OLEGO project (SAB):
Experimental and virtual process development for the carbon-neutral synthesis of kerosene through olefin oligomerization
(ongoing)
To combat climate change, the German government's long-term strategy is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially CO2, to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. In the transport sector, GHG reduction has so far been achieved through the addition of biofuels and the electrification of passenger car traffic. Sectors such as aviation, where high energy densities are required, have to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the future. As there are natural limits to further increasing the blending ratios of biofuels, the development and expansion of SAF capacities is currently being promoted through so-called power-to-liquid (PtL) technologies. One process strategy is methanol-to-jet (MtJ) technology, in which methanol produced from CO2 and H2 is first used to synthesise short-chain olefins, which are then converted into hydrocarbons in the kerosene range after oligomerisation and hydrogenation.
The OLEGO project is taking a closer look at the olefin oligomerisation step in the MtJ route. This involves fundamental experiments, which are complemented by process modelling and model-based scaling of the process. The experimental investigations are carried out by the Chair of Reaction Engineering (RT), while the high-resolution process modelling is being handled by the Chair of Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion Processes (MTK), also based at the IEC.
Catalytic experiments will be carried out in the project using highly active SiO2/Al2O3 catalysts, whose physicochemical properties will be systematically investigated. The focus here will be on process parameters such as temperature, pressure and residence time on the formation of olefin oligomers, particularly in the kerosene fraction. Another focus will be on investigating the diffusion of hydrocarbons in mesoporous catalyst materials and its influence on catalytic activity.
Process modelling provides deeper insights into the fundamental chemical and physical processes on the catalyst particles during the reaction. The experimental investigations are intended to form the data basis for transferring the technical concept. Furthermore, an increase in the kerosene yield of the process is to be achieved through model-based design and optimization of the catalysts and process parameters. Finally, based on the modelling, the process will be scaled up to production scale with a virtual demonstration of process efficiency.
