Ökonomische Prozessbewertung der Herstellung synthetischer Kohlenwasserstoffe aus regenerativen Quellen

Abstract

This Master’s Thesis evaluates the process of the production of synthetic liquid hydrocarbons economically. Synthetic hydrocarbons are energy carriers of high energy density, easy to transport and store, and can be used in the existing infrastructure. The production process uses electrolysis, reverse-water-gas-shift reaction, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. An optimized set of engineering process parameters has been determined by flowsheet simulations. For a sys-tem powered by renewable resources at full capacity, a plant with 1 GWLHV of hydrogen input produces 0.68 GW of synthetic liquid hydrocarbons at average net product costs of 4.77 €/kg, 3.12 €/l or around 660 $/bbl. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to account for variations in the used market prices. Reducing the costs of electrolysis (investment cost and operating effi-ciency) and of electricity supply is essential to approach economic feasibility according to sensitivity analyses. As the process is proven to deliver the desired products gasoline, diesel, and especially kerosene, a pilot plant can grant better insights into process improvements and enhance large scale practicability. Furthermore, a significantly higher oil price would increase the competitiveness of renewable energies. While the objective of resource and energy inde-pendency affords a plant construction in Germany, the economic parameters are more advan-tageous in cheap-labor countries with highly efficient access to renewable energies.