Process Modelling and Comparative Evaluation of Syngas Production Pathways from Biomass and Biogas

Abstract A comparative analysis of hydrogen-rich syngas production based on biogas reforming and biomass gasification process configurations using an Aspen Plus simulation was conducted. Results showed that biogas steam reforming achieved higher H 2 content than biomass gasification but lower CO and CO 2 . The syngas lower heating value (LHV) and yield (SY) achieved from the biogas steam reforming process were higher than that from biomass gasification within the range of operating conditions considered in this study. Although biogas steam reforming achieved higher LHV and SY, its cold gas efficiency (CGE) and overall energy efficiency (OEE) were about 26.60 and 19.80% lower than that from biomass gasification. The integration of biogas and biomass in a single reactor with steam addition increased LHV by 12.87% and 17.61% compared to biogas alone steam reforming and biomass steam gasification, respectively. When the process was integrated into one unit without steam addition (biogas being the main gasifying agent), the syngas LHV increased by about 14.32 and 18.98% compared to biogas and biomass alone, respectively. Biogas steam reforming and the integrated process without steam addition achieved lower CGE than biomass steam gasification and integrated process with steam addition. Among these various process configurations, integration of biomass and biogas in a single unit with steam addition exhibited the highest OEE whereas biogas steam reforming exhibited the lowest. Additionally, it was demonstrated by means of a response surface methodology (RSM) that temperature-pressure and temperature-biogas content had the strongest interaction effects on syngas composition and process performance metrics. The current study shows that integrating biogas reforming and biomass gasification can enhance hydrogen-rich syngas production. This offers a promising pathway for more efficient renewable energy systems.