Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2. Selected properties of MTHF as a transportation biofuel.
Property
Unit
MTHF
Boiling point (102 mmHg)
°C
20
Boiling point (Atm.)
°C
80
Flash point
°C
11
Reid vapour pressure
psig
5.7
Lower heating value
MJ/kg
32
Specific gravity
0.813
Octane rating
80
Electricity and heat are produced by combustion of lignin and process residues. Part of
this electricity and heat production is used to meet the plant energy demand and the rest is
delivered to the public grid.
4.2.4. Fossil reference system
LCA environmental performances of the analyzed biorefinery system are compared with
those of a fossil reference system based on oil refinery, producing the same amount of energy and
chemical products. A comparison between the two systems is illustrated in Figure 15.
Reference System
Bi or ef i ner y
Natural gas
Oi l
Col l ecti on
Wood
resi dues
Extracti on &
Conveyance
Extracti on &
Conveyance
Transport
Natural
decomposi ti on
Transport
Transport
Processi ng
Ai r
Power
pl ant
Steam
reforming
Refi nery
Bi orefi nery
pl ant
Processi ng
Chemicals
Heavy oi l
Gas ol i ne
Di stri buti on
El ectri c net
Heati ng
network
Chemi cal s
and H
2
Di stri buti on
Di stri buti on
El ectri c net
Heati ng
pl ant
Di stri buti on
Di st ri buti on
Bi ofuel
vehi cl es
Di stri buti on
Heati ng
network
Gas ol i ne
vehi cl es
Products and services
(transportati on, chemi cal s, el ectri ci ty, heat, H
2,
methane)
Figure 15. Comparison between production chains: biorefinery system vs. fossil reference system.
