Modeling, simulation and economic analysis of CSP-driven solar fuel plant for diesel and gasoline production

Abstract

The present research focuses on modeling of solar thermal driven fuel production plant with CO2 and H2O as raw materials to produce synthetic gas (syngas) which is converted into hydrocarbons through Fischer-Tropsch process either with Fe and Co catalyst to produce diesel, gasoline and kerosene. The solar reactor uses cerium oxide (CeO2) as a metal-redox and operates at 1773 K and 1300 K for reduction and oxidation step respectively under non-stoichiometric condition. The plant is analyzed by performing a quasi-steady state simulation under boundary condition that the Fischer-Tropsch reactor should operate with the capacity factor of 0.95 or 8350 hours annually. A storage tank is used to store and regulate the flow of syngas going into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. Sensitivity analysis is carried out, particularly on solar reactor conversion and solid-to-solid heat exchanger efficiency. Another sensitivity analysis is to combine PV and CSP as the external electricity source. The production cost is finally calculated using annuity method with constant discount rate.