Berkshire Energy Laboratory
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Transcript of Berkshire Energy Laboratory
Status UpdateNovember 21, 2008
Thomas Horgan
OutlineResidential Scale Methanol Fuel Synthesis
Advanced Research TopicsBiomass Fuel Synthesis by Ionic LiquidsSyngas by Catalytic Gasification
Next Steps
Other Topics
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisClassic Methanol Production (Wood Alcohol)
Digester PressingSawdust
H2SO4
Boiler
Steam
Sawdust
H2O
Fermen-tation
Yeast
Steam partially condense to Turpentine (0.3 kg/Tonne)
Liquor
100 Proof methanol57.1% by Vol73 liter/tonne dry wood
150C, 7.5 Atm, 1h
3 to 5 days
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisIndustrial Methanol Production
Compressor
Methanol
Convertor
Syngas Recycle Loop
Cooling/Distillatio
n
Syngas (H2, CO (CO2, N2))
PurgeGas
Desulph SMR
Gasifier Cleaning
Natural Gas
Coal or Biomass
Steam
methanol
SteamO2, Air
2H2 + CO CH3OH 50 Atm, 270CCopper Oxide CatalystH = -92 kJ/mol
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisSmall Scale Syngas Based MeOH System
Assume Capacity: 200 lbs wood per day (1 cord ~ 4,000 lbs), 10 GPD MeOH
Downdraft Gasifier Outside dimensions (w/ hopper): 4ft h x 1.5ft d Syngas production rate: ~ 35 ft3/lb of 15% wood Max Capacity: ~700 lbs wood/day - 1000 ft3/h Outlet Temp: 50/75C after cyclone/filter Acceptable for MeOH synthesis? $2300
Assembled $1400 Not Assm http://www.allpowerlabs.org
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisSmall Scale Syngas Based MeOH System
Compressor/Raise TempMeOH Converter
CO2+CO+5H22CH3OH+H2O+Heat Cu-Zn, 50 Atm, 270C Issues with Heat Removal 25% per pass efficiency (multi pass) Adiabatic vs Isothermal Reactors Needs to be cooled, flashed Residential scale reactor options?
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisSmall Scale Syngas Based MeOH System
Distillation Crude Methanol contains dissolved CO, CO2, H2,
N2 and volatile organics (acetone, ethers, esters) May be acceptable for some engines/turbines ? Distilled for chemical grade Need to deal with off gasses
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisSmall Scale Syngas Based MeOH System
Methanol Gas Generator MeOH acceptable gasoline substitute
poor cold starts, better efficiency/heat removal Lower volumetric heating value Seal wear
Pramac S7500 Deluxe Electric Start Generator With Honda Gx390 Engine , 6.1 kW
$2,000, Home Depot 31 x 22 x 25 inches, 200 lbs 8 gal tank, 10 hrs on gasoline 5 hrs on methanol
Residential Liquid Fuel SynthesisCommunity Power Corp - Littleton, CoCommunity Power Corp - Littleton, Co
Small/Medium Scale Wood Generators Commercial 25kW, 75kW and 100 kW systems available $225 to
$400k. Custom 5kW system ~ $150k 2 lbs of woodchips per kWh Footprint for 25kW system: 8’ x 8’ x 20’
Small/Medium Scale Prototype FT System (Farm) Fully Operational. Press release in two weeks 50 gal transportation diesel per ton woodchips Gasifier Footprint: 8’ x 8’ x 40’ FT Module Footprint: 8’ x 8’ x 20’
Biomass Fuel Synthesis By Ionic LiquidsDissolution of biomass: Potential first step to
many new, low energy, homogeneous conversion routes
Dimitris Argyropoulos, NC StateFour patent applicationsHas one letter of intent (hedging) . Company specifically interested
in catalytic crackingActively seeking investment partner (wants to develop, not publish)
$150k for 4 years, $200k for 3 years
Biomass Fuel Synthesis By Ionic LiquidsIonic Liquids
Air and moisture stable salts – electrically conductive, low vapor pressure, liquid at room temp
Composed of 100% ions - large organic cat ions (~1018), small inorganic anions (much less)
Applications: Stable solvents, acid scavenging, cellulose processing, petrochemical synthesis, transport medium, many others
Dissolve wood & other organics (0.2 to 2mm, < 150C, < 30min)
Safety: Low vapor pressure and highly recyclable. Some are combustible. Many are toxic if released to the environment.
Biomass Fuel Synthesis By Ionic LiquidsArgyropoulos Patents
Low Energy Pyrolysis of Wood – WO 2008/098036 A1 IL Pyrolysis: Wood dissolved in IL, 190/200C (20 min), 10% more tar,
12% less char , 10% higher/more selective yield of distillates than Fast Pyrolysis Fast Pyrolysis: Pretreated w/ organic solvents, 425/500C (2s), tar, char,
liquids (200+ intermediates)
Low Energy Glucose from Wood for BioEthanol– US 2008/053139 IL dissolved wood is easily hydrolyzed by enzymes to release Glucose
for production of bioethanol
Polymers and Composites from Dissolved Wood – US 2008/053151
IL dissolved wood can be blended with co-polymers, polymers and functional additives to form eco-friendly (degradable) composites
Biomass Fuel Synthesis By Ionic LiquidsPotential for Transportation Fuel
Synthesis IL Pyrolysis produces a much narrower range of
hydrocarbons with higher potential for catalytic cracking to trans fuels
Sludge dissolution and homogenous processing to fuelsCatalytic Gasification of Dissolved Wood (Syngas)Other undiscovered routes to aliphatics/aromatics
Petrochina – Gasoline by alkylation of C4 olefins with iso-butane in ionic liquids
Syngas By Catalytic GasificationSyngas Methods
Noncatalytic Supercritical: (450/600C, 4000/6000 PSIG) Hi Cap Cost, Limited Biomass testing
Low Temp Catalytic (225/265C, 400/800 PSIG, Pt or Ni) Simple organics, not tried on biomass
Fuel Gas MethodsCatalytic Hydrothermal (350C, 3000PSIG, Ru or Ni)
Good carbon conversion, biomass & sludge
Supercritical Carbon Catalyzed (600C, 3700PSIG) Good carbon conversion, coke, ash, plugging
Syngas By Catalytic GasificationPNNL Project Concepts
Low Energy Catalytic Biomass Syngas Gasification Investigate routes with lower temps and pressures. Preprocessing.
Low Energy Catalytic Sludge Syngas Gasification Investigate routes with lower temps and pressures. Preprocessing.
Catalytic Fuel Gas Gasification w/ Reforming Steam vs. Autothermal, Modeling for feasibility (efficiency/cost)
Direct Fischer Tropsch Synthesis to Trans Fuels Design and control studies to narrow product range
Next StepsNote: Recommend work w/ Argyropoulos on Ionic Liquids, not Elliot
(change memo)
Plant visits and tours PNNL – discuss catalytic syngas gasification work. See labs, processes, etc. NREL – discuss lab capabilities/collaboration opportunities? Community Power Corp – 10 minutes from NREL. We’re invited. NC State – More detailed understanding of practical use of ionic liquids
Residential Scale Methanol Synthesizer Develop detailed drawings, BOM, etc (model in Aspen?) Source other gasifiers Understand issues with crude methanol/distillation Source or design small scale MeOH converter Others…
Other Topics
Economics & Energy Analysis
Energy
Economics & Energy AnalysisEconomics
Huber ProcessProfessor George Huber – Umass, Amherst
Has developed catalytic pyrolysis process for ‘Green Gasoline’ As of last e-mail, has already licensed technology (unclear) Have not connected by phone
Green Gasoline Process Converts powdered cellulose at 600C, over zeolite catalyst to
aromatic mix Not really a gasoline (actual gasoline is less than 25%
aromatics) Useful as a blend Not yet tested on actual cellulose/biomass
Methanol to Gasoline (Mobil Process) Process Flow Sheet
320CAlumina
400/420C
Light HC, CO2, H2
Gasification TechnologiesUpdraft Gasifier
Advantages Simple, low cost process Able to handle biomass with a high moisture and high inorganic content (e.g.,municipal
solid waste) Proven technology
Disadvantages Syngas contains 10-20% tar by weight, requiring extensive syngas cleanupbefore engine,
turbine or synthesis applications
Downdraft Gasifier Advantages
Up to 99.9% of the tar formed is consumed, requiring minimal or no tar cleanup Minerals remain with the char/ash, reducing the need for a cyclone Proven, simple and low cost process
Disadvantages Requires feed drying to a low moisture content (<20%) Syngas exiting the reactor is at high temperature, requiring a secondary heat
recovery system 4-7% of the carbon remains unconverted
Gasification TechnologiesBubbling Fluidized bed
Advantages Yields a uniform product gas Exhibits a nearly uniform temperature distribution throughout the reactor Able to accept a wide range of fuel particle sizes, including fines Provides high rates of heat transfer between inert material, fuel and gas High conversion possible with low tar and unconverted carbon
Disadvantages Large bubble size may result in gas bypass through the bed
Circulating Fluidized bed Advantages
Suitable for rapid reactions High heat transport rates possible due to high heat capacity of bed material High conversion rates possible with low tar and unconverted carbon
Disadvantages Temperature gradients occur in direction of solid flow Size of fuel particles determine minimum transport velocity; high velocities may result
in equipment erosion Heat exchange less efficient than bubbling fluidized-bed