ENK5-2002-80648 Standardisation of a Guideline for the Measurement of Tars in Biomass Producer Gases - Tar Measurement Standard

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EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Thermochemical Conversion

Proposal No:	ENK5-2002-80648
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

Gasification processes, converting the solid biomass feedstock to a gaseous fuel (or syngas), significantly broaden the biomass utilisation spectrum. The syngas can be used for, for example, co-firing in coal-fired power plants, electricity generation in stand-alone conversion devices (gas engines, gas turbines, fuel cells), and production of gaseous/liquid fuels or chemicals.

These applications set different specifications for (the contaminant levels in) the syngas. Organic contaminants or 'tars' are considered as the major problem-causing contaminants, which causes a large obstacle for the market introduction of biomass-gasification based systems. Measurement methods, as well as definitions for tars, are numerous and nonconsistent.

As a result, the comparison of data and the definition of clear maximum allowable concentrations for tars in the syngas still cause problems.

On the basis of a prior joint attempt by IEA, US-DoE and EU parties to arrive at a common tar measurement method (in the framework of a previous EU project 'Tar Guideline'), this problem was tackled and a new measurement method (Guideline) was developed. This method now forms the basis for a standardisation procedure at European level.

Activities

The work in this project is subdivided into two activities:

• standardisation of the existing guideline into a standard for measurement of tars in biomass producer gases
• dissemination of the results.

In the first activity, standardisation is performed in a task force (BT/TF/143) 'Measurement of organic contaminants (tars) in biomass producer gases' installed directly under the European Committee for Standardisation (Comité Européen de Normalisation, CEN).

The task force is open to representatives of each country affiliated to CEN, and each representative/country has the right to vote. The task force follows the work on standardisation, basically consisting of meetings to discuss draft versions and scientific content of the standard.

The participants of the 'Tar Measurement Standard' project act in a double role as national representatives in the task force and also as technical experts performing R&D activities, thus bringing in their expertise on tar measurement and the use of the guideline to define the specifications the standard has to fulfil. In addition, the technical experts take action to ensure collection of data that are still missing. In particular, data on accuracy and reproducibility of the draft standard are essential in the process of standardisation. Other technical experts from the field have been invited to join the standardisation work.

In the second activity, the results from this project will be disseminated to ensure widespread acquaintance with the standard. Dissemination is aimed at the companies, institutes and universities working in the field of biomass gasification. Dissemination will be performed by means of an Internet site, by using Internet mailing lists/discussion groups and by means of papers and presentations at conferences.

Results

The main result of this project will be a CEN Standard for a method of the sampling, postsampling and analysis of tar and particles in biomass producer gases. The project officially started in December 2002. A Round Robin Test, the results of which will be globally evaluated in the second half of 2003, has been performed to evaluate data on the accuracy of the method.

The initial version of the draft standard has been discussed in the first official CEN/BT/TF 143 meeting in June 2003. The members of the task force are also currently evaluating which is the best standardisation procedure for the guideline method in terms of specifications, level of performance required and possibilities for future adaptation to an international ISO standard.

The full version of the guideline can be downloaded from the website.

Impact and exploitation

A standard allows manufacturers of gasifiers, gas cleaning systems and engine or turbine/generator sets to convince potential end-users on the technical performance of the sub-systems, and to define tolerances from which guarantees on per formance, system life time etc. can be derived.

Guarantees decrease the non-technical risks of the implementation of biomass gasification-based systems. In addition, the standard allows companies, institutions and universities that develop gasification technology to have a common method to measure the tar concentrations.