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: [email protected]
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