PERSPECTIVE ON METHANOL AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL

Transcription

1 PERSPECTIVE ON METHANOL AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL Bio4Energy Researchers Meeting Skellefteå 15 November, 2017 Ingvar Landälv 15 November

2 Key Conversion pathways for renewable Methanol Process step Gasification Shift Methanol synthesis Conversion from / to Conversion route Biomass to H2+CO Non-shifted to shifted syngas Syngas to methanol product TOTAL Biomass to methanol Biomass gasification, Case A BLG to Methanol, Case B (Biomass added to compensate) Biomass to PO combined with BLG, Case C * ** * Conversion of BL to syngas and further on to methanol does not make sense (as for biomass gasification) as the overall calculation as explained in the subchapter about BLGMF concepts relates to the biomass addition to the system to compensate for withdrawal of BL normally being fired in a recovery boiler. See ref. ** When PO is added to a BLGMF system PO energy is converted to methanol with about 70% energy efficiency as described under Case C. Production efficiency of PO from biomass is multiplied with this efficiency to get the TOTAL value. 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 2

3 80 70 Methanol Production Potential - Sweden Methanol Production (TWh) Energy Conversion efficiency Nov Ingvar Landälv 3 Low/high data for Swedish biomass potential Biomass feedstock (TWh)

4 Fuel concepts utilizing sources of low cost hydrogen Hydrogen can efficiently be fed to the syngas conditioning and purification section of a gasification to fuels plant and accomplish 50-60% higher fuel production from the same amount of biomass feedstock 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 4

5 Adding external Hydrogen to a syngas train BEFORE AFTER + 55 % 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 5

6 Production Cost of renewable methanol Typical production Cost level, EUR/MWh Feedstock base: 21 EUR/MWh Investment Base Base +20% Capital Feedstock O&M Power Power 20y/ 15y/ 10y/ Other Base +25% 60 EUR/ 70 EUR/ 10% 10% 10% O&M MWh MWh (1) (1) (1) (1) (2) (2) (2) (2) (3) (3) (3) (3) (4) (4) (4) (4) (5) (5) (5) (5) (6) (6) (6) (6) 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 6

7 Methanol Use in Engines (some examples) Engine Low methanol blend in gasoline High methanol blend in gasoline GEM Marine Applications MD95 PPC, Partial Premix Combustion Methanol in Fuel Cells Comment 3% (v) allowed in European Gasoline First of all a Chinese experience but also corresponding concept on ethanol in Brazil Gasoline/Ethanol/Methanol fuel blends E85 = M56 and GEM mixes in between. Typically 95% methanol with an ignitor operated in diesel mode Scania s well proven ED95 can be adjusted to operate on methanol as MD95 Development going on at Lund University and elsewhere. M100 is a prime fuel candidate Prevailing concept in 1980s/1990s now reinvented by e.g. Nissan (on board reforming of alcohol to hydrogen). 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 7

8 The long term perspective 1 The 1970/80s and the oil crises Periods of High Crude Oil Prices Periods when methanol is looked at as an alternative to crude oil products Oil majors went for methanol when the world was hit by oil crises in the 1970s and 1980s Increased concern regarding the GHG issue Renewable fuel market development 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 8

9 Sweden, Norway Germany, USA and others run large test fleets on M15, M85 and M100 for many years 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 9

10 METHANOL FROM NATURAL GAS When capital is payed back, which is done in 4-5 years, only cash cost remains. This is in the order of EUR/MWh for NG plants with current typical gas prices. Natural Gas price USD/ton USD/MWh EUR/MWh 4 USD/MMBtu (12.2 EUR/MWh) 2 USD/MMBtu (6.1 EUR/MWh) Cash Cost Capital Cost TOTAL Cash Cost Capital Cost TOTAL Nov Ingvar Landälv 10

11 Production Cost of various advanced biofuels (from Cost of Biofuels, Subgroup Advanced Biofuels) Methanol from Natural Gas Incl. 5 years / 15% Cask NG price of 2-4 USD/MMBtu 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 11

12 Photo from space showing flaring of various hydrocarbons (SkyTruth, 2016) See: 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 12

13 The long term perspective 2 The 1990s and introduction of biofuels Periods of High Crude Oil Prices Periods when methanol is looked at as an alternative to crude oil products Oil majors went for methanol at the oil crises in the 1970s and 1980s Increased concern regarding the GHG issue Renewable fuel market development but when the renewables fuel market started to evolve in the 1990s methanol was banned. It now was corrosive and toxic. 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 13

14 Safety: Methanol as compared to gasoline with respect to fire risk Sources: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 1994) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) (Machiele, 1990) Projections indicate that casualties would drop dramatically if methanol were substituted for gasoline as the country s primary automotive fuel. Lower volatility of methanol compared to gasoline Higher flammability requirement (four times higher concentration of methanol vapor needed to ignite compared to gasoline) Lower vapour density of methanol avoids dens gas clouds along the ground Lower heat release rate (an eighth compared to gasoline) 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 14

15 Methanol is approved as bunker fuel by Lloyds. It has piggybacked on corresponding work done for LNG. (It is less complicated. It is e.g. OK to store methanol in space formed by double bottom construction of the vessel) 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 15

16 The long term perspective 3 Resent developments in principle cost driven Periods of High Crude Oil Prices Periods when methanol is looked at as an alternative to crude oil products Increased concern regarding the GHG issue Renewable fuel market development 1. Marine sector goes for Methanol as bunker fuel 2. China selects methanol as fuel when converting its domestic coal to a fuel 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 16

17 Methanol Standards in China REFLECTION: Most European auto makers have their largest market in China. How do their cars manage the methanol content in Chinese gasoline? 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 17

18 Methanol as bunker fuel and in various other applications 1. Marine Diesel Application 2. M56 in a SAAB BioPower E85 car 3. M100 in speedway motor cycle 4. M95-M100 in Pilot Boat (different engines under test) 1 A Marine engine applications A. MAN Turbo and Diesel B. Wärtsilä B 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 18

19 Presentation complied from: METHANOL AS A RENEWABLE FUEL A KNOWLEDGE SYNTHESIS Some Conclusions Methanol is toxic and corrosive but is overall not more challenging to use as an automotive fuel than other fuel alternatives. From many aspects it is simpler. Storage and handling of methanol is well known BioMethanol has a high production potential BioMethanol has comparably low production cost Conversion efficiency form feedstock to BioMethanol is comparably high Methanol is one of the most efficient fuels for IC-engines and Fuel Cell applications Work has been financed through contributions from f3, The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Transport Fuels LTU, Luleå University of Technology 15 Nov Ingvar Landälv 19