Development of Jet Biofuels for a

Sustainable China Aviation Industry

Pengcheng Fu, PhD

Beijing University of Chemical Technology

December 10,2013

1.Back ground Information

2.Chinese Jet Biofuels

4.Lab Experiments

5.Future Works

3.Cracking and Hydrogentation

Contents

Cost-effective and sustainable

biomass supply chains

Source: ATAG Biofuels Beginners Guide

Source: EU Commission Study 2006

CO2 emission by sector CO2 production by sector

Road

52.8%

Other

39.4%

Agriculture, 4.1%

Military, 0.6%

Rail, 0.3% Air, 1.5%

Ships, 1.3%

SIMPLIFIED VIEW OF AVIATION EMISSIONS

• Aviation needs to flourish with reduced

environmental impact

• Aviation is necessary for development

Facts:

• 8% Global GDP

• 2% man made CO2 emissions

• Over 40 years the focus on innovation

has lead to

– 70% reduced aviation fuel consumption

and related CO2 emissions

Targets:

• Carbon Neutral growth by 2020

• 50% CO2 reductions by 2050 compared

to 2005

Sustainable Aviation Growth Targets

2005 2050 2020

100 Carbon Neutral Growth 2020

2030 2040

Minus

50% CO2

by 2050

CO2

2010

1. Technologies, Operations, ATM

2. Additional technology and 3. biofuels

4. Economic measures

CO2 Growth if we do nothing

strategic approaches to reduce emissions

Tech improvement

Green Flight Tests

Demonstrated technical feasibility

Identified sustainable biofuel sources

Promoted development of viable commercial markets

Demonstrated diverse engine/airframe combinations

20%

Coconut &

Babassu

Feb 2008

50%

Jatropha

Dec 2008

50%

Algae &

Jatropha

Jan 2009

50%

Camelina,

Jatropha & Algae

Jan 2009

China Aviation Biofuels Initiative US Trade and Development Agency - Chinese National Energy Administration

Development of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Industry

Industry Evaluation

Study PetroChina & Boeing leading

respective teams

Flight Demonstration

Boeing, UOP, Air China, PetroChina

Joint Research and

Development Boeing & Chinese Academy of Sciences,

Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and

Bioprocess Technology

Supply-chain R&D focused on algae

Feedstock and Processing tech

Feedstock Processing Demand/

Distribution

Sustainability Impacts

Economic Analysis

Roadmap,

Policy

Suggestions

Validate and

Demonstrate

Regional Supply

Establish China Sustainable Aviation Biofuel Industry

Accelerate,

Expand Scale

• Design of harvesting, processing and refinery of

algae biodiesel to meet the requirements of hydrogen

treatment for aviation biofuels production

• Establishing analysis protocols of algae biodiesel for

quality and composition, and comparison with Jatropha

• Suggestions for the strategy, policy, regulations and

incentives for Chinese aviation biofuels

• Assistance in preparation of Algae Aviation Biofuels

Roadmap

Aims and Techno-economic Criteria

Biomass

Bio - Oils Syngas

Ethanol /

C2+ Alcohols

2nd Gen.

Biofuels HRJ SynJet FAME SynJet Methanol FT SynJet Hydrogen

Shift Reaction

Bio - Oil Extraction Hydrolysis /

Fermentation Gasification

Ligno-cellulosic

Bio-Conversion

Pyrolysis /

Liquifaction

Esterification Hydrotreatment Fischer Tropsch

Process

Methanol

Synthesis

Renewable Outputs from Biomass

FRJ

PRJ CRJ

HRJ Hydrotreated Renewable Jet

FT Fischer Tropsch Process

FRJ Fermentation Renewable Jet

PRJ Pyrolysis Renewable Jet

CRJ Catalytic Renewable Jet

Algae

Jatropha

Salicornia Camelina

Wood waste

Yeast

Potential sustainable feedstocks

Jet Fuels: from Fossil to Renewable

Bio feedstock

Fossil feedstock

Hydrocracking to produce Jet Biofuels

加氢法制备航空生物燃料反应机理

Cracking and hydrogentation are complementary

as shown below

Hydrocracking Reactions

Algal seed cultures

Airlift Column Photobioreactors

Algae Harvesting

Lab Hydrogenation of Algal oil

• equipment：Hydrogenation rig

• catalyst：Pt/SAPO-11/Al2O3、Pt/ZSM-22/Al2O3、Pt/ZSM-23/Al2O3

• Reaction condition:

Reaction

T (℃)

Desulfuriz

ation T ℃

Speed

h-1

H2/biofu

el ratio

H2 flow

rate

(mL/min)

340 300 2 600 40

Control panel：

Lab equipment

Hydrogenation

H2

Algal Oil Jet

Biofuel

Property of Jet Biofuel from Algae

Property measurements

Density (g/mL) 0.8827g

Viscosity (mpa*s) 41.8

Smoke Point

(mm, min) 25

(mm, min and < 3 vol%

naphthalenes)

18

Sulfur (wt%, max) 90ppm

Flash Point (°F / °C, min) 100 / 38

Freeze Point (°F / °C, max) -47 / -43.8

Net Heat of Combustion (MJ/kg) 42.8

Nitrogen Content 280ppm

Syn Gas

(CO, H2) Coal

Natural

Gas

Biomass FT Process Gasify

Bio-Crude

Oil Extraction

Plant/Algae

Oils

Hydroprocessed Renewable

Jet (HRJ) from Bio-Oils

Syn-Crude

Hydroprocessing

Refinery Processes

Jet Fuel

Crude Oil

Petroleum

CURRENT ALTERNATIVE

JET FUEL PROCESSING

Fischer-Tropsch (FT)

Supply validation, cost reduction, production scale-up, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing sustainability

Establishment of criteria for safety, performance and environmentally friendly process

Provision of clear policy-making framework and flexible incentives

Carbon-neutral growth for a carbon-free future

Roadmap, Policy and Incentives

e.mail: fupc@mail.buct.edu.cn