Techno-Economic Analysis of Green Urea Driven by Renewable Energy Sources Based on Aspen Simulation

Abstract

In the context of global efforts towards carbon neutrality, this study focuses on the synthesis of green urea using renewable energy, aiming to address the carbon emission issue in the urea industry. The traditional urea synthesis process is energy-intensive and emits a large amount of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the development of a green and sustainable synthesis method is crucial. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of a proposed process that utilizes CO2 from a coal-fired power plant to produce green urea. Through detailed calculations of material and energy balances, it is determined that each unit in the process has specific input and output requirements. Techno-economic analysis shows that the combined ammonia and urea synthesis unit has high investment and operating costs, with a minimum urea selling price of $58.31 per kg. Sensitivity analysis further reveals that the fixed capital investment has the most significant impact on the urea price. This research not only fills the gap in the economic and technical analysis of renewable energy-driven green urea synthesis but also provides valuable data and insights for the development of related industries, thus making a significant contribution to the pursuit of carbon neutrality.

Keywords: Green urea, renewable energy, Techno-Economic Analysis, Sensitivity analysis, aspen simulation