biomass upgrading and conversion technologies · biomass upgrading and conversion technologies...
TRANSCRIPT
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Biomass upgrading and conversion technologies
Robert Dowdall ME MIEI
University College Dublin
8th June 2015 – Arbor Final Conference, Brussels
Principal investigator Prof. Ravindranathan Thampi, UCD Ireland
Introduction
Biomass Characteristics
Conversion routes
Brief Technology Overview
Summary
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Content
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Type of Biomass
Type of Biomass
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High moisture content 50% +
Low energy density
Bulky
Highly variable
Geographically Distributed
Prone to decomposition
Not suitable for direct use in most cases
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Biomass Issues
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Conversion Processes
Feedstock
Oil cropsRape, Sunflower
Vegetable oils etc.
Waste oil, Animal fats.
Starch & Sugar
Crops
Lignocellulosic
BiomassForestry, Grasses,
Energy crops etc.
Biodegradable
MSWWet food & farm
residues, Sewage
sludge, Manure etc.
Lignocellulosic residues
Conversion routes
Combustion
Trans-estrification or
Hydrogenation
Hydrolysis & Fermentation
Anaerobic Digestion
Pyrolysis
Torrefaction
Hydrothermal Carbonisation
Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Gasification & FT
Products
Solid
Liquid
Gaseous
Torrefied Fuel
Bio-coal
Char/Bio-char
Bio-Oil
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Syngas/Bio-methane/
Producer Gas
Heat & Power
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Conversion Processes
Feedstock Conversion routes Products
Oil cropsRape, Sunflower
Vegetable oils etc.
Waste oil, Animal fats.
Starch & Sugar
Crops
Lignocellulosic
BiomassForestry, Grasses,
Energy crops etc.
Biodegradable
MSWWet food & farm
residues, Sewage
sludge, Manure etc.
Combustion
Trans-estrification or
Hydrogenation
Hydrolysis & Fermentation
Anaerobic Digestion
Pyrolysis
Torrefaction
Hydrothermal Carbonisation
Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Gasification & FT
Heat & Power
Lignocellulosic residues
Solid
Liquid
Gaseous
Torrefied Fuel
Bio-coal
Char/Bio-char
Bio-Oil
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Syngas/Bio-methane
Temperatures 700 – 1200 °C
Partial Oxidation – O2, Air, Steam, CO2
Products – H2, CO, CH4, CO2
Sensitive to % moisture & Size distribution
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Gasification
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Gasification
Family 1 – Fixed bed
Updraft Downdraft Crosscurrent
Tar production decreasing
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Gasification
Family 2 – Fluidized bed Advantages
• Excellent gas/Solid Mixing
• Uniform Heating
• Capacity 2-10 higher than FB
• Less ash sintering issues at 700-900°C
• Tolerant of feedstock quality
Disadvantages
• Higher particulate levels
• Tar between UD & DD but can be
reduced with Catalyst
Ash
TRL: 6-7
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Temperatures 200 – 300 °C
Oxygen Free
Woody Materials
% Moisture impacts economics
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Torrefaction
Over 100 Patents investigated
More than 50% filed in the last 10 years
80% are directly heated, 3% Microwave, 17% indirectly
Screw & Drum concepts most advanced
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Torrefaction
TRL: 6 - 7
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Reactor Comparison
Source: IEA (Modified)
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Pyrolysis
• Many different reactor concepts (Direct, Indirect) under
development
• Fast/flash pyrolysis more favourable longterm for bio-oil
production due to high heating rates & short residence times
• Very sensitive to material size distribution
• Tyre pyrolysis more developed due to homogeneous
feedstock TRL: 7-9
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Product Yields
Temperature °C Residence time % Solid % Liquid % Gas
Torrefaction 200 – 290 Solids RT ~ 10 -60 min
70-80% Solid
Up to 5%
20-30%
Pyrolysis (Slow) ~ 400 Long vapour RT ~ Hours -Days
35% Char
30% 35%
Pyrolysis (Medium) ~ 500 Hot vapour RT ~ 10-30 s
25% Char
50% (2 phases)
25%
Pyrolysis (Fast) ~ 500 Short vapourResidence time ~ 1 s
12% Char
75% 13%
Gasification ~ 750 - 900 10% Char
5% 85%
Source: Bridgwater 2012
(modified)
All technologies highly sensitive to quality and characteristics of
the input material
Material availability will influence scale up
Need uniform feedstock locally
TRL’s not yet commercial for biomass
Tar formation still a major issue
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Technology Conclusions
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For more information please contact:
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Questions?
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TR Levels