Process Integration of Lignocellulosic Biomass Pre-treatment in the Thermo-Chemical Production of F-T Fuels. Centralised Versus Decentralised Scenarios

The purpose of this study is to evaluate, in terms of process integration, the centralised and decentralised pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass for its thermo-chemical conversion into liquid fuels through gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis (biomass to liquids, BtL). The aim is to quantify the process integration benefits of a centralised configuration in comparison to the energy savings obtained through the transportation of a higher energy density fuel, in this case torrefied biomass instead of raw biomass. The analysis is carried out through the detailed energy and mass balances, and the pinch analysis of the centralised and decentralised configurations.