Article · Bed materials and oxygen carriers
Advanced biofuel production via gasification – lessons learned from 200 man‐years of research activity with Chalmers’ research gasifier and the GoBiGas demonstration plant
H. Thunman, M. Seemann, T. Berdugo Vilches, J. Maric, D. Pallares, H. Ström, G. Berndes, P. Knutsson, A. Larsson, C. Breitholtz, O. Santos
Energy Science & Engineering 6, 6–34 (2018) · 179 citations
In plain language
A route for turning existing boilers into biomass gasifiers
Ten years of operating the 2–4 MW Chalmers research gasifier and the 20 MW GoBiGas biomethane plant, distilled into a route to commercial use. Two findings carry it: constituents of the biomass ash itself act as a catalyst for the process, and with coated heat exchangers ordinary fluidized-bed boilers can be retrofitted into gasifiers. The paper estimates that Sweden's existing fluidized-bed boilers alone correspond to a jet-fuel capacity of about 10% of current global consumption.
Abstract
This paper presents the main experiences gained and conclusions drawn from the demonstration of a first‐of‐its‐kind wood‐based biomethane production plant (20‐MW capacity, 150 dry tonnes of biomass/day) and 10 years of operation of the 2–4‐MW (10–20 dry tonnes of biomass/day) research gasifier at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Based on the experience gained, an elaborated outline for commercialization of the technology for a wide spectrum of applications and end products is defined. The main findings are related to the use of biomass ash constituents as a catalyst for the process and the application of coated heat exchangers, such that regular fluidized bed boilers can be retrofitted to become biomass gasifiers. Among the recirculation of the ash streams within the process, presence of the alkali salt in the system is identified as highly important for control of the tar species. Combined with new insights on fuel feeding and reactor design, these two major findings form the basis for a comprehensive process layout that can support a gradual transformation of existing boilers in district heating networks and in pulp, paper and saw mills, and it facilitates the exploitation of existing oil refineries and petrochemical plants for large‐scale production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials from biomass and wastes. The potential for electrification of those process layouts are also discussed. The commercialization route represents an example of how biomass conversion develops and integrates with existing industrial and energy infrastructures to form highly effective systems that deliver a wide range of end products. Illustrating the potential, the existing fluidized bed boilers in Sweden alone represent a jet fuel production capacity that corresponds to 10% of current global consumption.
Abstract as indexed by OpenAlex.
BibTeX
@article{thunman-2018-advanced-biofuel-production,
author = {Thunman, H. and Seemann, M. and Berdugo Vilches, T. and Maric, J. and Pallares, D. and Ström, H. and Berndes, G. and Knutsson, P. and Larsson, A. and Breitholtz, C. and Santos, O.},
title = {Advanced biofuel production via gasification – lessons learned from 200 man‐years of research activity with Chalmers’ research gasifier and the GoBiGas demonstration plant},
journal = {Energy Science \& Engineering},
year = {2018},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {6--34},
doi = {10.1002/ese3.188}
}