TC2015: Life cycle analysis of co-formed coal fines and hydrochar produced in twin-screw extruder (TSE)
Abstract
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a quantitative tool that evaluates the environmental performance of a process or system. The main objective of this LCA study is to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and life cycle energy use associated with solid fuels produced by co‐forming coal fines and hydrochar. The hydrochar is derived from loblolly pine wood via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) conducted in a reactive twin‐screw extruder (TSE). The final product is a drop‐in replacement for coal. The life cycle impacts of the co‐formed end products are quantified from ‘cradle‐to‐grave’. Model input parameters are collected from life cycle databases, literature, experimental measurements and simulations by engineering software. Results show that electricity generated from the co‐formed products has significantly lower GHG intensity and slightly higher life cycle energy use than coal‐generated electricity. The most carbon‐intensive component in the overall hydrochar system is the HTC plant. However, this could be improved in the future by plant re‐design to recover and recycle thermal energy for more efficient operation. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 668–676, 2017
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When hydrochar is used as solid fuel, it should satisfy several requirements such as combustion behavior, hydrophobicity, energy density, thermal stability, and grindability.
“Moreover, when hydrochar is used as a solid fuel, it should satisfy several requirements such as combustion behavior, hydrophobicity, energy density, thermal stability, and grindability [108].”
From Hydrochar: A Review on Its Production Technologies and Applications (2021) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Liu, X. (., Hoekman, S. K., Farthing, W., & Felix, L.
- Affiliations
- Desert Research Institute (US)
- Gas Technology Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hoekman, S. Kent
- Venue
- Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-03-23
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 668-676
- ISSN
- 1944-7442 (ISSN-L)
- 1944-7450
- OpenAlex
- W2599426245
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 8 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy (publishedVersion)
- OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy (DEFE0005349)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Waste Management and Environmental Impact
- Keywords
- fine coal, hydrochar, twin-screw extruder, hydrothermal carbonization, Pinus taeda, greenhouse gas emissions, life cycle energy use, solid fuels, electricity generation, heat recovery
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