Final meeting presentation ECN torrefaction · 2017-01-23 · 1 ECN BO 2-technology for biomass...

1

ECN BO2-technology for biomass upgrading

Jaap Kiel

BUS final meeting, Wageningen, 20 November 2007

2 BO2-technology for biomass upgrading into commodity fuels – Jaap Kiel

Presentation overview

• Torrefaction principles• ECN BO2-technology

• Economics• Development status and

market implementation

2


Biomass – a diverse energy source

Waste Wood (agricultural) residues energy corps

• Biomass = all organic material of non-fossil origin, meant for energy or chemicals/materials production


• Harvesting, collection• Handling

Biomass is a difficult energy source• Production

• Transport

• Storage• Pre-treatment (e.g., milling)

• Feeding• Conversion

3


Torrefaction for biomass upgradinggeneral process description

Torrefaction

mass energy

Gas

Biomass

Torrified

biomass

1 0.7

0.3

1 0.9

0.1

0.7

0.9= 1.31Energy densification (E/kg)

Temperature: 200-300 °C

Pressure: near atmospheric

Heating rate: <50 °C/min

Absence of oxygen

Product: solid fuel

Residence time 10-30 min

Particle size < 4 cm thickness


Friable and less fibrous

19 - 22 MJ/kg (LHV, ar)

Hydrophobic

Preserved

Homogeneous

Torrefaction and pulverisation

Fuel powder

From biomass/waste to commodity fuels

Superior fuel properties:

• Transport, handling, feeding

• Milling

• Combustion/gasification

• Feedstock range

• Standardisation

Tenacious and fibrous

10 - 17 MJ/kg (LHV, ar)

Hydrophilic

Vulnerable to biodegradation

Heterogeneous

Agricultural residues

Mixed

waste

Woody biomass

Pelletisation

Fuel pellets

Bulk density 750-850 kg/m3

Bulk energy density 15-20 GJ/m3

4


Starting points ECN BO2-technology development (1)

• Torrefaction (combined with pelletisation) has the potential of becoming a key unit operation in biomass upgrading schemes for a wide range of applications, including:

− Biomass storage and (long-distance) transport – biomass import

− Co-firing in pf boilers

− (Co-)firing in entrained-flow gasifiers for producing power (IGCC) or transportation fuels (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch diesel)

− Small-scale pellet boilers and stoves

⇒ Torrefied biomass pellets may become a biomass commodity fuel


Starting points ECN BO2-technology development (2)

• Torrefaction principle not new, but many aspects relevant to application for upgrading biomass into biomass fuel for thermal conversion processes were not addressed, including:

− Scale of operation in relation to reactor technology and processlayout

− Characterisation and quantification of product quality and how this relates to process conditions

− Nature and quantity of emissions

− Prospects of heat integration including utilisation of the energy containing torrefaction gases

− The economic viability of torrefaction as a biomass upgrading technique for bulk applications

⇒ 2002 start ECN BO2-technology development

5


Proof-of-concept approach

Continuous screw

reactor (pyromaat)

Batch reactor

TGA analysis

Pellet press (batch)

Torrefied

biomassBiomassCutting mill

Lab-scale combustion

Simulator (LCS)Torrefaction

gas

Sampling methods

Analysis methods

Product distribution (M & E yields)

Pellet quality

Grindability

Combustibility

Torrefaction

database

Process

simulation

&

design tools

20 l batch reactor

5 kg/h screw reactor


TorrefactionTypical experimental results

Torrefaction

32 min, 260 ºCFeed: Willow

Size: 10 - 30 mm

LHV = 14.8 MJ/kg (ar)

MC = 14.4%

Fixed carbon: 16.8 %

Torrefied Willow

Size: 10 - 30 mm

LHV = 18.5 MJ/kg (ar)

MC = 1.9%

Fixed carbon: 22.1%Mass yield: 75.3% (ar)

Energy yield: 94.3% (ar)

Gas phase composition

CO 0.1 %

CO2 3.3 %

H2O 89.3 %

acetic acid 4.8 %

furfural 0.2 %

methanol 1.2 %

formic acid 0.1 %

remainder 1.0 %

Tad = 1045 ºC

6


Grindability of (torrefied) biomass

-

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

320

360

- 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

average particle size (mm, volume based)

chip

per

ca

pac

ity (

kWth

)-

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

- 0.5 1.0 1.5


Pow

er c

onsu

mpt

ion

(kW

e/M

Wth

)

C(270,21)

C(280,18)

C(290,12)

W(290,24)

W(260,24)

Willow (MC=10-13%)

Willow (dried)

Cutter wood

AU bituminous coal

Borssele run

demolition wood

D(300,11)

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

- 0.5 1.0 1.5


Pow

er c

onsu

mpt

ion

(kW

e/M

Wth

)

C(270,21)

C(280,18)

C(290,12)

W(290,24)

W(260,24)

Willow (MC=10-13%)

Willow (dried)

Cutter wood

AU bituminous coal

Borssele run

demolition wood

D(300,11)

C(270,21)

C(280,18)

C(290,12)

W(290,24)

W(260,24)

Willow (MC=10-13%)

Willow (dried)

Cutter wood

AU bituminous coal

Borssele run

demolition wood

D(300,11)

Torrefaction leads to a dramatic decrease in required milling power and increase in milling capacity


Combustion reactivity of torrefied woodLab-scale Combustion Simulator experiments

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500time [ms]

con

vers

ion

[%

] o

r L

OI [

% d

.b.]

100

high-volatile coal low-volatile coal torr. (300°C) demolition wood HVC (LOI) LVC (LOI) torr. (300°C) demolition wood (LOI)torr. (280°C) prune wood torr. (280°C) prune wood (LOI) torr. (280°C) demolition woodtorr. (280°C) demolition wood (LOI) prune wood (fresh) prune wood (fresh, LOI)

High reactivity for torrefied wood

7


Semi-industrial pelletisation testsFeatures:

• 10 kg/h

• No automatic moisture supply

• Preliminary findings:− Easy pelletisation− Low energy input required

− Pellet quality strongly dependent on pelletisation conditions


BO2pellets – features

• High energy density (15-20 GJ/m3, >3x biomass, 1.5-2x wood pellets)

• Water resistant (no swelling or disintegration)

• No/less biological degradation and heating

• Excellent grindability (similar to coal)

• Good combustion and gasification properties

But how to produce them with a high energy efficiency and at low cost ?

8


Pre-existing “torrefaction technology”Features:

• Derived from cooling or

pyrolysis technology

• Not fuel flexible / robust

• Limited scale-up

• High investment cost

• Difficult control of process

parameters


ECN directly heated torrefaction technology

Drying Torrefaction Cooling

Heat exchange

Biomass TOP pellets

Air

Utillity fuel

Flue gas

Combustion

ΔP

Torrefactiongas

Flue gas

Flue gas

Gasrecycle

Pelletisation

Features:

• High energy efficiency (> 90%)

• Heat integration

• Conventional drying and

pelletisation

• Compact moving bed

technology

• Cost effective

15-20% moisture

9


ECN torrefaction technologyInnovative moving bed reactor

• Compact reactor

• Small footprint

• High heat transfer rates

• Accurate T-control

• Uniform product quality

• Feedstock flexibility

• Low capital investment

Pilot-scale torrefaction reactor at ECN


Total Capital Investment TOP and Pelletisation (Feedstock: 180 kton/a woodchips @ 50%mc)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

TOP Process Conventional Pelletisation

TC

I (M

Eur

o)

Drying

Torrefaction

Size Reduction and Pelletisation

Storage

Indirect Cost

Working Capital

Total capital investment – study estimate(BO2pellets vs. wood pellets)

BO2-technology Conventional pelletisation

Total Capital Investment(Feedstock 180 kton/a woodchips @ 50% moisture)

10


0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

3,5

4,0

Green Wood Pellets

Saw Dust Pellets

47 MW /75 kton/a

MC = 50%

47 MW / 75 kton/a

MC = 35%BASE CASE

47 MW /75 kton/a

MC = 25%

23 MW / 36 kton/aMC = 35%

71 MW /112 kton/aMC = 35%

Pro

duct

ion

Cos

t Ind

icat

ion

(E

uro/

GJ

prod

uct)

Total Cost Other PowerSupport Fuel Personnel MaintenanceDepreciation and Financing Feedstock (=0 Euro/tonne)

Total production cost – study estimate (BO2pellets vs. wood pellets)


Chain study (BO2pellets vs. wood pellets)

BO2-technology

(South Africa)Logistics

Conventional

Pelletisation

(South Africa)Logistics

(Co-)firing

coal-fired power stations

or entrained-flow gasifiers

North-West Europe

Sawdust

Sawdust

2.0 EUR/GJ0.7 EUR/GJ <2.0 EUR/GJ

<4.7 EUR/GJ

2.3 EUR/GJ0.7 EUR/GJ 2.9 EUR/GJ

5.9 EUR/GJ

Higher co-firing capacity

Lower capital investment

Higher co-firing flexibility

and availability

Favourable

economics!

@ 2005

11


ECN BO2-technology – market potential……. some figures

• EU-27: coal-fired plants with 10% co-firing requires 70 Mton/a dry biomass ≅ 700 BO2-plants with plant-size 100 kton/a

• EU-15: 43 Mton/a dry biomass (agro-residues) available for energy purposes; substantial possible role of BO2-technology to increase efficiency and reduce cost of overall biomass-to-energy chain

• Current world-wide wood pellet production approx. 7.5 Mton/a, expected to increase rapidly in coming 5-10 years to tens of millions of tons, mostly coarse shavings and green wood. Thus good prospects for BO2-technology.

• EU-27: 10% biofuels in 2010, ≅ 1300 PJ/a, corresponding to approx. 110 Mton/a dry biomass (@ 60% conversion efficiency). BO2-technology is an enabling technology for HT gasification-based BtL.


ECN BO2-technology – status

• Pilot-scale testing (PATRIG) ongoing

− Validation of reactor and process concept− Optimisation of process conditions for a broad feedstock range (woody

biomass, agro-residues)

− Industrial pelletisation tests− Extensive quality evaluation BO2pellets

(e.g., hygroscopic nature, biodegradation, strength, milling characteristics, combustion/gasification reactivity)

• IP in BO2 Energy concepts bv

• Industrial partnership established aimed at demonstration and market introduction

• Continued basic R&D (in co-operation with institutes/universities) − E.g., contaminated biomass (residues) and waste

12


PATRIG torrefaction pilot-plantStatus November 2007• Construction and commissioning

(nearly) completed

• Biomass supply and pre-treatment arranged


ECN BO2-technology market introduction

Econcern/Chemfo

BO2RightsBO2GO BO2Unlimited

End users BO2-plants

End users

1st BO2-plant

13


ECN BO2-technology market introduction

• Partnership ECN – Econcern – Chemfo

• Design and construction 1st production plant BO2GO, scheduled for operation in 2009

• Start-up of BO2Unlimited for supply of commercial BO2-plants

− add-on to wood pellet plants

− residues food & feed sector

− agricultural residues


In conclusion

• ECN BO2-technology allows cost-effective production of commodity fuels from a wide range of biomass/waste feedstock with a high energy efficiency (>90%)

• 2nd generation BO2pellets show:− High energy density

− High water resistance

− No/Limited biological degradation

− Excellent grindability

− Good combustion and gasification properties

• Fields of application:− Long distance biomass transport

− Co-firing in pf boilers

− (Co-)firing in entrained-flow gasifiers− Small-scale pellet boilers/stoves

• Pilot-plant testing started, industrial partnership for 1st plant and commercialisation, strong market pull for BO2-plants and BO2pellets

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Thank you for your attention………

For more information, please contact:

Dr.ir. J.H.A. (Jaap) Kiel Publications can be found on:phone +31 224 56 4590 www.ecn.nl/publicationsfax +31 224 56 8487email [email protected]

and I will be happy to answer your questions!

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Final meeting presentation ECN torrefaction · 2017-01-23 · 1 ECN BO 2-technology for biomass...

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