Análisis exegético y tecnoeconomico de la simulación del proceso de Fischer Tropsch para la producción de gasolina y olefinas

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PROJECT PUBLICATION. Ecuador faces growing energy demand and dependence on fossil fuels, which emphasizes the need to diversify energy sources with alternatives that provide environmental and economic benefits. In this context, the present study aimed to perform an exergetic and techno-economic analysis of the Fischer–Tropsch process simulation, using 112.02 t/h of CO₂ captured from a fermentation plant and 15.12 t/h of green H₂ as feed streams. The simulation was developed in Aspen Hysys V.14 for the simultaneous production of gasoline (C₅–C₁₁) and light olefins (C₂–C₃), considering the stages of feed compression, FT synthesis, and product purification. The simulation incorporated heat integration with a recirculation system for unreacted gases, achieving energy savings and a total productivity of 11.08 t/h of gasoline, 14.04 t/h of ethylene, and 1.21 t/h of propylene. The Fischer–Tropsch process reached an overall exergy efficiency of 87.68 % and a total exergy destruction of 357.44 MW, mainly attributed to internal irreversibilities. The techno-economic evaluation demonstrated a positive Net Present Value (NPV) and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 9.96%, confirming its industrial feasibility under local market conditions. By year 30, the cumulative cash flow reached USD 3 409 millions, validating the project’s long-term value generation and positioning the FT process as a sustainable alternative for Ecuador’s energy transition. Keywords: Power-to-Liquid, synthetic fuels, exergy, techno-economic analysis.