HANDBOOK ON BIOMASS GASIFICATION - …

1 HANDBOOK ON BIOMASS GASIFICATION . Knoef BTG BIOMASS technology group Colosseum 11, 7521 PV, Enschede, The Netherlands Tel: +31 53 486 1186, Fax +31 53 486 1180, Email: ABSTRACT: The HANDBOOK on BIOMASS GASIFICATION is meant to disseminate the results of the European GASIFICATION Network (GasNet) to a wider audience, which started in 2001 with funding of DG TREN. The GASIFICATION network was clustered to the pyrolysis network, comprising the Thermonet project with 36 members of all EU countries including Switzerland. Each Network had its own work programme, but both ha also a common focus of addressing commercialisation issues and providing support for more rapid and more effective implementation of all the technologies in the market place.

2 The HANDBOOK describes specific topics discussed thoroughly within GasNet and additional chapters on more general aspects of BIOMASS GASIFICATION including GASIFICATION of pyrolysis oil, market assessments, economics, legislative impacts, health and safety, tar standardisation and incentives for bio-energy through GASIFICATION . Authors and co-authors have been invited to contribute in various chapters. Keywords: GASIFICATION , HANDBOOK , network 1 BACKGROUND considered one of the most promising routes for syngas or combined heat and power production because of the Thermal processing of BIOMASS has the potential to potential for higher efficiency cycles.

3 Figure 1 shows a offer a major contribution to meeting the increasing schematic presentation of processes involved in BIOMASS demands of the bio-energy and renewable energy sectors GASIFICATION . and to meet the targets set by the EC and member countries for CO2 mitigation. BIOMASS GASIFICATION is GASIFICATION Pyrolysis char ash BIOMASS permanent gases Heat tars CO. CO2 CO2. H2 H 2O. tars tars Heat O2 (air) Catalyst H 2O (steam) Combustion O2 (air). Figure 1: Schematic presentation of GASIFICATION as one of the thermal conversion processes [ref 1]. Instead of utilising BIOMASS in traditional low-efficient dissemination of information on new scientific and systems (steam cycles), high-efficient gas engines or technological developments regarding BIOMASS combined gas- and steam turbine cycles can be applied.

4 GASIFICATION and related technologies. The ThermoNet Good technical progress has been made in the field of project funded by the European Commission was BIOMASS GASIFICATION , but at a commercial level good established for three years. The ThermoNet project achievements still have to be attained. International comprised two Networks on thermal processing of Networks like the IEA Bioenergy and the GASIFICATION BIOMASS for fuels and electricity. One Network addressed Network, GasNet have been established to provide a GASIFICATION (GasNet) and the other pyrolysis (PyNe). world-wide forum for the discussion, exchange and This cluster of Networks GasNet and PyNet Updated and additional background information can be provided a forum for all involved and interested in found on the GasNet website , which GASIFICATION and pyrolysis of BIOMASS and waste to will continu for at least 3 years.

5 Discuss, review and address technical and non-technical The HANDBOOK is intended to be a useful guideline issues that inhibit rapid and wide-spread implementation both to newscomers to the subject and those already of these technologies. There were joint tasks that involved in research, technology development, industry, involved both Networks and provide common approaches policy makers, investors and end-users. including pyrolysis of waste for gas production, market assessments, economics, legislative impacts, health and safety issues, bio-fuel standards and incentives for bio- energy. Figure 2 shows the structure of ThermoNet. The Networks operated through a regular programme of meetings and workshops addressing a range of technical and economic issues that affect those industries who are developing and potentially using these conversion processes.

6 Outputs included regular newsletters, two websites and technical reports addressing all the issues under consideration. A further result of the project is the publishing of a HANDBOOK on BIOMASS GASIFICATION . Environment, Environment, Health & Safety Health & Safety Characterisation, Feedstock and Norms, Standards feeding Slow pyrolysis for Kinetics and charcoal modelling Applications Education, Gas cleaning &. Training, PR tar cracking Technical & Non- Gas processing End-use technical Barriers & Tar reactivity specifications Technology Review Joint Technology review topics PyNe Country Reports GasNet Figure 3: Frontpage of the HANDBOOK , full-colour, hard- Economics & cover Competitivity Altener 3.

7 TOPICS. Figure 2: Structural organisation of ThermoNet. Five topics were identified within GasNet and four joint topics with PyNe as illustrated in Figure 1. Experts were appointed to undertake the work in each of this 2. PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK topic. The topics areas included for GasNet: Feedstock and Feeding The HANDBOOK on BIOMASS GASIFICATION is meant to Gas cleaning and Tar removal disseminate the results of the European GASIFICATION Environment, Health and Safety Network (GasNet) to a wider audience. The HANDBOOK End-use applications contains 19 chapters with approximately 400 pages Technology review describing specific topics discussed thoroughly within GasNet and additional chapters on more general aspects Joint topics included: of BIOMASS GASIFICATION including GASIFICATION of Kinetics and Modelling pyrolysis oil, market assessments, economics, legislative Education, Training and PR.

8 Impacts, health and safety, tar standardisation and Technical & Non-technical Barriers incentives for bio-energy through GASIFICATION . More than Country reports 20 authors and co-authors have been invited to contribute in various chapters. Figure 3 shows the frontpage of the 4. MEMBERSHIP. HANDBOOK . Some of the data and information may be outdated GasNet consists of scientist, consultants, policy sooner or later due to scientific progress and successful makers, planners, investors, and equipment demonstration projects, but the general principles, manufacturers who have hands-on experience with the GASIFICATION concepts and applications remain useful.

9 Technology. This latter group was considered to be of 19. USA Renewable Energy Policies and Incentives great importance for discussion of the technical barriers 6 PROSPECTS AND SUCCESS STORIES. and prospects. The following persons were involved in the GasNet membership: In the HANDBOOK barriers (technical and non- technical), prospects and success stories can be found. 1. Hermann Hofbauer, Vienna University of Main technical barriers are 1) feeding due to the varing Technology, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Austria characteristics, 2) gasifier reactor which is fuel flexible, 2. P pin Tchouate Heteu, Universit Catholique de scaling-up aspects and multi-reactor designs and 3) gas Louvain, TERM- Groupe, Belgium cleaning which is lso application dependent.

10 3. Benny G bel, Dept of Energy Engineering, Technical There are quite a significant number of different non- University of Denmark, Denmark technical obstacles which hampers the research, 4. Thomas Koch, TK Energi AS, Denmark development, demonstration and commercialisation of 5. Esa Kurkela, VTT Processes, Finland BIOMASS GASIFICATION . Major non-technical barriers are 1). 6. Laurant van de Steene, CIRAD-For t, France financial aspects like high intial investment, fuel price, 7. Claus Greil, Lurgi Envirotherm GmbH, Germany competing technologies, long-term contracting, etc. 2). 8. Eberhard Oettel, F rdergesellschaft Erneuerbare permitting procedure, 3) Environmental, Health, Safety Energien , Germany aspects including emission legislation, and 4) public 9.