Economic Assessment of DME Production via Black Liquor Gasification Considering Different Future Energy Market Conditions and Mill Steam Balances.

Paper in proceeding, 2010

Black liquor gasification (BLG) is being developed as an alternative technology for energy and chemical recovery at chemical pulp mills. This study investigates profitability of DME production from gasified black liquor at a kraft pulp mill, based on the Chemrec BLG technology. Mill steam demand levels ranging from 7 to 19 GJ/ADt are considered together with different future energy market scenarios. The results show that the annual profit from DME production via BLG is strongly dependent on future energy market conditions and the steam demand of the mill with which the BLG plant is integrated. For all energy market scenarios, the annual profit is greatest at 7 GJ/ADt, then it decreases to a minimum at 15 GJ/ADt after which it starts to increase. The variation due to steam demand is in the range 20-70% depending on energy market scenario conditions. For a specific steam demand level, the annual profit is maximised when assuming high fossil fuel prices in combination with a high CO2 charge. The variation due to energy market scenario conditions varies from approximately 20 70% depending on mill steam demand level.