Thermochemical Biomass Based Refinery Processes
Technological status & perspectives
Presented at Biorefinica 2006
(11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück, Germany)
Ir. Robin Zwart
Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN)
ECN Biomass, Coal & Environmental research
(3) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Content
• Introduction on ECN
• Definition
• World wide status:
1st Generation (combined heat and power)
2nd Generation (combined heat, power, fuels and chemicals)
3rd Generation (optimized multi-product systems)
• Ongoing activities
• Conclusions
(4) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
• Independent energy research institute
• Founded in 1955
• 650 staff
• Annual turnover:80 million EURO
• Activities:- Biomass, Coal & Environmental Research- Solar- Wind- Hydrogen & Clean Fossil Fuels- Energy Efficiency in the Industry- Energy in the Built Environment- Policy Studies
In the dunes of North Holland
(5) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
ECN in a glanceMission
• ECN is the largest, independent, market oriented, and innovative Dutch energy research institute.
• ECN focuses on the knowledge and information the government needs to develop and evaluate policy and achieve policy objectieves in the field of energy, the environment and technological innovation.
• ECN partners industry in the development and implementation od product, processes and technologies important to the transition to sustainable energy management.
• ECN closely works together with Dutch and foreign universities and research institutes and performs a bridging function with implementation by carrying out technological research.
ECN develops high-quality knowledge and technology for the transition to a sustainable energy supply
(6) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
The general one…
Definition of “Thermochemical refinery”
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
(7) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Combustion for generation of heat, power… or even both
1st Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Ralph E.H. Sims: The brilliance of bioenergy – In business and in practice (2002)
(8) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Examples of combustion based generation of heat and power
1st Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Teaford C
o. (US
)
Essen
t Cu
ijck (Nl)
HV
C A
lkmaar (N
l)
Kara (N
l)
Integrated Biomass Utilisation System (IBUS), Skærbækværket (Dk)
(9) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Advanced generation of heat and power
1st Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Ralph E.H. Sims: The brilliance of bioenergy – In business and in practice (2002)
(10) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
AM
ER
(Nl)
Lah
ti (Fi)
AR
BE
(Uk)
Examples of advanced generation of heat and power
1st Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
stopped
stopped
co-firing co-firingco-firing
Värn
amo (S
e)B
TG
(My)
working
Güssing (At)
(11) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Advanced generation of heat, power, fuels and chemicals
2nd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Gasification
Biosyngas
Combined Cycle
minerals
H2O
Transportation fuel synthesis Fischer-Tropsch diesel MeOH / DME Ethanol / mixed alcohols Hydrogen
Electricity & Heat Biological
Processes
Pyrolysis ?
(12) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Clean hydrogen-rich synthesis gas (CHRISGAS)2nd generation example
Funded by the EC 6th Framework Programme and the Swedish Energy Agency. It runs for 5 years beginning 1st September 2004
(http://www.chrisgas.com)
(13) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Sustainable energy system for transport (RENEW)2nd generation example
(http://www.renew-fuel.com)
A pan-European project, supported under the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme
Ch
oren (D
e) Gü
ssing (A
t) Mör rom
(se ) Aben
goa (Es)
(14) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
BIOCOUP is an Integrated Project coordinated by VTT (Fi), involving 17 partners from 7 countries. It started on 1st May 2006
Co-processing of upgraded bio-liquids in standard refinery units (BIOCOUP)2nd generation example
(15) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Optimization of thermochemical refinery…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Torrefaction
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
Cryogenic distillation
CO2 removal
Sulphur removal
Aqueous scrubber
Biosyngas
Combined Cycle
minerals
CO2 NH4+
H2O
H2O
Base chemicals acetylene ethylene
Transportation fuel synthesis Fischer-Tropsch diesel MeOH / DME ethanol / mixed alcohols hydrogen
Electricity & Heat
Fine chemicals formic acid acidic acid propionic acid
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Claus process elementary S
Gaseous fuel CH4 / LNG
Chemical industry, sequestering, oil industry (EOR), greenhouses CO2
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
Cryogenic distillation
Biosyngas
(16) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Bio-CHP as base case…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Gasification
Combined Cycle
minerals
H2O
Electricity & Heat Biological
Processes
(17) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Products from bio-CHP…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
Aqueous scrubber
Combined Cycle
minerals
NH4+
H2O
H2O
CO2
Electricity & Heat
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
(18) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Upstream products from torrefaction…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Torrefaction
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
Aqueous scrubber
Combined Cycle
minerals
NH4+
H2O
H2O
CO2
Electricity & Heat
Fine chemicals formic acid acidic acid propionic acid
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
(19) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Downstream products from gas conditioning…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Torrefaction
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
CO2 removal
Sulphur removal
Aqueous scrubber
Combined Cycle
minerals
CO2 NH4+
H2O
H2O
CO2
Electricity & Heat
Fine chemicals formic acid acidic acid propionic acid
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Claus process elementary S
Chemical industry, sequestering, oil industry (EOR), greenhouses CO2
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
(20) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Backend chemicals, syngas and fuels…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Torrefaction
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
Cryogenic distillation
CO2 removal
Sulphur removal
Aqueous scrubber
Biosyngas
Combined Cycle
minerals
CO2 NH4+
H2O
H2O
Base chemicals acetylene ethylene
Transportation fuel synthesis Fischer-Tropsch diesel MeOH / DME ethanol / mixed alcohols hydrogen
Electricity & Heat
Fine chemicals formic acid acidic acid propionic acid
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Claus process elementary S
Gaseous fuel CH4 / LNG
Chemical industry, sequestering, oil industry (EOR), greenhouses CO2
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
(21) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Science fiction?
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Great plains synfuels plant began operating in 1984 and today produces > 54 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas
(http://www.dakotagas.com)
(22) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Optimization of thermochemical refinery…
3rd Generation “Thermochemical refinery”
Torrefaction
Gasification
“OLGA” Tar removal unit
Cryogenic distillation
CO2 removal
Sulphur removal
Aqueous scrubber
Biosyngas
Combined Cycle
minerals
CO2 NH4+
H2O
H2O
Base chemicals acetylene ethylene
Transportation fuel synthesis Fischer-Tropsch diesel MeOH / DME ethanol / mixed alcohols hydrogen
Electricity & Heat
Fine chemicals formic acid acidic acid propionic acid
Fertiliser (NH4)2SO4
Impregnating regent heavy tars
Solvents benzene toluene xylenes
Fine chemicals light tars
Product Gas H2 CO CO2 H2O CH4 C2H2 & C2H4 BTX light tars heavy tars NH3 (HCN) H2S (COS)
Claus process elementary S
Gaseous fuel CH4 / LNG
Chemical industry, sequestering, oil industry (EOR), greenhouses CO2
Irrigation / tap water H2O
Biological Processes
Cryogenic distillation
Biosyngas
(23) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Staged biomass degasification (BIOCASCADE)3rd generation example
Torrefaction Pyrolysis
Gasification
Biomass 180 - 290°C 290 - 600°C > 600°C BioSyngas
catalyst ? catalyst ? catalyst ? Crude Crude Crude
chemicals
fuels
power
Product separation and upgrading heat
Base/platform chemicals
• Sequential thermal decomposition of hemicellulose>cellulose>lignin
• Condensable products: acids, phenolics, furans,….. (+ syngas): yields thus far low
• Optimization of individual product yield via process conditions
• Catalyst development
• Product separation and upgrading
(24) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Staged biomass degasification (BIOCASCADE)Decomposition at different temperatures
(25) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Staged biomass degasification (BIOCASCADE)Decomposition at different temperatures
BIOSYNERGY is an Integrated Project coordinated by ECN (Nl), involving 17 partners from 10 countries. It starts end 2006
(26) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
Conclusions
• Products considered should not only include power and heat, but chemicals, fuels, materials (fibres, starch, wood), food and feed as well
• A biorefinery should at least be self-fulfilling with regards to heat and preferably also with regards to electricity
• In order to meet biomass-related policy goals more advanced thermochemical biomass based refinery processes will have to be developed.
Development of advanced 3rd generation (thermochemical) biorefineries
Develop 2nd and 3rd generation biorefineries
Consider heat and power as internals or residual streams, and focus on “high-value” products
Focus on the development of 3rd generation biorefineries for the future,while implementing 2nd generation biorefineries for short-term goals
(27) ECN–BKM, Robin Zwart Biorefinica 2006, 11-12 October 2006, Osnabrück www.ecn.nl
For more information,please contact:
Ir. Robin Zwart Publications can be found on:phone +31 224 56 4574 www.ecn.nl/en/bkmfax +31 224 56 8487 www.biorefinery.nl/publicationsemail [email protected]
Visit also: Biorefinery.nl – The Dutch Network on Biorefinery: www.biorefinery.nl
(with the latest information on the upcoming IEA Task on biorefineries)
Thank you for your attention
(including this presentation)