Abstract
AbstractThis paper presents the main experiences gained and conclusions drawn from the demonstration of a first‐of‐its‐kind wood‐based biomethane production plant (20‐MW capacity, 150 dry tonnes of biomass/day) and 10 years of operation of the 2–4‐MW (10–20 dry tonnes of biomass/day) research gasifier at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Based on the experience gained, an elaborated outline for commercialization of the technology for a wide spectrum of applications and end products is defined. The main findings are related to the use of biomass ash constituents as a catalyst for the process and the application of coated heat exchangers, such that regular fluidized bed boilers can be retrofitted to become biomass gasifiers. Among the recirculation of the ash streams within the process, presence of the alkali salt in the system is identified as highly important for control of the tar species. Combined with new insights on fuel feeding and reactor design, these two major findings form the basis for a comprehensive process layout that can support a gradual transformation of existing boilers in district heating networks and in pulp, paper and saw mills, and it facilitates the exploitation of existing oil refineries and petrochemical plants for large‐scale production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials from biomass and wastes. The potential for electrification of those process layouts are also discussed. The commercialization route represents an example of how biomass conversion develops and integrates with existing industrial and energy infrastructures to form highly effective systems that deliver a wide range of end products. Illustrating the potential, the existing fluidized bed boilers in Sweden alone represent a jet fuel production capacity that corresponds to 10% of current global consumption.
Highlights
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scenarios that have a good chance of restricting global warming to less than 2°C involve substantial cuts in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, implemented through large-scale changes in energy systems
The Gothenburg Biomass Gasification (GoBiGas) demonstration plant and the research gasifier at Chalmers, together with the plants in Güssing, Oberwart, and Senden have contributed to establishing a comprehensive strategy for the design and control of biomass gasification for the production of advanced biofuels based on a variety of biomass sources
This means that a dual fluidized bed (DFB) gasifier can be constructed from two regular fluidized bed boilers placed next to each other, thereby providing a process that can be operated as a DFB gasifier or two parallel boilers for biomass or waste
Summary
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scenarios that have a good chance of restricting global warming to less than 2°C involve substantial cuts in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, implemented through large-scale changes in energy systems. The GoBiGas demonstration plant and the research gasifier at Chalmers, together with the plants in Güssing, Oberwart, and Senden have contributed to establishing a comprehensive strategy for the design and control of biomass gasification for the production of advanced biofuels based on a variety of biomass sources. A vital insight from the research summarized in this paper is that the ash components of the biomass itself, which are often considered as agents that make biomass problematic as a fuel, are instead the solution to some of the problems Experience from both the demonstration plant and the research gasifier shows that the basic layout and temperature levels of a combustion reactor (including the convection path and filter) in a conventional fluidized bed setup designed for wet biomass corresponds to the desired design of a biomass gasifier. This means that a DFB gasifier can be constructed from two regular fluidized bed boilers placed next to each other, thereby providing a process that can be operated as a DFB gasifier or two parallel boilers (one CFB and one BFB) for biomass or waste
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
