Center for Natural Resources and Environment

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Computational model of a Calcium-looping fluidized bed calcination reactor with imposed concentrated solar irradiance

Publication . Rodrigues, Diogo; Rivero, Mayra Alvarez; Pinheiro, Carla I.C.; Cardoso, João P.; Mendes, Luís Filipe

ABSTRACT: The Calcium-looping process is a promising option for thermochemical energy storage in concentrating solar power plants. A crucial element of this process is the solar calcination reactor, where the endothermic reaction of CaCO3 calcination occurs with formation of CaO and CO2. The solar energy that is chemically stored in the reaction products can be retrieved by the exothermic reaction of CaO carbonation when needed. In this article, a new computational model is developed for the solar calcination reactor in this Calcium-looping process. The calcination reaction takes place in the riser of a continuous circulating fluidized bed that corresponds to an absorber tube exposed to concentrated solar radiation, which allows the reaction chamber to be indirectly heated. A core-annulus heat transfer model and a modified version of the Kunii-Levenspiel fluid dynamics model are used. In contrast to previous models found in the literature, the change in the mass flow rate of the species and in the density of the phases due to the reaction is considered. Simulation studies are performed with a fixed and imposed concentrated solar irradiance on the reactor wall, which varies in both the axial and angular directions. Wall conduction in the angular direction is also considered. The results show that nearly complete calcination can be achieved with a reactor of 4 m of height. A sensitivity analysis with respect to the model parameters and inlet conditions shows that the calcination conversion is mostly affected by the solids mass flow rate and the bed temperature at the inlet.

2023-07Journal article

Open access

Sustainability Assessment of 2G Bioethanol Production from Residual Lignocellulosic Biomass

Publication . Correia, Bárbara; Matos, Henrique A.; Lopes, Tiago; Marques, Susana; Gírio, Francisco

ABSTRACT: The development of sustainable biofuels can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. This study analyzes bioethanol production from agro-forestry residual biomass, namely eucalyptus residues and corn stover. The study includes process simulation using Aspen Plus software, followed by economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) with the help of SimaPro software and by applying the environmental footprint (EF) 3.0 method. The economic analysis on the biorefinery’s economic viability, equipment, and production costs reveals a positive decision for bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues due to logistical and transportation costs. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) obtained was 2.19 €/L and 2.45 €/L for eucalyptus residues and corn stover, respectively. From the LCA with a functional unit of 1 MJ of ethanol, bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues results in a single score impact of 37.86 µPt, whereas for corn stover, it is 33.47 µPt. In the climate change impact category, the eucalyptus residues scenario has an impact of 0.264 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol while corn stover leads to 0.254 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol. In-situ enzyme production, heat integration, and the use of renewable energy sources were also analyzed. Combining in situ enzyme production with renewable energy sources lowers CO2 equivalent emissions by 89% for both feedstocks, in comparison to the base-case scenario.

2024-05Journal article

Open access

Análogos geoquímicos portugueses de rochas e solos marcianos (S. Saturnino – Fronteira vs Cratera de Gusev e Meridiani Planum)

Publication . Rocha, Carla; Alves, Eduardo Ivo

RESUMO: Este trabalho resulta de estudos petrográficos e geoquímicos feitos sobre afloramentos de rochas filonianas básicas na região de S. Saturnino (Fronteira, Portalegre, Portugal) como análogos de rochas e solos marcianos das regiões da cratera Gusev e de Meridiani Planum analisados nas missões dos rovers Spirit (MER-A) e Opportunity (MER-B). Mostra-se que este é o primeiro local em Portugal Continental que pode ser reconhecido como análogo dos ambientes geológico, petrográfico e geoquímico marcianos.

2025-04Journal article

Open access