Intermediate Pyrolysis: A Sustainable Biomass-to-Energy Concept Sudhakar Sagi 23 rd Nov 2010 Aston University Birmingham
The scale of the UK CO 2 challenge
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical decomposition of organic material at higher temperatures (400 to 800 C) in the absence of oxygen. There are different types of Pyrolysis depending on the process conditions. The 3 different types of Pyrolysis are Slow Pyrolysis Fast Pyrolysis Intermediate Pyrolysis Intermediate Pyrolysis The feedstocks that can be used are diverse and range from waste wood to food wastes and sewage sludge. There is also solid residue (biochar) as a product from the pyrolysis process which can be used as a fertiliser for the agricultural fields (a perfect case for carbon sequestration) or it can be used for co combustion in thermal power plants.
Intermediate Pyrolysis (coaxial conveyor screw reactor (pyroformer)) In and output of feed material in different forms such as pellets, powdered, chaffed etc., grinding not necessary Exactly defined residence time is realised by the internal conveyor screw Flexibility in residence time by variation of the speed of the screw (optimisation of the process for different types of feedstock is possible) Temperature range 300 to 550 C depending on feed materials Particle free liquids and gases realised through hot gas filtration Dry residues (char) obtained
EBRI thermal treatment division Feed material Pretreatment Processes Products Post treatment Final use Biomass Pretreatment Pyrolysis Coke Upgrading Activated carbon - clean - contaminated e. g. wheat-, rice straw, rice husks, olive stones, residues from the olive oil, coconut oil, nut oil, wine and beer production, coffee, residue mixtures from composting Availability - cultivation - crop Logistics - decontamination - extraction (mineral nutrients) - washing (mineral nutrients) - rotary kiln - ablative reactors - screw systems - fluidised bed Gasification (H 2 supply) Oil Slurry Gasification Gas Reforming Gas treatment - hot gas filtration (particles, aerosol) - catalysis (catalytic tar reforming) - sorption (S and N compounds) Chemical products e. g. acetic acid, formic acid Methane SOFC fuel cell CHP power generation Syngas H 2, synfuel, methanol - storage - transport Fertiliser SiO 2
Pyrolysis Filtration, Condensation, Aerosol Precipitation different flash and intermediate pyrolysis reactors Analytics
The new Pyroformer
Pyroformer Prof. Dr. A. Hornung EBRI/Aston University
BtVB Process Project ICONE Power (Odenwaldkreis, Germany) Energy grass Miscanthus, Biogas plant Minerals Microalgae Oil extraction Oils Chemical industry Pharmaceutical industry 2.000 3.000 EUR/t Twigs, leaves Lignin rich residues Residues from algae pressing, CO 2 negative Pyrolysis Fertilizer / Black Earth sewage Sludge Vapours Char Gasifier CO 2 negative Wood CHP Heat (4,5 MW) Steam Power (3,5 MW)
Biochar application Brazil (11 tons per ha). Embrapa Research Station, Manaus, Brazil, Photo C. Steiner The classical way is biochar from wood we are looking for alternatives
Heat and power, dual fuel engines for pyrolysis gases and liquids (southern Germany, 20,000 t/a) Heat and power
Power Generation from Sewage Sludge Intermediate Pyrolysis of sewage sludge The research aim of this project is to develop efficient methods to turn sewage sludge into heat and electricity. EBRI and STW
City of Birmingham (UK) Science City Innovation for Birmingham 2026 EBRI Site Demonstration and application at EBRI site (Aston University) with power and heat for EBRI (max. 1 MW el, mixed feedstocks) live 2010 Innovation for Birmingham 2026 This scheme is consuming 300,000 t/a of biogenic waste and residue material realised within Birmingham It delivers 580 GWh (CHP) with 15 applications required to make the council green It offers a hydrogen grid with up to 60 tonnes per day and biochar for fertilization It also offers a mid and long term research and development platform to shape the new strength of Birmingham, being the development and application centre of green technologies
Biogas production Biomass production Thermal lines Heat and Power EBRI Severn Trent Water reenfinch Ltd ( Ludlow ),000 tpa Demonstrator Rennie & sons(bedford) 12,000 tpa
Pyroformer 1 MW el Gasifier Greenhouse
Pyrolysis Gasification Producer gas Pyrolysis oil Carbon Trust Schnell engines Engine Optimisation EBRI Joint Task Partnership Project Birmingham City Univ Harper Adams Warwick HRI Hydrogen SNG Utilicom Aston Campus Birmingham University Birmingham 2026 Electric cars Heat and Power Severn Trent Varicon Aqua Fertilizer cycles Sewage Sludge Biochar Harper Adams UKBRI Schnell engines Germany TSB Coventry Co - Combustion FT-Diesel Oxford Catalyst Digestion Enzymat. Conv. Digestion Residues Science Bridge Pyrolysis Vapour filtration Tenmat Catalytic Treatmen Spent Grain Miller Brewery Johnson Matthey CO and biogas fueled engine Hainhaus Odenwald Germany Algae production Birmingham Brown Fields Schnell engines Birmingham City Univ Harper Adams Warwick HRI Utilicom Birmingham University Severn Trent Varicon Aqua Harper Adams UKBRI Schnell engines Germany Oxford Catalyst Tenmat Spent Grain Miller Brewery Johnson Matthey
www.ebri.org.uk