Relating catalytic coal or biomass gasification mechanisms to plant capital cost components

Abstract

Selection of equipment for hydrogen production from biomass or coal is dominated by whether the process intent is to maximize pyrolysis and subsequent cracking or steam-char gasification. This paper discusses bench scale methods for predicting which approach is best suited to specific coals or biomass materials. Either reaction mode can be greatly enhanced by use of various catalysts, which adds another, major economic dimension to process selection and design. This paper presents bench scale methodology to determine proportions of hydrogen and methane from pyrolysis and gasification reactions, with criteria for relating these results to capital cost components of catalytic options in full scale processes.