BioMatNet Item: JOULE JOR3-CT95-0025 - Biofuel oil for power plants and boilers

[BioMatNet Database - European Commission]

JOULE JOR3-CT95-0025
Biofuel oil for power plants and boilers

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Electricity : JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Thermochemical Conversion

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT95-0025
	EC Contribution	1,563,000 ECU
	Start Date	15/12/95
	Duration	36 Months

Biofuel oil for power plants and boilers

Objectives

The present proposal is aimed at:

generating performance, emission and cost data for flash pyrolysis oil (biofuel oil) utilisation schemes focusing on the market quality of the oil as a fuel for two applications: stationary medium-speed diesel engine power plant and medium scale oil boilers
developing downstream units of oil production, improving the oil quality and establishing fundamental understanding of biomass pyrolysis
establishing a network of potential producers and users

The cooperation includes potential pyrolysis oil producers and users, biomass producers, power and energy companies, universities and research institutions.

Technical Approach

Flash pyrolysis oil (biofuel oil) is the lowest cost biomass-derived liquid fuel. Only relatively recently has enough oil been available for utilisation tests. The complete utilisation chain, where biomass-derived biofuel oil is employed as diesel power plant fuel, will be studied. The engines in question are pilot-injected medium- and high-speed engines available approximately in the size range of 50-5000 kW_e. Another related topic is the use of biofuel oil as heating oil for small boilers in the size range of 50-500kW_th. Use of pyrolysis oil in existing or slightly modified heating boilers on this scale could be the first economic application of biofuel oil in countries of high fuel oil taxation.

Expected Results

One of the problems with the introduction of biomass into energy infrastructure is the high cost of transporting and storing biomass. In addition, there are extra investment costs in solid biomass utilisation systems compared with systems using liquid fuels. Flash pyrolysis is estimated to be the lowest cost route to liquid biofuel. Introducing a low cost biofuel oil would lead to a considerable expansion of markets for biofuels. Biomass flash pyrolysis oil production and utilisation is still at an early stage of development and, to achieve the critical mass needed to increase knowledge in the field, experts from different countries and different organisations have to be assembled. It is unlikely that any one company or country is able to develop new promising yet poorly developed processes for commercial biofuel operation. Through the network character of the project it will be possible to utilise and upgrade information for wider use. Within this consortium the results may be used directly in the pilot plant operations. Biofuel oil quality requirements will be common for all European pyrolysis process operators. Potential pyrolysis oil producers and users, biomass producers, and power and energy companies participating may employ results in their future operations.

Contacts

Coordinator

Kai SIPILA / VTT Energy New Energy Technologies / FINLAND

Participant