BioMatNet Item: ERK6-1999-20002 - Development of a standard method (protocol) for the measurement of organic contaminants "tars" in biomass producer gases

[BioMatNet Database - FP5 Quality of Life Programme]

ERK6-1999-20002
Development of a standard method (protocol) for the measurement of organic contaminants "tars" in biomass producer gases

Contacts
Website: www.tarweb.net
Further Information

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

Contract No:	ERK6-1999-20002
Project Type:	CON (Coordination of research actions)
Start Date:	01-08-2002
Duration:	28 months
Total Cost:	325,388 EUR
EC Contribution:	257,428 EUR
Scientific Officer:	Garbiñe Guiu Etxeberria

Abstract

Measurement methods and definitions for organic contaminants in biomass gasification based CHP (combined heat and power) systems are numerous and non-uniform. As result, comparison of data and definition of clear maximum allowable concentrations for these contaminants is problematic. This forms an obstacle for market introduction of the CHP systems as the contaminants can cause damage or an unacceptable level of maintenance. The objective of the project is to remove this obstacle by developing a standard measurement method (Protocol) which is accepted and used by parties working on biomass gasification and has entered the standardisation procedure at CEN.

This work continues an initiative started by IEA, EU and US-DoE to develop such a Protocol and will be based on the two draft Protocols that resulted from this initiative. The new Protocol will be optimised and tested thought R&D activities co-ordinated from the project. As acceptance and use by others is considered to be very important, dissemination and internalisation forms an essential part of this project. It will be accomplished by the use of Internet, Conference contributions, involvement of Reviewer and a Workshop.

In biomass gasification based CHP (combined heat and power) systems, contaminants can, if not removed, damage the engine or turbine or incure an unacceptable level of maintenance. For most contaminants, well-developed measurement techniques exist which allow to determine the gas clening performance and to assess the clean gas quality. For organic contaminants this is not the case and different sampling and analysis methods are currently being used. Besides, definitions of organic contaminants differ in these methods. The diversity of methods and definition forms an obstacle for the introduction of CHP based systems due to problems with comparison of data with defining clear maximum allowable concentrations. The objective of the project is to remove this obstacle by developing a standard method (Protocol) for measurement of organic contaminants from biomass producer gas which:

is accepted and used by parties working on biomass gasification an;
has entered the standardisation procedure at CEN.

As acceptance and use by others is considered to be very important, dissemination and internalisation of the Protocol forms an essential part of this project.

Consortium

The project team was co-ordinated by the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and consisted of 15 European and 2 North-American parties, which were involved because the internalisation of the Guideline should not be limited to Europe.

Contacts

Coordinator

Jacob H A KIEL / Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands NETHERLANDS

Participant