1 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 Page 2 Content
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Biomass upgrading and conversion technologies · Biomass upgrading and conversion technologies Robert Dowdall ME MIEI University College Dublin 8th June 2015 –Arbor Final Conference,
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1
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
Page 2
Content
2
Page 3
Type of Biomass
Type of Biomass
3
High moisture content 50% +
Low energy density
Bulky
Highly variable
Geographically Distributed
Prone to decomposition
Not suitable for direct use in most cases
Page 5
Biomass Issues
Page 6
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
4
Page 7
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
Page 8
Gasification
5
Page 9
Gasification
Family 1 – Fixed bed
Updraft Downdraft Crosscurrent
Tar production decreasing
Page 10
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
6
Temperatures 200 – 300 °C
Oxygen Free
Woody Materials
% Moisture impacts economics
Page 11
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
Page 12
Torrefaction
TRL: 6 - 7
7
Page 13
Reactor Comparison
Source: IEA (Modified)
Page 14
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
8
Page 15
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