Modelling and Simulation of Co-Gasification of <i>Chlorella Vulgaris</i> and High-density Polyethylene Using Aspen Plus

Abstract

A technical innovation that holds promise for producing renewable fuel and decreasing waste disposal is the production of syngas from  the co-gasification of waste materials and biomass. In this present study, a new simulation model for co-gasifying highdensity  polyethylene (HDPE) and microalgae using Aspen plus V10 was built. Several operating parameters, including operating temperature, air  equivalence ratio (ER), biomass blending ratio, steam-to-biomass ratio (S/B), and air/steam ratio, were investigated for their influence on  the yield and composition of H₂ , CO, CO₂ , and CH₄ . Results indicated that these operating parameters had significant impacts on the  gaseous products. High gasifier temperatures (1000°C) for the co-gasification process favored the formation of H₂ and CO and increased  their yields. Also, the yield of H₂ significantly decreased when the value of the equivalence ratio was increased. According to simulation  results, increasing the steam-to-biomass ratio favored the synthesis of H₂ and CO up to a point. In addition, waste plastic (HDPE) in the  feedstock should be kept at a minimum to favor the production of hydrogen-rich gas. The findings show that the model results agree  with previous experimental studies. This research study has proven the air-steam co-gasification of microalgae and HDPE as a suitable  process for the production of syngas rich in hydrogen.