Process information
| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | CN |
| Geographical representativeness description | The study assumes that both methanol and ammonia production plants are located in northwest China, where coal, natural gas and solar energy resources are abundant. |
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| Use advice for data set | When using data from Ravikumar et al. (2020) for life cycle assessment (LCA) of bio-based methanol production, take the average values provided in the reference that summarizes 14 common scenarios from literature reviews. Ensure to model the specific carbon capture and H2 generation stages as detailed in the process description, including the carbon capture from power plant flue gas and the use of photovoltaic power for water electrolysis. When calculating impacts, account for the regional context of production facilities, particularly the availability of coal, natural gas, and solar resources in northwest China. The functional unit for this assessment is defined as 1 kg and 1 MJ of H2 carrier produced from these energy sources. |
| Technical purpose of product or process | The process detailed refers to the production of bio-based methanol, specifically through a PV/CCU-CH3OH route. This route is a sustainable method of producing methanol by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) and producing hydrogen (H2) through water electrolysis powered by photovoltaic (solar) energy. Bio-based methanol produced this way can serve as a green chemical for various industrial applications, such as a fuel additive, a solvent, or as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. The process is particularly suitable for regions with abundant coal, natural gas, and solar resources, like northwest China. |
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| General comment on data set | The CO2-to-methanol technical route contains three key steps, namely capture of CO2, production of H2 by water electrolysis, and hydrogeneration of CO2 to synthesize methanol. |
| Copyright | No |
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| Functional Unit | In this study, the functional unit is defined as 1 kg and 1 MJ of H2 carrier produced from coal, natural gas, and renewables. |
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| Technology description including background system | We assume that the CO2 source is exhaust gas from power plant which supplies electricity and steam for system. As shown in Figure 1C, in the carbon capture stage, the flue gas enters the absorber under the drive of the fan. When sufficient CO2 has been absorbed, the solvent is pumped into the regeneration column where CO2 is separated from the absorber under the action of steam. In the H2 generation stage, water electrolysis is used to produce H2, which is powered by photovoltaic. At last, H2 and captured CO2 are sent into the methanol synthesis system where methanol is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of captured CO2. |
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Modelling and validation
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