts, while financial incentives, on the decision making process towards the carrying and dissemination of such projects. As demonstrated in this work, the RCE, if required in the sceneries analysed, can bring the cash flows whithin brewery IRR expectations. Hence, the model showed that when measures of energy afficiency achieve at least 5,0% with the price of energy saved is of at least R$187,50/MWh, and for measures above 10% and energy is bought at prices higher then R$ 122,50/MWh, all projects with CER prices above 5,00 viable, and can be conducted. Also, the revenues from carbon credits can make industries wake up for the fact that they can internalize the positive externalities of these projects, once the high investiments can be compensated by their carbon offsets.

Atualmente é de complexa equalização o problema advindo da elevação da demanda energética e das ações antrópicas que corroboram para o aquecimento global e, neste sentido, apesar de o Brasil ser abundante em hidroeletricidade, há ainda um grande espaço para o uso de outras fontes renováveis de energia, como a biomassa residual. Na indústria, projetos de adoção de novos e eficientes processos para a redução da carga térmica, bem como o uso de biomassa e de biogás das estações de tratamentos de efluentes podem ser um diferencial no conjunto de soluções para o dilema energético-ambiental, uma vez vão ao encontro dos objetivos das políticas energéticas globais em vigência, as quais pregam a segurança e sustentabilidade. Porém, verifica-se que tais medidas ainda têm sido desprezadas por muitas empresas, pois os investimentos são ainda muito elevados, ressaltando-se ainda que, talvez por não se entender como esses projetos podem internalizar as externalidades positivas que os acompanham, essas empresas seguem alheias aos benefícios socioambientais e econômicos advindos dos créditos de carbono, que podem compensar os altos investimentos realizados em racionalização energética. Desta maneira, essa dissertação analisa a viabilidade econômica da implantação de projetos de substituição de combustíveis fósseis por biomassa renovável para geração de vapor de processos; de uso de biogás de ETEs para geração de eletricidade e de implementação de tecnologias para a redução do consumo de vapor industrial, com foco em cervejarias, considerando-se nas análises econômico-financeiras os créditos de carbono recebidos pelas reduções de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Pelas análises de cenários, verificou-se que quando as medidas de eficiência energética reduzirem pelo menos 5% da demanda energética, com um custo de energia de pelo menos R$ 187,50/MWh, bem como reduções de consumo de energia acima de 10%, com custo energético mínimo de R$ 122,50/MWh, e preço de das RCE acima de 5,00, os projetos mencionados são viáveis, e as receitas dos créditos podem internalizar as externalidades positivas desses projetos, compensando os investimentos. / Nowadays it´s quite complex to solve the problem between energy demand growth and the human activities, which have negative, widespread effects on the global climate. In this sense, apart from the fact that Brazil adopts massivelythe hydropower, there is a large potential for the use of renewable energy sources, as biomass. In process industries, techologies for reducing thermal energy consumption associated with the use of the sustainable biomass and biogas from wastewater treatment systems can be one among other solutions for equalizing the energy-environment dilemma, also targeting the prorrogatives of the current global policies on safety and sustainable energy sypply. Anyway, such measures have still been left aside by many industries, because it´s still not properly understood regarding the way these projects can internilize their positive externalities, some enterprises keep distant from the social, economic and environmental beneffits that carbon credit projects can bring up to help them in succeeding and rationalizing energy consumption. This dissertation evaluates and assesses the economic viablitity of projects of fuel switch (from fossil fuels to renewable biomass); use of biogas from industrial wastewater treatment systems and also the implementation of technologies and processes for reducing steam comsumption, focusing on breweries. By means of economic sceneries, it´s shown that the revenues from carbon credits can significantly have positive impacts, while financial incentives, on the decision making process towards the carrying and dissemination of such projects. As demonstrated in this work, the RCE, if required in the sceneries analysed, can bring the cash flows whithin brewery IRR expectations. Hence, the model showed that when measures of energy afficiency achieve at least 5,0% with the price of energy saved is of at least R$187,50/MWh, and for measures above 10% and energy is bought at prices higher then R$ 122,50/MWh, all projects with CER prices above 5,00 viable, and can be conducted. Also, the revenues from carbon credits can make industries wake up for the fact that they can internalize the positive externalities of these projects, once the high investiments can be compensated by their carbon offsets.

IPCC reported in its climate change report 2013 that the atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gases (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide now have reached the highest levels in the past 800,000 years. CO2 concentration has increased by 40% since pre-industrial times and the primary source is fossil fuel combustion. It is vital to reduce anthropogenic emissions of GHGs in order to combat climate change. Industry accounts for 20% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions and the iron and steel industry accounts for 30% of industrial emissions. The iron and steel industry is at date highly dependent on fossil fuels and electricity. Energy efficiency measures and substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy would make an important contribution to the efforts to reduce emissions of GHGs. This thesis studies energy efficiency measures and fuel substitution in the iron and steel industry and focuses on recovery and utilisation of excess energy and substitution of fossil fuels with biomass. Energy systems analysis has been used to investigate how changes in the iron and steel industry’s energy system would affect the steel plant’s economy and global CO2 emissions. The thesis also studies energy management practices in the Swedish iron and steel industry with the focus on how energy managers think about why energy efficiency measures are implemented or why they are not implemented. In-depth interviews with energy managers at eleven Swedish steel plants were conducted to analyse energy management practices. In order to show some of the large untapped heat flows in industry, excess heat recovery potential in the industrial sector in Gävleborg County in Sweden was analysed. Under the assumptions made in this thesis, the recovery output would be more than three times higher if the excess heat is used in a district heating system than if electricity is generated. An economic evaluation was performed for three electricity generation technologies for the conversion of low-temperature industrial excess heat. The results show that electricity generation with organic Rankine cycles and phase change material engines could be profitable, but that thermoelectric generation of electricity from low-temperature industrial excess heat would not be profitable at the present stage of technology development. With regard to fossil fuels substituted with biomass, there are opportunities to substitute fossil coal with charcoal in the blast furnace and to substitute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with bio-syngas or bio synthetic natural gas (bio-SNG) as fuel in the steel industry’s reheating furnaces. However, in the energy market scenarios studied, substituting LPG with bio-SNG as fuel in reheating furnaces at the studied scrap-based steel plant would not be profitable without economic policy support. The development of the energy market is shown to play a vital role for the outcome of how different measures would affect global CO2 emissions. Results from the interviews show that Swedish steel companies regard improved energy efficiency as important. However, the majority of the interviewed energy managers only worked part-time with energy issues and they experienced that lack of time often was a barrier for successful energy management. More efforts could also be put into engaging and educating employees in order to introduce a common practice of improving energy efficiency at the company. / Halterna av växthusgaserna koldioxid (CO2), metan och kväveoxider har under de senaste 800 000 åren aldrig varit högre i atmosfären än vad de är idag. Detta resultat redovisades i IPCCs klimatrapport år 2013. CO2-koncentrationen har ökat med 40 % sedan förindustriell tid och denna ökning beror till största delen på förbränning av fossila bränslen. Ökade koncentrationer av växthusgaser leder till högre global medeltemperatur vilket i sin tur resulterar i klimatförändringar.  För att bromsa klimatförändringarna är det viktigt att vi arbetar för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser. Industrin står för 20 % av de globala utsläppen av CO2 och järn- och stålindustrin står för 30 % av industrins utsläpp. Järn- och stålindustrin är i dag till stor del beroende av fossila bränslen och el för sin energiförsörjning. Energieffektiviseringsåtgärder och byte av fossila bränslen mot förnybar energi i järn- och stålindustrin skulle kunna bidra till minskade utsläpp av växthusgaser. Denna avhandling studerar åtgärder för effektivare energianvändning och möjligheter för bränslebyte i järn- och stålindustrin. Avhandlingen fokuserar på återvinning och utnyttjande av överskottsenergier och ersättning av fossila bränslen med biomassa. Energisystemanalys har använts för att undersöka hur förändringar i järn- och stålindustrins energisystem skulle påverka ekonomin och de globala utsläppen av CO2. Avhandlingen studerar också betydelsen av energiledning och nätverkande för att uppnå en effektivare energianvändning. Fokus har här varit på att studera hur energiansvariga resonerar kring varför energieffektiviseringsåtgärder genomförs eller varför de inte genomförs. Djupintervjuer med energiansvariga vid elva svenska stålverk genomfördes för att analysera denna fråga. För att ge ett exempel på den stora outnyttjade potentialen av överskottsvärme från industrin analyserades potentialen i Gävleborgs län. Möjligheterna att använda överskottsvärmen som fjärrvärme eller för att producera el analyserades. Här visar resultaten att fjärrvärmeproduktionen skulle bli mer än tre gånger så stor som elproduktionen. En ekonomisk utvärdering gjordes där tre tekniker för produktion av el från lågtempererad industriell överskottsvärme jämfördes. Resultaten visar att elproduktion med organisk Rankine-cykel eller en så kallad fasändringsmaterialmotor kan vara lönsam, men att termoelektrisk elproduktion inte är lönsam med dagens teknik och prisnivåer. Det är möjligt att ersätta en del av det fossila kolet i masugnen med träkol och på detta sätt introducera förnybar energi i stålindustrin. Man kan också ersätta gasol som används som bränsle i stålindustrins värmningsugnar med syntesgas eller syntetisk naturgas (SNG) som produceras genom förgasning av biomassa. Under de antaganden som gjorts i avhandlingen skulle det dock inte vara lönsamt för det skrotbaserade stålverk som studerats att ersätta gasolen med bio-SNG. För att uppnå lönsamhet behövs i detta fall ekonomiska styrmedel. Hur olika åtgärder påverkar de globala utsläppen av CO2 beror till stor del på hur framtidens energimarknad ser ut. Elproduktion från industriell överskottsvärme skulle minska de globala CO2-utsläppen i alla scenarier som studerats, men för de andra åtgärderna varierar resultaten beroende på vilka antaganden som gjorts. Resultaten från intervjustudien visar att svensk stålindustri anser att energifrågan är viktig, men det finns fortfarande mycket att göra för att effektivisera energianvändningen i denna sektor. Flera av de intervjuade arbetade bara deltid med energifrågor och de upplevde att tidsbrist hindrade dem från ett effektivt energiledningsarbete. En rekommendation till företagen är därför att anställa en energiansvarig på heltid och/eller fler personer som kan arbeta med energifrågor. Det bör också läggas mer resurser på att engagera och utbilda anställda för att på så sätt introducera en företagskultur som främjar effektiv energianvändning.