FAIR-CT97-3571 BIOMIS Reduction of fouling, slagging and corrosion characteristics of Miscanthus for power and heat generation using biotechnology

Contacts
Further Information



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Crops for Solid Biofuels : Electricity : FAIR Area 1.1 - Biomass and Bioenergy Chain : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3571
	Total Cost	1,668,244 ECU
	EC Contribution	850,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/04/1998
	Duration	48 Months

Prototype of wood burning, low emission room heater

Background

Energy crops, such as Miscanthus, used for heat and power production require fuel specifications which are not yet fully met. These include as low levels of Cl, K and N. Since there are significant differences in the fuel quality of various genotypes of Miscanthus it should be possible to improve the characteristics by selecting various traits in a breeding programme.

Objectives

The objectives of this shared costs action is to achieve a significant reduction in cleaning, maintenance and replacement cost for expensive heat exchangers (piping) in thermal conversion processes by reducing the fouling, slagging and corrosion characteristics of Miscanthus.

Technical Approach

The technical approach is to minimize the concentrations of Cl, K and S in Miscanthus and the combining effects of these elements. This will be done by analysis of the genetics behind those components that cause fouling, slagging and corrosion. The following activities are included in the work programme:

• development of improved genotypes using molecular techniques
• field tests of Miscanthus grown in different environments
• thermal conversion trials - testing for fouling, slagging and corrosion

This project includes aspects of the complete bioenergy chain but focus on the main fouling, slagging and corroding problems associated with the use of Miscanthus as an energy crop.

Results to Date

Preliminary experiments have shown the potential of using biotechnology tools for the genetic improvement of Miscanthus in selecting quality traits for combustion. Work is in progress with field experiments and laboratory scale combustion facilities.

Miscanthus

Contacts

Coordinator

• Plant Research International (PRI) NETHERLANDS

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• Douwe VAN DEN BERG / BTG Biomass Technology Group BV NETHERLANDS
• Antonio MARTIN / CSIC Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible / SPAIN
• Kell KRISTIANSEN / Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Department of Horticulture / DENMARK
• Ingwald OBERNBERGER / Technische Universitat Graz Inst. of Chemical Engineering / AUSTRIA