JOULE JOR3-CT95-0053 Catalytic upgrading of gas from biofuels and implementation of electricity production

Contacts




To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT95-0053
	EC Contribution	1,423,170 ECU
	Start Date	11/12/1995
	Duration	36 Months

Catalytic upgrading of gas from biofuels and implementation of electricity production

Objectives

The project has two main objectives. The first is to develop catalysts and catalytic processes suitable for gas cleaning in gasification of biofuels in electricity and heat producing units. The second is to implement a complete biofuelled 100 kW_th power generating system. Issues that will be addressed by basic research include factors influencing activity of different catalysts for elimination of tar, search for new catalysts and optimal use of known and new catalysts.

Technical Approach

From the European perspective it is desirable to implement biofuelled systems for production of heat and electricity in the size range 100-5000 kW_e. For this intermediate size range there is a lack of technology for reliable and efficient systems. Extensive development activities for larger scale electricity production have been in progress for some years. using IGCC systems. For systems smaller than 5 MW_e, at least with present gas turbine technology, engines seem to be as efficient and more economic than IGCC. Efficient cleaning of fuel gas produced from biomass will be a key issue in development of both these technologies. The technology development for gas cleaning, with emphasis on intermediate size systems, will be approached by a combination of basic and applied research and process development. Basic research at laboratory scale will be devoted to definition of optimal conditions for known catalysts based on deep understanding of their catalytic function, to application of existing catalysts developed for other purposes, and to development of new catalysts. Different pilot plants and bench-scale units that have separate reactors for catalytic upgrading of the gas will be used in process development tests. One of these systems, which will be constructed within the project, will be a complete system including an engine and a generator.

Expected Results

Outputs of this project will be:

• new and/or improved catalysts for elimination of tar in biomass gasification processes
• improved tools for reactor design, based on reactor model development and using created reaction rate models for different catalysts
• an evaluation of catalysts for different process solutions
• a broadened basis for further catalyst development, due to new insights into rate determining factors and poisoning effects in catalytic tar elimination:
• design, construction and testing of a 100 kW_e unit

Improved technology for catalytic treatment, which circumvents dust and coke formation problems and poisoning effects as well as deficient mechanical properties of catalysts will be beneficial to small and intermediate scale gasifier systems. Successful development will facilitate compact designs of systems for clean gas generation. European process developing companies and catalyst manufacturers will benefit from successful research results.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Bengt-Goren ESPENAS / TPS Termska Processer AB SWEDEN

Participant

• Prof Krister SJOESTROM / Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan Dept of Chemical Engineering / SWEDEN
• Pekka SIMELL / Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT Energy Gasification Research Group / FINLAND
• Prof Jose CORELLA / University Complutense of Madrid Faculty of Chemistry / SPAIN