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Use of Liquefied Biomethane (LBM) as a Vehicle Fuel for Road Freight Transportation: A Case Study Evaluating Environmental Performance of Using LBM for Operation of Tractor Trailers
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry. (Arcum)
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.
2018 (English)In: Procedia CIRP, E-ISSN 2212-8271, Vol. 69, p. 517-522Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The environmental performance of Liquefied Biomethane (LBM) and Diesel operated Tractor Trailer (TT) is compared using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. In this study we consider, raw biogas produced from an anaerobic digestion process of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Umea, Sweden, which is then upgraded and liquefied to LBM and used as a fuel for TTs. Currently, the WWTP in Umea is utilizing biogas, produced onsite for cogeneration of heat and electricity, thereby meeting its energy needs. A system expansion approach is applied where electricity and heat equivalent to amount of biogas displaced for LBM production is supplied from Swedish grid (SE) mix and incineration of wood chips respectively. Correspondingly, the biogas avoided for cogeneration of electricity and heat is accounted in the study. The equivalent functional unit chosen for the LCA study is “16,000,000 ton-km of a TT transporting products and goods”. The study is modelled using SimaPro LCA Software. The ReCiPe Midpoint (H) impact assessment methodology is used to quantify ten selected and relevant midpoint environmental impacts. When compared with Diesel TT system, LBM TT exhibits superior environmental performance in seven out of ten impact categories measured than the Diesel TT system. The highest reduction is seen in Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Fossil Depletion Potential (FDP) impacts thereby suggesting that LBM derived from raw biogas of WWTP an environmentally preferred alternative to diesel for operation of TTs. However, this value proposition can have other trade-offs such as increase in eutrophication and ecotoxicity impacts. Further, replacing diesel with LBM for TT operation may not have any significant environmental benefits when electricity is drawn from carbon intensive grid mixes (e.g. coal).

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2018. Vol. 69, p. 517-522
Keywords [en]
Liquefied Biomethane, Life Cycle Assessment, Tractor Trailers, Environmental Impacts
National Category
Other Chemistry Topics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-147564DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2017.11.133ISI: 000435141900089Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85047095982OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-147564DiVA, id: diva2:1204488
Conference
25th CIRP Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) Conference, 30 April - 2 May 2018, Copenhagen, Denmark
Available from: 2018-05-08 Created: 2018-05-08 Last updated: 2024-09-04Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Circularity Assessment of Water and Waste in Cities: A Proposed Framework for Sustainable Performance Evaluation using LCA and LCC
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Circularity Assessment of Water and Waste in Cities: A Proposed Framework for Sustainable Performance Evaluation using LCA and LCC
2021 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Urbanization is a global phenomenon, happening on a massive scale and at a rapid rate, with 68% of the planet’s population predicted to be living in cities by 2050 (UN-DESA, 2018). The sustainability of a city (Goal 11 of UN SDGs) undergoing rapid urbanization depends on its ability to maintain a low consumption of resources and materials at any given time (referred to as the urban metabolic rate), whilst simultaneously providing essential municipal services to its inhabitants, such as a water supply, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. The latter must comply with circular economy principles, meaning recovery of byproducts, prevention of discharge of toxic pollutants, and avoidance of landfill usage. The appended papers in the thesis (Papers I–V) describe sustainable assessments of wastewater and waste services to increase their degree of circularity, using tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). Paper I describes the environmental performance of using the biogas from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and converting it to Liquefied Biomethane (LBM), which can used as fuel in Tractor-Trailers (TT). Overall, the study suggests that changing from diesel to LBM fuel improves the environmental performance of TT. However, the magnitude of environmental benefit depends on an alternate source of electricity required for operation of the WWTP. Paper II evaluates the Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA) of Compressed Biomethane (CBM) obtained from a food waste digestion plant in Mumbai, India for use as a fuel in transit buses. SCBA results indicate that the food waste-based CBM model can save 6.86 billion Indian rupees (99.4 million USD) annually for Mumbai. Paper III describes the Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI) of lightweight Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) intensive multi-material Body in White (BIW) for automobiles. The SROI of CFRP BIWs is maximized when carbon fiber production uses energy from a low carbon-intensity electric grid or decentralized sources such as waste-to-energy incineration plants. Paper IV assesses the ecoefficiency of a thermal insulation panel that consists of a Polyurethane (PU) foam core sandwiched between two epoxy composite skins, prepared by reinforcing Glass Fibers (GF) and SFA (Silanized Fly Ash) in epoxy resin. The results revealed that the ecoefficiency of the composite panels is positive (47%) and superior to that of market incumbent alternatives with PU foam or rockwool cores and steel skins. Paper V quantifies the Total Cost to Society (TCS) (sum of private cost and environmental externalities cost) of a centralized urban WWTP, including the operation as well as byproduct utilization stream. The environmental performance and circular compliance are both factored in, when determining the TCS of a WWTP. The results revealed savings of 1.064 million USD, which include direct and indirect revenues to the plant, as well as avoidance costs attributed to environmental externalities. Based on the studies described in4these papers, a five-stage assessment framework for determining the overall sustainability performance of essential treatment services in a city is proposed in this thesis. The framework considers the combined effect of urban metabolic features and initiatives aimed at improving circular compliance of essential services.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
umeå: Umeå University, 2021. p. 70
Keywords
Life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, environmental externalities cost, sustainable city, circularity, wastewater treatment, organic waste, waste to energy, assessment framework
National Category
Natural Sciences
Research subject
environmental science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-182194 (URN)978-91-7855-527-7 (ISBN)978-91-7855-528-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-05-10, Glasburen KBC/ Fokusrummet, KBC Linneus väg 6, 907 36, Umeå, Umeå, 09:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2021-04-19 Created: 2021-04-12 Last updated: 2021-04-19Bibliographically approved

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Shanmugam, KavithaTysklind, MatsUpadhyayula, Venkata K.K.

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