biomass gasification: emerging technologies for converting biomass to pipeline-quality sng presented...

Biomass Biomass Gasification: Emerging Gasification: Emerging Technologies for Converting Technologies for Converting

Biomass toBiomass to Pipeline-Quality SNG Pipeline-Quality SNG

presented toWisconsin Public Utility Institute

Natural Gas SymposiumJuly 22, 2008

byVann Bush

Gas Technology Institute

Gas Technology InstituteGas Technology Institute

> Not-for-profit R&D– 50+ yr history in gasification

– Extensive commercialization activities

– Staff of 240 (70% scientists and engineers, 38 PhD’s, 15 PE

licenses)

> Addressing Key Issues for the Natural Gas Industry– Contract Research

– Program Management

– Technical Services

– Education and TrainingOver 1,000 patentsNearly 500 products commercialized

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DELIVERY END USESUPPLY

Efforts Aligned with Efforts Aligned with the Industry Value Chainthe Industry Value Chain

Secure, stable, competitive domestic energy supply

• Unconventional Gas Resources

• Gasification for Alternative Supply

Strategic Focus

Address strategic concerns of domestic gas T&D infrastructure

• Safety• Pipeline Integrity• Cost Reduction• Efficiency

Improve affordability & applicability of gas

•Energy efficiency•Environmental performance•Interchangeability

Needs

C a r b o n M a n a g e m e n t

Multiple Routes to Renewable Multiple Routes to Renewable Energy From BiomassEnergy From Biomass

Resource• Agriculture• Forestry• Animal Waste• Muncipal Waste

Conversion• Thermochemical

• gasification• pyrolysis

• Biochemical• anaerobic digestion• alcohol fermentation• activated waste

treatment

Use• Biopower

• electricity• heat• CHP

• Biofuels• methanol• ethanol / DME • F-T liquids• pyrolysis liquids• hydrogen• SNG

• Bioproducts• many ……

Gas Cleanup / Upgrading

• Particles• Tar, organics• Sulfur• NOx• CO2

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Biomass-Derived Methane ProductsBiomass-Derived Methane Products

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* Sustainable Natural Gas* Substitute Natural Gas

Renewable SNG AdvantagesRenewable SNG Advantages

> Biomass-to-power in PC boiler– Lowest efficiency (~30%); limited co-firing range; boiler and

site modifications can be costly

> Biomass-to-power with gas turbine– Lower efficiency (40-50%) without waste heat integration;

real-time power pricing may reduce value of non-peak power

> Cellulosic fermentation– Modest efficiency (50%); limited distribution system; high

water demand; technology still in R&D

> BtL via Fischer-Tropsch– Modest efficiency (35-45%) without significant heat/steam

integration; higher capital; product needs further refining

> SNG– Higher efficiency (65-70%); increased efficiency with

waste heat integration; pipeline infrastructure-ready, storable product; commercial technology available

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Gasification – A Means to a Secure, Gasification – A Means to a Secure, Renewable Gas SupplyRenewable Gas Supply

Gasification

Excellent Environmental Performance

Carbon Management Opportunity

Syngas Pipeline Quality Gas/ Chemical Feedstock

Liquefaction

Power Plant Fuel

Power Plant

Pipeline / Chemical Plant

TransportationFuels

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HYGAS - SNG STEAM-IRON - H2

U-GAS - Syngas

RENUGAS - Syngas

Mild-GAS - Coal-refining

GTI Energy Development CenterGTI Energy Development Center

1951-19961951-19968

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What is Gasification?What is Gasification?

SORBENT/BED MATERIAL

FUEL:Coal, Biomass,

Wastes

GASIFIER

AIRor Oxygen

STEAM

ASH ANDSPENT

SORBENT

Products (syngas):

CO (carbon monoxide)

H2 (hydrogen)

(CO/H2 ratio can be adjusted)

By-products:

H2S (hydrogen sulfide)

CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Solids (minerals from fuel)

GasCleanupBeforeProduct

Use

Process Conditions:

Pressure = 1 to 60 atm or more

Temperature =1600 – 2600 °F

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100 ton per day Bioenergy Demo Plant in Hawaii using

bagasse

80 ton per day Gasification Pilot Plant in Tampere, Finland using

biomass & coal

GTI Biomass GTI Biomass Gasifier ProjectsGasifier Projects

165 ton per day CHP Plant in Skive, Denmark

using wood

40 ton per day Pilot Plant at GTI using

biomass & coal 11

Simplified SNG Process Simplified SNG Process

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SNG

S, Cl, dust, etc.

CO2, H2O, H2

Biomass

Coal

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Syngas for Substitute Natural GasSyngas for Substitute Natural Gas

> Upstream units (gasifier, cleaning) similar to IGCC (power)

> Several Gasifier options – (feed flexibility, scale, gas quality differences)

> Downstream technologies for SNG production available from multiple providers

> One plant operational on coal since 1984 – several other projects announced

> No biomass – to – SNG commercial plants

Commercial Methanation Systems Commercial Methanation Systems Produce SNG at Pipeline SpecsProduce SNG at Pipeline Specs

Example Product SpecsMole %

CH4 94 - 96

CO2 0.5 - 1

H2 0.5 - 1

CO nil

N2+Ar 2 - 3

HHV (Btu/scf) 948 - 975

Wobbe # 1257-1287

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Methanation Process Methanation Process by Haldor-Topsøeby Haldor-Topsøe

Gasification TechnologyGasification Technology

• Direct, partial oxidation gasification (fixed

bed, multi-stage, fluidized bed, entrained flow)

• Indirect gasification (including steam

reforming)

• Hydrogasification

• Catalytic gasification

• Supercritical water gasification

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Some of the Biomass Gasifier Some of the Biomass Gasifier Technology Providers Technology Providers **

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IndirectIndirect (Battelle/FERCO/ (Battelle/FERCO/ SilvaGas/Taylor, SilvaGas/Taylor, Repotec, TUV)Repotec, TUV)

Multi-Stage Multi-Stage Choren Carbo-V, Choren Carbo-V,

BCTBCT

Fluidized Fluidized BedBedGTI, GTI,

Andritz/Carbona, Andritz/Carbona, EPI, Emery EPI, Emery

EnergyEnergy

** Fixed bed gasifiers not Fixed bed gasifiers not included.included.

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GTI independent

process simulation for a different set of technologies

also yields >65% net efficiency.

Project Initiative in Göteborg, Project Initiative in Göteborg, SwedenSweden

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1 MW Pilot Plant for Slurry 1 MW Pilot Plant for Slurry Methanation Reactor in AustriaMethanation Reactor in Austria

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R&D of New Technical Aproaches R&D of New Technical Aproaches is Active in All Process Areasis Active in All Process AreasExamples include:• Gasification

– Supercritical water gasification – Catalytic gasification– Hydrogasification

• Syngas Conditioning– Tar catalysts– Multi-contaminant processes– Hot-gas cleanup

• Methanation Systems– Slurry reactors– Contaminant-resistant catalysts

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SummarySummary

> Biomass gasification and syngas methanation to SNG is a highly efficient process to produce a renewable gas product at natural gas pipeline quality.

> SNG can be produced from domestic biomass resources with current technologies. Several initiatives have been announced for European applications.

> Advanced technologies are being developed for all steps in the process, promising improved performance and economics.