4) BIT8Y European Commission Thermal biomass conversion and utilization — Biomass information system A. Bridgwater University of Aston Energy Research Group ‘Aston Triangle Birmingham B7 4ET United Kingdom AIR1-92-8008-GB Directorate-General XII Science, Research and Development 1996 EUR 16863 ENPublished by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General XII Science, Research and Development B-1049 Brussels LEGAL NOTICE Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1996 ISBN 92-827-7207-1 © ECSC-EC-EAEC, Brussels * Luxembourg, 1996 Reproduction is authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged Printed in BelgiumCONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. INTRODUCTION 1.2 THERMOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES. 1.3. SUMMARY OF METHOD AND CONTENTS CHAPTER 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF PYROLYSIS 2.1 INTRODUCTION 22 PYROLYSIS MECHANISMS AND PATHWAYS, 2.2.1 Introduction 2.2.2 Hemicellulose Pyrolysis 2.2.3. Lignin Pyrolysis 2.2.4 Whole wood Pyrolysis 2.3 MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF PYROLYSIS 2.3.1 Introduction 2.3.2 Pyrolysis Modelling Objectives 2.3.3 Empirical Modelling 2.3.4 Kinetic Modelling 2.3.4.1 Global Kinetic Models 2.3.4.2 Stepwise Models 2.3.4.3 Secondary pyrolysis kinetics 23.4.4 Summary 2.4 ANALYTICAL MODELS FOR LARGE PARTICLES 2.5 SINGLE PARTICLE MODELS 2.6 RESULTS OF PYROLYSIS MODELLING 2.7 REFERENCES CHAPTER 3 PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY PRINCIPLES 3.1. INTRODUCTION 32 PYROLYSIS CONCEPTS 3.3 PROCESS CHARACTERISTICS & TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS 3.3.1. Reactor configuration 3.3.2 Heat transfer 3.3.3. Heat supply 3.3.4 Feed preparation 3.3.5 Temperature of reaction 3.3.6 Vapour residence time 3.3.7 Secondary vapour cracking 3.3.8 Liquids collection 3.3.9 Char separation 3.3.10 Ash separation 3.4 PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS 3.4.1. Product quality 3.4.2 Unusual characteristics 3.5 PYROLYSIS PROCESSES 3.5.1. North America 3.5.1.1 Ensyn 3.5.1.2 NREL AUOSGM®MONERSGCOONOOaARS 2OOOEGOOOOEOROOOOOW OOGHHOKHHHHOHHOKHOOOG CONTIN GOaGakON=4A50036 3.6.6 37 3.8 3.9 Interchem BBC University of Waterloo Worthing Industries Other activities CPEAI (Greece) The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) and the Agricultural University of Athens (Greece) Egemin (Belgium) ENEL (Italy) INETI (Portugal) Union Electrica Fenosa (Spain) University of Aston (UK) University of Leeds (UK) University of Sassari (Italy) University of Twente (Netherlands) 3.5.2.11 Other PYROLYSIS LIQUID CHARACTERISTICS 3.6.1 General properties 3.6.2 Particulates 3.6.3. Oxygen content 3.6.4 Water 3.6.5 Stability Other characteristics APPLICATIONS 3.7.1 Introduction. 3.7.2 Combustion 3.7.2. Power generation with liquids 3.7.3 Chemicals 3.7.4 Economics and efficiency CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES CHAPTER 4 PYROLYSIS LIQUIDS PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY 44 42 INTRODUCTION CURRENT STATUS 4.2.1 Introduction 4.2.2 Europe 4.2.3 North America PYROLYSIS REACTORS GENERAL PROBLEMS 4.4.1 Feed Problems 4.4.2 Processing Problems 4.4.3 Product Problems 4.4.3.1 Char 44.3.2 High viscosity 4.4.3.3 Alkali metals 4.4.3.4 Inhomogeneity of the “Ne 3-48 3-50 4-53 4-54 4-54 4-54 4-54 4-54 4-57 4-57 4-57 4-58 4-58 4-60 4-60 4-604.4.3.5 Environmental problems 4.5 _ REFERENCES CHAPTER 5 FAST PYROLYSIS PROCESSES 5.1 ALTEN, ITALY 5.1.1. Introduction 5.1.2 Description 5.1.3 Products 5.2 BIO-ALTERNATIVE 5.2.1 Introduction 5.2.2 Description 5.2.3 Products 5.3 BBC, CANADA (CASTLE CAPITAL CORP., CANADA) 5.3.1. Introduction 5.3.2 Description 5.3.3 Products 5.4 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES, USA 5.4.1. Introduction 5.4.2 Description 5.4.3 Products 5.5 CPERI, GREECE 5.6 CRES, GREECE 5.6.1 Summary 5.6.2 Description 5.7 EGEMIN 5.7.1 Summary 5.7.2 Description 5.7.3 Products 5.8 ENSYN 5.8.1 Introduction 5.8.2 Description 5.8.3 Product and yields 5.9 GTA 5.9.1 Summary 5.9.2 Description 5.9.3 Product 5.10 INET 5.11 INSTITUTE OF WOOD CHEMISTRY, GERMANY 5.12 INTERCHEM INDUSTRIES INC., USA 5.12.1Summary 5.12.2 Description 5.13 NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY, USA 5.13.1 Summary 5.13.2 Description 5.13.3 Products 5.14 STENAU, GERMANY 5.15 UNION FENOSA, SPAIN 5.15.1 Summary 5.15.2 Description 5.15.3 Products OOO OHHOHHHHOOVNNNNYYNNNN NSN Oa aaDDDADHOHADHOO DAAASONNVNSCSOSSOGNATO RSA OONN AIT OOOOOMTNNOUTTEONNNPOD MQAATIAAGAAAAIAATAAIAAAAVAagggganaggaaGaagagagqGagaas5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 6.25 5.26 UNIVERSITY OF ASTON, UK 5.16.1 Summary 5.16.2 Description 5.16.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF LAVAL, CANADA 5.17.1 Summary 5.17.2 Description 5.17.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK 5.18.1 Summary 5.18.2 Description 5.18.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF TUBINGEN 5.20.1 Summary 5.20.2 Description 5.20.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE 5.21.1 Summary 5.21.2Description 5.21.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO 5.22.1 Summary 5.22.2 Description 5.22.3 Products UNIVERSITY OF ZARAGOZA WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGY 5.24.1 Summary 5.24.2 Description 5.24.3Products WORTHING INDUSTRIES INC, REFERENCES CHAPTER 6 CATALYTIC UPGRADING TECHNOLOGIES FOR 61 62 63 64 PYROLYSIS VAPOURS AND LIQUIDS INTRODUCTION FAST PYROLYSIS LIQUID PRODUCTS 6.2.1 Introduction 6.2.2 Fast pyrolysis gas and solid by-products CATALYTIC EFFECTS IN PYROLYSIS 6.3.1. Chemicals production 6.3.2. Extraction and synthesis 6.3.3 Direct production of chemicals CATALYTIC UPGRADING OF LIQUIDS 6.4.1 Hydrotreating Partial hydrotreating Hydrogen supply Zeolites Further developments in catalysis Product refining and product yield aura “i 8888000 o 0000S OO OSSR2DDOD DOTAAAAAREOOTS A OHOBSIIAD QHAAAAAAAAAGAGATGAAGAG AAD a 5-101 5-101 5-101 5-101 5-103 5-104 5-105 ° 3 6-111 6-111 6-111 6-111 6-113, 6-114 6-114 6-114 6-116 6-117 6-117 6-120 6-121 6-121 6-125 6-1266.5 TECHNOECONOMICS: 6-126 6.6 CONCLUSIONS 6-129 6.7 REFERENCES 6-129 CHAPTER 7 CONTRIBUTION TO BIS 7.1. INTRODUCTION 7-139 7.2 BIOMASS INFORMATION SYSTEM 7-139 7.2.1 Introduction 7-139 7.2.2 “DATABASE” section of BIS 7-140 7.2.3 “TECHNOLOGY” section of BIS 7-141 7.2.4 “PRODUCTS” section of BIS 7-141 7.2.5 Final format of database on thermal processing 7-142 7.3 CONCLUSIONS 7-145 CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 8-146 ANNEX TO CHAPTER 7 - SPECIMEN DATA SUPPLIED TO HENDYPLAN FOR BEIS 7 Annex-147 VieEXECUTIVE SUMMARY A detailed review of the science and technology of fast pyrolysis and related processes has been carried out covering the basic scientific principles of fast pyrolysis for producing liquids; their application to working processes with identification of the main problems; a description of the more commercially and technically advanced of these processes; and opportunities for chemicals recovery and upgrading of vapours and liquids to more valuable chemicals and transport fuels. The contribution that has been made to the development of a Biomass Information System is described and copies of specimen data are included. Finally the conclusions summarise the current status and opportunities for each of the areas described.CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION The potential offered by biomass and solid wastes for solving some of the world's energy and environmental problems is widely recognised. The energy in biomass may be realised either by direct use as in combustion to give heat, or by conversion and upgrading into a more valuable and usable fuel such as fuel gas or fuel oil or higher value products for the chemical industry. Liquid products have significant advantages in handling, storage, transport and substitution for conventional fuels and pyrolysis is being rapidly developed for direct production of both crude liquids for direct fuel oll substitution and production of hydrocarbons for more technically demanding applications and transport fuels. There is a further advantage in electricity generation of being able to de-couple fuel production from electricity generation through fuel storage which is not possible in gasification or combustion systems. Biomass has received considerable attention as a renewable energy resource after the oil crises of the last 20 years, Pyrolysis in particular has been researched and developed for the economic production of fuel products that may be readily integrated into the energy infrastructures of both industrialised and developing countries. More recently, attention has focussed onto much higher value chemicals either as unique specialities or as substitutes for petroleum derived products. 1.2 THERMOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES There are four thermochemical methods of converting biomass: pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction and direct combustion. Each gives a different range of products and employs different equipment configurations operating in different modes. These are summarised below in Table 1. 1. The basis of a fuel or chemical production system is that the feedstock is converted to a useful primary energy product and either used as such, or further converted, upgraded or refined in subsequent processes to give a higher quality and higher value secondary product as shown in Figure 1.1 When organic materials are heated in the absence of air, they degrade to a gas, a liquid, and a solid as summarised in Figure 1.1. It is possible to influence the proportions of the main products by controlling the main reaction parameters of temperature, rate of heating, and vapour residence time. For example fast or flash pyrolysis is used to maximise either the gas or liquid products, depending on temperature as summarised below: + Slow pyrolysis at low temperatures of around 400°C and long reaction times (which can range from 15 minutes to days in traditional beehive kilns) maximises charcoal yields at about 30% wt.