Toward more cost-effective and greener chemicals production from shale gas by integrating with bioethanol dehydration: Novel process design and simulation-based optimization

Chang He, Fengqi You*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel process design for a more cost-effective, greener process for making chemicals from shale gas and bioethanol is presented. The oxidative coupling of methane and cocracking technologies are considered for converting methane and light natural gas liquids, into value-added chemicals. Overall, the process includes four process areas: gas treatment, gas to chemicals, methane-to-ethylene, and bioethanol-to-ethylene. A simulation-optimization method based on the NSGA-II algorithm for the life cycle optimization of the process modeled in the Aspen HYSYS is developed. An energy integration model is also fluidly nested using the mixed-integer linear programming. The results show that for a "good choice" optimal design, the minimum ethylene selling price is $655.1/ton and the unit global-warming potential of ethylene is 0.030 kg CO2-eq/kg in the low carbon shale gas scenario, and $877.2/ton and 0.360 kg CO2-eq/kg in the high carbon shale gas scenario.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1209-1232
Number of pages24
JournalAIChE Journal
Volume61
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2015

Keywords

  • Chemicals
  • Global-warming potential
  • Natural gas liquids
  • Shale gas
  • Simulation-optimization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental Engineering
  • General Chemical Engineering

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