Renewable motor fuels from forest residues via gasification

Energy Technology Centre1

Olov Öhrman, ETCHighBio – SeminariumKarleby 2008-11-18

Future integrated bio-refineries

Saw mill

Wood for fuel

Chips for fuel

Sawn goods

Fuel pellets

Pulp mill Paper mill

Paper/CartonPulp Chips

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Talloil/internal fuels

District heating

Green chemicals

Bio-Diesel

Green electricity

Methanol/ DME

• New valuable products

• Decreased oil dependency

• Secure revenues

• More competitive business

Paper/Carton

Pulp wood

Biomass resources in Sweden[Mtonnes DS]

Total: 60 Mton

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Source: Per Olov Nilsson 2004

Potential in Sweden

� Forest residues: 26.9 Mton!

� Forest growth potential + 20%

� Liquid biomass (black liquor): approx. 40 TWh / year

� Gasification of all sorts of biomass to synthesis gas (CO+H2)

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(CO+H2)

� Efficiency (gasification and catalytic synthesis): 50-60%

� Infrastructure already available within Swedish forest industry

� Approx. 50% of the present consumption of gasoline and diesel can be replaced with forest based fuels

Renewable fuels via gasification

• Gasoline (MTG, TIGAS)

– 1986 New Zealand, 33% of gasoline demand. Shut down due to low oil price

• Diesel (Fischer-Tropsch)

– Germany and South Africa

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– Germany and South Africa

• Methanol

• DME

• Ethanol

• SNG

• H2

5

But which one?

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Distance per hectare and year

(Heavy duty vehicle)

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

km / hectare & year

RME

Wheat to Ethanol

Salix to Ethanol

Salix to Synthetic Diesel

Salix to Synthetic Diesel via Black Liquor

Salix to Methanol

Salix to DME

Salix to Methanol via Black Liquor

Salix to DME via Black Liquor

Diesel engine efficiency assumedalso for methanol and ethanol

Distance per hectare and year(Heavy duty vehicle)

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

km / hectare & year

RME

Wheat to Ethanol

Salix to Ethanol

Salix to Synthetic Diesel

Salix to Synthetic Diesel via Black Liquor

Salix to Methanol

Salix to DME

Salix to Methanol via Black Liquor

Salix to DME via Black Liquor

Diesel engine efficiency assumedalso for methanol and ethanol

Source: Volvo AB

BTL via Gasification

� Biomass To Liquids (BTL) = Conversion of biomass to gaseous and/or liquid products with useful chemical heating value

� BTL via gasification is a key technology for achieving the climate objectives for road traffic

� Choren beta BTL plant in Freiberg under commissioning (www.choren.com/en)

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(www.choren.com/en)

� BioDME plant currently under construction in Piteå (www.biodme.eu)

Biomass Gasification

Similarities with coal:

� Conversion of a solid fuel to synthesis gas

� Same basis for production of synthetic fuels and chemicals

� Common chemistry (reactions) and thermodynamics

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� Common chemistry (reactions) and thermodynamics

Differences:

� Composition

� Ash properties

� Biomass more reactive due to alkali metals

Technique under development at ETC; Pressurised Entrained flow

Biomass Gasification (PEBG)

HOPPER 1

O2

CO2CO2

Biomass powder

CO2

BIO-FUEL

PREPARATION

HOPPER 2

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GAS CLEANING AND CONDITIONING

COUNTER

CURRENT

CONDENSOR

GASIFIER

Condensate

Product gas

Ash/water slurry

QUENCH

GUARD BED

METHANOL

CONVERSION

MeOHSteam

REACTOR

~1200°C

Pressurised Entrained flow Biomass Gasification (PEBG)

Benefits:

High “wood to wheel” efficiency especially when integrated jointly with BLG at pulp mills (upstream and downstream equipment)

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Main challenges:

� Biomass preparation

� Fuel feeding

� Construction materials

Conclusions

� PEBG is a key technologie for motor fuel production from forest industry with high efficiency

� Synergy with black liquor gasification at pulp mill

� Differences between coal and biomass gasification

� Experiences from BLG programme will be valuable

� The chosen principle is straight on but a few critical problems

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� The chosen principle is straight on but a few critical problems must be solved

• Concept verification

• Optimization of components

• Total optimization

• Biomass chemistry

Welcome to Piteå and the bio-refinery activities

www.etcpitea.se

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www.solandersciencepark.se

www.biodme.eu