BioMatNet Item: JOULE JOR3-CT96-0105 - Solid biomass gasification for fuel cells

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JOULE JOR3-CT96-0105
Solid biomass gasification for fuel cells

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Electricity : JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT96-0105
	EC Contribution	842,500 ECU
	Start Date	20/08/1996
	Duration	30 Months

Solid biomass gasification for fuel cells

Objectives

The objective of the project is to design an electricity generating plant based on woody biomass as a fuel, using a gasifier, a gas upgrading and purification system and a fuel cell. This complete conversion line will be investigated in a study and some key components of the gas treatment system will be experimentally verified. Preussag Noell AG and the Austrian Electricity Board will provide the specifications for biomass and gasification. The experimental set-ups for gas purification will be realised by the Technical University of Graz, the University of Duisburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

The collective experiences will be used to design an optimised power plant.

Technical Approach

Gas mixtures as generated by gasification of wood will be used for different purification processes in order to achieve a gas quality suitable for fuel cells. The following routes will be investigated: gas purification by the sponge iron process (TU Graz), a combined process with tar removal by thermal or catalytic processes as a first step; secondly, CO conversion to C0₂by the shift reaction and thirdly the fine purification. This last step may be realised by a palladium membrane reactor or CO₂ scrubbing and methanisation of CO. Among others, new membrane-type designs of the latter reactors will be investigated (University of Duisburg and Fraunhofer ISE). The design of the complete process depends on the quality of gas generated by the gasifier and on the requirements on fuel quality of the various types of fuel cells. The gas upgrading system will be designed to optimise the hydrogen content of the fuel. The technical feasibility and the efficiency of the process will be the most critical issues.

Expected Results

A feasibility study will be carried out in order to judge the suitability of different types of fuel cells, purification systems and gasification processes. The experiments on gas purification will be carried out with respect to:

proper operation conditions of a sponge iron reactor, its sensitivity towards gas composition, lifetime of the sponge iron bed and the efficiency of a charge/discharge cycle as well as the outlet gas purity
realisation of a second process for tar and CO removal with optimised efficiency
design of a demonstration plant for generation of electricity from gasified biomass as a basis for a planned subsequent demonstration project

After two and a half years, the results of the project will show if fuel cells are a suitable technique to generate electricity from gasified biomass.

Contacts

Coordinator

Angelika HEINZEL / Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderungd Angewandten Forschung e.V. / GERMANY

Participant