Innovative gasification plant for renewable energy micro-generation

and biochar production

Cappello G.*; Pozzi A.; Duchi A.AGT Advanced Gasification Technology, Via Cesari 1/A, Cremona, Italy

E-mail: info@agtgasification.com

AGT - Advanced Gasification Technology Ltd works in the field of gasification process research, development and industrialization, designing micro-generation plants on industrial scale.

AGT modules exploit the gasification of biomasses (agricultural feedstock and its by-products) combining the highest energy efficiency with extremely compactness.AGT modules exploit the gasification of biomasses (agricultural feedstock and its by-products) combining the highest energy efficiency with extremely compactness.

The gasification technology, coupled with electrostatic filtration, allows to obtain clean syngas and pollutant-free biochar.

THE GASIFICATION PROCESSGasification is a thermo chemical conversion process in

which a biomass or other different organic matrices are

partially oxidized by heating at high temperatures

(1.200C) in a gas (syngas) and biochar.

The syngas, a mix of carbon monoxide and dioxide,

hydrogen, methane and nitrogen, is used to power a

diesel-cycle endothermic engine in order to produce

electricity and heat or, alternatively, as fuel for multiple

uses.

AGT MODULE IS A FIXED-BED, DOWN DRAFT, OPEN CORE, EXTREMELY COMPACT GASIFIER

WITH THE ELECTRIC CAPABILITY OF 300 kW

6,0 m

2,5

m 1,5 m

AGT GASIFIERAGT gasifier consists of two main sections, the gasification

reactor, where biomass pyrolysis and gasification reactions

happen, and the syngas filtration system, through which

gas is cooled, dust removed and TAR cleaned (the latter by

means of electrostatic filters).

TECHNICAL PARAMETERSGasifier electric performance depends on the chemical-

REACTOR EDUCTOR CYCLON ELECTROSTATIC FILTERS

Gasifier electric performance depends on the chemical-

physical properties of different biomasses, as elementary

composition, dry matter and ash content, calorific power,

dry bulk density.

Considering woody biomasses, the gasifier electric

performance is 1 kWhe kg-1

DM

Parameters Values

Biomass typology Wood

Biomass requirement 300 kg(DM) h-1

Electric rated power 300 kW

Thermal rated power 1.000 kW

Syngas flow 600 Nm3 h-1

Syngas LHV 5 MJ Nm-3

Syngas starting temperature 700C

Syngas final temperature 50C

Biochar production 10% W W-1(DM)

AGT GASIFICATION PLANTThe plant in the standard configuration is made up of a

gasifier, a drying kiln/feeding hopper and two (or three)

DRYING KILN/FEEDING HOPPER

Gasifier main technical parameters (for woody biomasses)

AGT gasifier module

gasifier, a drying kiln/feeding hopper and two (or three)

generators; additional accessories are added in order to

reach the full automation of the system.

The biomass is generally too much wet for gasification, so

it must be dried (until less than 10 percent moisture

content W W-1). The drying is completed in a cylinder

shaped kiln which uses the heat coming from engines.

The generators are endothermic diesel engines with a

power unit directly coupled on the driveshaft.

Syngas have a low heating value, so engines need a diesel

oil micro injection to work (less than 5 percent of the total

fuel in entrance).

THE PLANT DOES NOT GENERATE EMISSIONSTAR, obtained from the syngas cleaning system

(ELECTROSTATIC FILTRATION), is carried back to the gasifier

reactor and quickly eliminated.

Engines exhaust gas is cleaned in a catalytic converter and

then sent to the dryer for biomass conditioning, where it is

further bio-filtered.

No draining and other emissions are generated.

BIOCHAR PRODUCTION

Gasification plant process scheme

GASIFIER19,0 m

AGT gasification plant standard lay-out

BIOCHAR EXTRACTION

SYSTEM AND STORAGE

Biochar, removed by an extractor

system from the lower side of the

reactor and the cyclon after placed, is

convoyed in a storage silo or big bag.

BIOCHAR PRODUCTION

The gasification process creates a fine-grained, highly

porous, pollutant-free charcoal that may significantly

vary in its chemical and physical properties depending

on starting material.

The system generally produces a quantity of biochar

between 5 and 10 percent of starting material (DM).

The biochar production in small size gasifiers for

electric micro generations enables to solve both the

problems of product availability and practice

profitability.

The diffusion of biochar soil application requires in

fact a good supply with moderate costs.

Not standard lay-out

(An example of flexibility of the system)

Construction of gasification modules on

industrial scale in Italy

Biochar extraction system and storage in

AGT gasification plant

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE AGT TEAMThanks to SYNERGIA Ltd (Italian Licensee Company) for the photographic material