Process assessment for electroreduction CO2 to methanol in ionic liquid electrolyte

doi:10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2021-2226

Abstract

Abstract:

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to chemicals receives worldwide attention owing to its ambient operation conditions and potentials to utilize distributed renewable energies, and is regarded as an effective strategy for mitigating global warming and energy crisis. Assessment of potential economic and environmental benefits of this novel technology can promote its industrialization. Using the electroreduction of CO₂ to methanol in ionic liquid electrolyte as a case study, a comprehensive model for evaluating its cost and net carbon emissions based on the conceptual design and simulation was established under life cycle framework. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to identify key cost drivers, such as faradaic efficiency, electricity cost and cell voltage. The results showed compared with the coal-to-methanol process, this novel process had both economic benefit and carbon emission reduction potential. Under the best technical assumptions, it can save cost by around 11.67%. Meanwhile, a negative carbon emission of up to 1.29kg CO₂ per kg methanol produced can be achieved if the process is powered by renewable electricity, providing important references for the development of transformative technologies in low-carbon methanol production.

Key words: carbon dioxide, electrochemistry, methanol, model, economics, sustainability, life cycle assessment

摘要：

CO₂电还原合成化学品因反应条件温和、可利用分布式清洁能源等优势成为国际热点，被视为缓解全球变暖和能源危机的有效途径之一，对该类技术潜在经济及环境效益进行系统评估，可为新技术工业应用提供重要支撑。本文以离子液体电还原CO₂制甲醇工艺为例，首先进行概念设计和建模，建立了基于生命周期的工艺经济性及碳排放评价模型，获得了离子液体电还原CO₂制甲醇工艺的盈利前景和碳减排潜力。通过灵敏度分析，确定了例如法拉第效率、电费及槽电压等影响工艺经济性的关键技术参数。结果表明，与传统煤制甲醇工艺相比，离子液体电还原CO₂制甲醇工艺兼具一定的经济效益与碳减排潜力。在最佳假设前提下，新工艺可节约成本约11.67%。若完全采用可再生能源提供电力，则可实现生命周期内的负碳排放，即每生产1kg甲醇最高可消纳1.29kg CO₂。本研究为低碳合成甲醇变革性技术的研发提供了重要参考。

关键词: 二氧化碳, 电化学, 甲醇, 模型, 经济, 可持续性, 生命周期评价

CLC Number:

CHANG Fei, ZHAN Guoxiong, SHI Sensen, ZENG Shaojuan, ZHANG Xiangping. Process assessment for electroreduction CO₂ to methanol in ionic liquid electrolyte[J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2022, 41(3): 1256-1264.

常斐, 詹国雄, 史森森, 曾少娟, 张香平. 离子液体电还原CO₂合成甲醇过程评价与分析[J]. 化工进展, 2022, 41(3): 1256-1264.

Figures/Tables 13

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参数	基准情景（2021年）	未来情景（2040年）	最佳情景
电流密度/mA·cm^-2	67.00	1500.00	2000.00
甲醇法拉第效率/%	89	95	100
槽电压/V	3.28	2.24	1.21
转化率/%	15	35	50
催化剂负载量/mg·cm^-2	1.00	1.00	1.00
CO₂原料成本/CNY·t^-1	400	200	0
工艺水/CNY·t^-1	4	4	4
蒸汽/CNY·t^-1	120	120	120
电费/CNY·kWh^-1	0.70	0.30	0.12
电解槽成本/USD·m^-2	9690.46	4665.56	3110.37

参数	基准情景（2021年）	未来情景（2040年）	最佳情景
电流密度/mA·cm^-2	67.00	1500.00	2000.00
甲醇法拉第效率/%	89	95	100
槽电压/V	3.28	2.24	1.21
转化率/%	15	35	50
催化剂负载量/mg·cm^-2	1.00	1.00	1.00
CO₂原料成本/CNY·t^-1	400	200	0
工艺水/CNY·t^-1	4	4	4
蒸汽/CNY·t^-1	120	120	120
电费/CNY·kWh^-1	0.70	0.30	0.12
电解槽成本/USD·m^-2	9690.46	4665.56	3110.37

费用组成	参考对象
年度生产总成本（TPC）	年度投资成本（ACC），年度操作费用（TOC）
年度投资成本（ACC）	总投资成本（TCC）
总投资成本（TCC）	固定投资成本（FCC），流动资本，开车准备支出（溶剂，催化剂等）
固定投资成本（FCC）	直接投资（DC），间接投资（IC）
直接投资（DC），间接投资（IC）	总设备成本（PEC）
年度操作费用（TOC）	可变操作费用（VOC），固定操作费用（FOC）

费用组成	参考对象
年度生产总成本（TPC）	年度投资成本（ACC），年度操作费用（TOC）
年度投资成本（ACC）	总投资成本（TCC）
总投资成本（TCC）	固定投资成本（FCC），流动资本，开车准备支出（溶剂，催化剂等）
固定投资成本（FCC）	直接投资（DC），间接投资（IC）
直接投资（DC），间接投资（IC）	总设备成本（PEC）
年度操作费用（TOC）	可变操作费用（VOC），固定操作费用（FOC）

费用组成	参考对象	比例/%
电解槽直接投资（DC_ER）
电解槽设备	电解槽设备	100
电解槽配套设备	电解槽设备	180
电解槽安装费用	电解槽设备	34
分离设备直接投资（DC_SEP）	—	—
间接投资（IC）
意外支出	直接投资（DC_ER，DC_SEP）	15
建设费用	直接投资（DC_ER，DC_SEP）	8
代理费用	直接投资（DC_ER，DC_SEP）	5
工程监管	直接投资（DC_ER，DC_SEP）	8
流动资本	固定投资成本（DC_ER，DC_SEP，IC）	15
开车准备支出
溶剂成本	溶剂单价×总装填量	—
催化剂成本	催化剂单价×用量	—
生产准备	原料单价×用量+电费×能耗	—
总投资成本（TCC）	上述费用总和

Process assessment for electroreduction CO₂ to methanol in ionic liquid electrolyte

离子液体电还原CO₂合成甲醇过程评价与分析

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Figures/Tables 13

References 33

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项目	基准物	S_r/kg·h^-1	sf	基准投入
精馏提纯单元设备投资（DC_SEP）	进料量	20940.23	0.65	613×10⁴USD
精馏提纯单元能耗（E_SEP）	进料量	20940.23	1	4.53MW

费用组成	参考对象	比例/%
可变操作费用（VOC）
CO₂原料补充	原料单价×用量	—
溶剂补充	溶剂单价×年消耗量	2
工艺水补充	原料单价×用量	—
公用工程	电费×能耗+蒸汽单价×蒸汽用量	—
固定操作费用（FOC）
保险支出	固定投资成本（FCC）	1
维修护理	固定投资成本（FCC）	1
操作劳务	总操作费用（TOC）	3
市场营销	总操作费用（TOC）	2
研究费用	总操作费用（TOC）	5
工厂监管	操作劳务	20
间接费用	操作劳务	50
行政费用	操作劳务	25
总操作费用（TOC）	上述费用总和

发电技术	碳排放当量/g CO₂·kWh^-1
煤电	820
核电	12
风电	12
光伏发电	41
煤电+碳捕集	200
燃气发电	490

参数	下限	基准值	上限
电流密度/mA·cm^-2	1200	1500	1800
甲醇法拉第效率/%	76	95	100
槽电压/V	2.69	2.24	1.79
甲醇产量/t·d^-1	120	150	180
转化率/%	28	35	42
CO₂原料成本/CNY·t^-1	240	200	160
电费/CNY·kWh^-1	0.36	0.30	0.24
电解槽成本/USD·m^-2	5598.67	4665.56	3732.45
离子液体溶剂成本/USD·t^-1	3960	3300	2640

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