Characterizing the Biomass Gasification Route to the BioRefinery, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

ANTARES has developed an initial BIG-FT Refinery System Characterization. The result is detailed capital cost models for two BIG-FT BioRefinery configurations. The user is able to select either configuration at a wide range of plant sizes, run the model, and obtain a capital cost estimate for the scaled plant. The distribution of capital costs (e.g., pre-treatment, syngas cleaning, FT reactor, product work-up, etc.) is easily ascertained from the model's user interface. The first configuration makes use of the BCL gasifier (indirect, air-blown, atmospheric), cold gas clean up, and fixed-bed FT reactors. The second configuration makes use of the IGT gasifier (direct, oxygen-blown, pressurized), hot gas clean-up, and slurry bed FT reactors. Both configurations produce exportable power, and both configurations involve some upgrading of the FT liquids (hydrocracking and primary distillation).

ANTARES is in the process of implementing model upgrades for predicting the contingency for first-of-a-kind plants (i.e., predicting "cost-growth") The final model will use manufacturing “learning” effects to proved production cost estimates. It will allow the user to make preliminary production cost estimates for two configurations based on specified feedstock cost inputs, specified scale, and technology learning/experience (where the learning rate is affected by whether or not continued DOE EERE funding is assumed). In addition to providing program support, the capital cost and O&M information underlying the production cost model will be used to generate inputs to the DOE EERE market forecasting and benefits assessment models and analyses.