Abstract

Hydrogen is a promising clean fuel; used in fuel cells it can yield high-electrical efficiencies, even at partial load, with zero pollutant emissions. The project aims at the development of supercritical water gasification, a novel process for cost-effective (< 12E/GJH₂) and energy efficient (> 60 %) conversion of wet biomass to compressed, pure hydrogen (> 98 V%).

Wet biomass waste streams are abundantly available, while their disposal becomes increasingly difficult as energy efficient and environmentally sound disposal processes hardly exist. As sophisticated bench-scale unit is available and will be used for extensive experimentation. Results are combined with theoretical modelling and product upgrading research, to find the optimal process conditions. The work will be completed with a techno-economic evaluation of the whole chain of "Clean, pure and compressed hydrogen from renewable sources", providing the basis for a future plant.

Participants

The project is a joint activity of 3 academic and 4 industrial organisations from 3 EU countries. Each main task is carried out by combination of a University/research institute and an industrial company, to ensure that in each individual task a good balance will be reached between fundamental knowledge and industrial practice. The industrial parties will take the lead in the exploitation of the technology.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Bert van de BELD / BTG Biomass Technology Group BV NETHERLANDS

Participant

• Rodney SAMBROOK / Dytech Corporation Ltd UNITED KINGDOM
• Johannes PENNINGER / Sparqle International B.V. NETHERLANDS
• Jan ZEEVALKINK / TNO Environmental Research Energy Reasearch & Process Innovation / NETHERLANDS
• Michael BORK / UHDE Hochdrucktechnik GMBH GERMANY
• Wolter PRINS / University of Twente Industrial Polymer Processes / NETHERLANDS
• Donna NELSON / University of Warwick School of Engineering / UNITED KINGDOM