fuel pellets from torrefied biomass the sector project · pdf fileassessment of available...

Fuel Pellets from Torrefied Biomass – The SECTOR Project

Wolfgang Stelte, Danish Technological Institute

24.May 2013

Outline

Danish Technological Institute – DTI

Who we are and what we do

Center for Biomass and Biorefinery

Our Projects

Biomass for Energy production in Denmark and Europe

Market and Outlook

Biomass Logistics

Development of new types of Biofuels

Torrefaction of Biomass – The SECTOR project

Danish Technological Institute

Status

An independent, not-for-profit institution

Approved as a technological service institute by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Objectives

Address the needs of the industrial sector and society as a whole through the development and dissemination of technological innovation.

Poland

Hirtshals

Aarhus

Kolding Odense

Taastrup

Gothenburg

Warsaw

Roskilde

Sweden

Denmark

Norway

Poland

USA

Center for Biomass & Biorefiney

Part of the Division for Energy and Climate

Around 30 people in 4 locations in Denmark

Grenå – Algae Center Denmark

Aarhus – Biomass Laboratory and Offices

Sdr. Stenderup – Pilot plant and production facilities

Taastrup – Offices


- Biomass Resources

- Characterization

- Pre-treatment

- Conversion

- Bio-Refinery

- Storage and Logistics

Fuels: Liquid, Solid, Gas Materials Food, Feed & Fertilizer High Value Products


Important Projects / Focus areas

- Large scale Utilization of Bio pellets for energy Applications

- Upgrading Fuel Properties of Solid Biomass and Waste by Torrefaction

- Biomass pelletization – Solid biofuels from various types of biomass

- Bio refinery: Food, feed, fuel, fertilizer and high value products from Biomass

- Biowaste utilization

- Quality control and characterization of biofuels

- Combustion systems for Biofuels

- Energy Production from Marine Biomass

- Value Chain Utilization of Aquatic Biomass

Outline




Our Projects


Market and Outlook

Biomass Logistics




The use of Biomass for Energy production is mainly driven by political goals

EU targets till 2020: 20 % renewables of the total primary energy consumption, 10 % biofuels in transport sector

Wind and solar power depend on climate, daylight and are unstable resources Biomass can be used according to energy demand

Existing infrastructure: Use biomass in existing coal power plants

Co-firing with coal

Switch totally to Biomass

Power plants in Denmark

Source: Dong Energy

Source: Ingeniøren

Bioenergy – DK and EU-27

Share of Bioenergy on total Energy production in Europe is expected to double until 2035 Amount of Biomass is increasing

EU-27 Denmark

Source: ENS Source: World Energy Outlook, 2012

Bioenergy – Global perspective

Share of bioenergy on global energy production today

Renewables will replace fossil fuels in the future

Strong increases of bio-energy share is expected

International Energy Agency – IEA & Bauen et al.

Many different routes to convert biomass into energy

and materials

Basu P.

If we want to replace fossil resources (oil, gas, coal) with biomass, large quantities of biomass are required

Biomass for energy

Biomass yields are highest in warm climate zones (close to equator)

Biomass growth best far away from where energy is needed

Local resources are often limited Import

Beringer, T. et al.

Biomass for energy

P. Lamers et al. / Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16 (2012) 3176-3199

Industrial pellets Residential pellets European market Oversea (US, Canada) Data from 2010

Streams in kilo tons

Global trade of Biomass: Pellets

Wood pellet import into the EU in tons 2011 Data from Eurostat

Import of pellets into the EU

Market for Solid Biofuels is increasing

Global pellet production and estimated future development

Pöyry, Management Consulting, 2011 (Prediction 2015 & 2020)

Large amounts of biomass are transported over long distance

Biomass is a porous bulk material

Most volume of dry biomass is air

Load volumes of carriers (trucks, ships) are reached before mass limit

is reached

Pre-treatment to increase density of biomass

Pelletization

Torreraction

Why biomass pre-treatment?

Major barriers for bioenergy utilization is its low density

Why biomass pre-treatment?

Pellets

Main advantages of pelletization

Increase of density (straw: 40 kg/m3 750 kg/m3)

Decrease of transportation, storage, handling costs

Standardized size automated feeding into boiler systems

More homogeneous fuel uniform combustion in boilers

Pelletizing Process

Pelletization

Pellet production

Drying in field and forest / in case of wood additional drying is necessary Size reduction: chopper, hammer mill (< 5 mm particle size) Drying or addition of steam. Moisture content should be ca. between 5-20 % Pellet mill (80-100 °C / 2000-4000 bar pressure) Cooling and screening of pellets with air

Biomass

Pellets

Pelletization

Vattenfall – Straw pellet plant in Køge, Denmark 4 pellet mills a 4 tons/h 16 tons /h

Utilization in own heat and power plants

Pellet mill Matrix with press channels

Pelletization

Two types of mills: Ring die Flat die type

Layer by layer assembly of a pellet Every time roller passes a new amount of biomass is squeezed into the press channel High friction results in high pressure and temperature ca. 2000-4000 bar pressure 80-100 °C

Pelletization

Different types of biomass need to be handled and utilized differently It would be good to have a process that transforms all kinds of biomass into one homogeneous product Torrefaction

Torrefaction

Most existing power plants today are coal fired

High pressure on energy providers to phase out fossil fuels

Existing power plants are not compatible with biomass

Its expensive and takes time to rebuilt power plants

Demand for Biomass with coal like properties Torrefaction

Situation in power industry today

Torrefaction is thermal treatment of biomass in an oxygen free

environment

Process is a bit similar to charcoal production but much more

controlled environment

Resulting in biomass with favorable combustion properties

better mechanical properties and higher energy density

Torrefaction

Torrefaction

Torrefied biomass, especially after it has been pelletized has similar properties as coal Ideal bio based fuel to replace coal in existing power plants

Data from Kleinschmidt, CP

Torrefaction

Outline




Our Projects


Market and Outlook

Biomass Logistics



The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 under grant

agreement n° 282826

SECTOR - Production of Solid Sustainable

Energy Carriers from Biomass by Means of

Torrefaction

A European R&D Project funded within the Seventh

Framework Programme by the European Commission

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project brief

Collaborative project: SECTOR

Project start: 01.01.2012

Duration: 42 months

Total budget: 10 Mio. Euro

Participants: 21 from 9 EU-countries

Coordinator: DBFZ

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a pan European consortium

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Kick-off meeting at ECN

(14-15 February 2012)

place, date



SECTOR objectives

Support the market introduction of torrefaction-based bioenergy carriers as a commodity renewable solid fuel

Further development of torrefaction-based technologies (up to pilot-plant scale and beyond)

Development of specific production recipes, validated through extensive lab-to-industrial-scale logistics and end-use performance testing

Development and standardisation of dedicated analysis and testing methods for assessment of transport, storage, handling logistics and end-use performance

Assessment of the role of torrefaction-based solid bioenergy carriers in the bioenergy value chains and their contribution to the development of the bioenergy market in Europe

Full sustainability assessment of the major torrefaction-based biomass-to-end-use value chains

Dissemination of project results to industry and into international forums (e.g. EIBI, EERA, CEN/ISO, IEA and sustainability round tables)

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place, date



SECTOR in the roadmap of torrefaction

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Proof-of-concept

• Experimentally based process

designs

• Technology identification

• Knowledge base

• Experimental infrastructures

torrefaction

• Economic evaluations full-scale

(study about 30%)

• Set-up pilot phase of

development

Prototype development

(pilot-scale evaluation)

• Pilot plants / prototype technology

• Demo technical feasibility

• Process & product characterisation

(design)


(preliminary ca. 20%)

• Business plan(s) (technical demo,

semi-commercial)

Technical demonstration

• Demonstration plants (semi-

commercial)

• Technical optimisation (refined

design)

• Product applications (logistics &

end-use)


(definite ca. <10%)

• Business plan(s) (commercial

operation)

Commercial role out

• Commercial plants (full-

operation)

• Quality control and assurance

(product)

• Best practice for sustainability

• Product standardisation

• Purchase agreements (from

energy & chemical sector)

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Woody

biomass

Time

Capacity 5-10 kg/h 30-200 kg/h 60-200 kton/a 20-50 kton/a

Proof-of-

principle

Prototype

(pilot-scale)

Commercial

role out

Technical

demonstration

Proof-of-

concept

Proof-of-

principle Proof-of-concept

Prototype

(pilot-scale)

Commercial

role out

2002

Proof-of-

principle

Technical

demonstration

2016 2018

Non-woody

biomass residues

place, date



Handling and logistics of torrefied material

Advantages

• Increased feedstock basis as option to

reduce transport distances

• High energy density of torrefied

products effective transport

• Reduced water retention force

(hydrophobicity)

• Slower biodegradation potential

• Better grindability due to embrittlement

• Decreased costs for handling, storage

and transport

• Biomass torrefaction can create new

markets and trade flows as a commodity

fuel ( product standards are needed).

Disadvantages / Challenges

• Dust and dirtiness at handling and

transport

• Safety issues must be assessed

• Self ignition and spontaneous combustion

occurs at 150-170°C

• Explosion hazards increase compared to

conventional biomass but probably not

in comparison with coal

• Compacting (pellets / briquettes) is

more difficult

• Additional fuel properties (e.g. degree

of torrefaction, grindability, hydrophobic

nature, resistance against

biodegradation) and sustainability

criteria must be defined ISO work

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sources: ECN, ofi, Kleinschmidt, Wild & Partner, Vattenfall

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project structure

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WP1 Project Management (DBFZ)

place, date

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WP Leaders

Participating Partners

Ad

vis

ory

Bo

ard

Coordinator

Task Leaders

EC

Strategic Management

Board

Gen

eral Assem

bly

Coordination and administration of the project

Communication with European Commission

Reporting

Organisation of Project Meetings

Set-up and maintenance of project website www.sector-project.eu



WP2 Selection of relevant biomass feedstock (VTT)

Assessment of available biomass potential for production of

torrefied pellets from both forest and agricultural feedstock and of

the market demand

Selection of raw materials for the experimental work

place, date

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Poplar chips Eucalyptus chips

Prunings from olive trees

Cereal straw



WP3 Torrefaction (ECN)

place, date

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Production with available demo plant Continuous operation

Production of 100-200 tons Specific feedstock

Production with available pilot scale facilities Typical test runs 50-100 hours

Typical production per test few tons 3-6 different feedstocks

Moving bed (ECN) pilot

Rotary drum (Umeå University)

pilot

Rotary drum (CENER)

pilot

Torbed (Topell) demo

Different technologies



WP4 Densification (DTI)

Characterisation and optimisation of the densification properties of

different torrefied biomass materials according to end users

requirement based on tests in lab, bench and industrial scale

densification units (pellets and briquettes)

place, date

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Lab-scale charact. & screen. of pelletisation parameters

(DTI)

Industrial scale pelletisation

(ECN, CENER, UMEÅ, Topell)

Bench scale briquetting

(DTI, C.F. Nielsen )

Torrefied biomass (WP3)



WP5 Demonstration Tests (Topell)

Production of torrefied materials and pellets at demo scale in

Topells 60 kt/a plant in Duiven

Products to be used for large scale test in WP6+7

place, date

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WP6 Logistics (ECN)

Small-scale tests to characterise logistics performance

Outdoor storage and handling tests

Results will be used to adjust production processes

place, date

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Large scale testing of storage and handling properties at existing industrial

coal based power plants

Small scale testing of specific properties of both raw torrefied biomass as well as

pelletized or briquetted torrefied biomass

Transport, storage and handling

Stefan Dusan – 4th annual biomass and bioenergy forum (Vienna, Sep. 2011)



WP7 End-use (University of Stuttgart)

Evaluation of the end-use applications of

torrefied biomass in different application

areas:

• Medium-to-large scale firing and co-firing

in pulverized-fuel boilers

• Medium-to-large scale gasification and co-

gasification in entrained-flow gasifiers,

and

• Small scale combustion in commercial

pellet boilers.

• Production of bio-chemicals or bio-

materials

place, date

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WP8 Fuel specification & lab analysis (OFI)

Verification, development and

application of analysis methods to

access fuel properties

Development of a Material Safety

Data Sheet (MSDS)

Preparation of CEN and ISO product

and quality assurance standards

place, date

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WP 9 Value chains and sustainability (DBFZ)

Within SECTOR three different assessment areas are

covered:

• Socio-economic assessment

• Environmental assessment

place, date

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Inventory indicators

Inventory data

Characterisation

- unclear cause-effect

- aggregation

- scoring/weighting

- use of PRPs

Characterisation

- cause-effect link

- (aggregation)

- modeling impact

pathway

Midpoint category indicatorSubcategory indicator

Impact category Endpoint category

Type 1 Type 2

Cost-efficiency

ENVIRONMENT

SOCIETYECONOMY

Technical-efficiency /-compatibility

Security of supply

Environmental & climate protection

Creation of value

Impact pathways of the UNEP methodology



WP10 Cooperation and Dissemination of project results

(DBFZ)

Dissemination of project results through

• Workshops

• Website

• International Networks and Platforms to standardisation

committees

place, date

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Market integration

Generally initiate developments in the

market outside of SECTOR

Show advantages of torrefied fuels and

wake interest

Set it on the political agenda for the

needed framework Get feedback from the market about aspects yet to be covered or changed within the

project

Prepare market launch by staying in

touch with stakeholders

Thank you for your attention!

For further information - Please contact us

fuel pellets from torrefied biomass the sector project · pdf fileassessment of available...

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