TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF DIMETYL ETHER PLANT USING PALM OIL BIOMASS AS FEEDSTOCK IN INDONESIA

• Main Author: SUPRIYO PARBOWO - NIM: 23016034 , HERDADI
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/27834
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The increasing import of LPG in Indonesia makes the government promote DME as partial substitution of LPG as stated in the Rencana Umum Energi Nasional 2017. DME can be produced from various materials, one of them is biomass which is abundant in Indonesia. The palm oil biomass consists of palm kernell, empty fruit bunch (EFB) , and palm frond, which until now has not been utilized optimally. <br /> <br /> <br /> The research was conducted to select the most suitable palm oil biomass as feedstock for DME production, determine the DME production potential from palm oil biomass, and provide technical and economic data on DME production from palm oil biomass. Selection of palm oil biomass as feedstock for DME production was done by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with its respondents consist of academics and practitioners in the field of bioenergy. The study on technical aspects and economics of DME production from palm biomass was done with literature study which then processed with software assistance. The direct synthesis of DME was used in this study, instead of through methanol as an intermediate product. <br /> <br /> <br /> AHP results indicate that empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the most suitable palm oil biomass for the DME production process. In the selection, the most important critera is the nature of its availability. With the calculated yield of 4.11 tons of EFB / ton DME and applied 100 km of biomass collection radius centered in Kampar Regency, the DME production potential is 1090 tonnes per day. <br /> <br /> <br /> Assuming 20 years plant operation and selling price of DME 12.083 IDR / kgLPG-equivalent, this business is feasible with IRR of 10.08%. The total cost of capital is estimated at 990.37 USD2018 comprising of 29% for gasification, 22% for utilities, 13% for syngas upgrading, 13% for DME synthesis, 4% for purification, and the rest for indirect costs. Manufacturing costs are estimated at 7,142 IDR / kg-LPG-equivalent comprising of 39% for capital cost, 28% for EFB cost, 26% for fixed manufacturing costs, and the rest for catalyst, waste treatment, and tax. The biggest risk of this business is the rise of dollar exchange rate exceeding 15,905 IDR/USD and LPG price drop to below 11,371 IDR/kg. <br />