Gasification & Syngas Technologies Council 2017 Annual Conference, Colorado Springs, USA 16 October 2017 1
Torrefaction and gasification. Essential steps towards modular biobased solutions
Biomass gasification will play an important role in our circular decentralized biobased society. Drivers towards circular, decentralized biobased society: More competition; Lower cost infrastructure; More efficient use of resources; Sustainable
Dilemmas that need to be resolved for the creation of a sustainable biobased economy. Logistic dilemmas: Low energy density Regional supply chains Biodegradable/rotting Lack of scalability; 10 MWth requires 40.000 mt of fresh biomass (i.e. 2.000 truck-loads) Biomass properties dilemmas: Heterogeneous feedstock Low grindability High moisture content Variability is a huge challenge for an 8000 hours/year, continuous and stable operation Economical dilemmas: Low value creation by conversion to energy Bankability of projects Modularity Low prices fossil alternatives Price, supply and quality security Gasification dilemmas: Low Temperature(<700 C): tars, no slag High temperature (>1000 C): slag, little or no tars Mid temperature (700-1000 C): slagging and tars
Solution 1: Biomass is not a fuel torrefied biomass is. A wide variety of feedstock can be converted into a high performance commodity. Y Y Y Y Y Y Tough Fibrous Hydrophilic Biodegradable Heterogeneous Poor energy density N N N N N N All ligno-cellulosic feedstock(wood, herbaceous, etc) can be torrefied and turned into stable biocoal Typical thermal efficiency torrefaction process is approxamitely 90% Bulk energy density feedstock: 1-3 GJ/m 3. Torrefied biomass: 14-18 GJ/m 3
Solution 2: mitigate three fundamental process risks which are often encountered in traditional biomass gasification. Torrgas unique process design mitigates three fundamental risks which are often encountered in traditional biomass gasification: 1. Feed continuity: torrgas delivers a stable and efficient operation by applying homogeneous, high energy density, moisture free torrefied biomass. 2. Slagging (melting ash): which has significant negative impact on both the Capex and Opex of a gasifier: torrgas technology circumvents slagging by immobilizing char. 3. Expensive tar cleaning: this is avoided by complete cracking of tars in the second step gasification.
Solution 3: bring biocoal costs below 100 $/mt (or $15 per MWh) on a scalable and sustainable basis by introducing new scalable feedstock. Torrgas & Torrgreen* are partners in a high yield energy crop development that mitigates a wide variety of traditional biobased dilemmas, in terms of economics, scalability and bankability: (Low) price security of biomass; banagrass plantations yield 400 mt/ha/yr+ on marginal lands (under warm/tropical conditions). Supply security; plantations supply year round. Quality security; uniformity of feedstock, processes and operations guarantee uniformity of product. Product quality can be assured at all times. Scalability 1; 4000 hectares of marginal land can convert a 125 Mwe power plant to 100% biocoal. Scalability 2; at 100 mt/ha/yr++ of biocoal production substitution global fossil coal consumption(3.9 billion tonnes) requires 39 million hectares. Global marginal land available: 640 million hectare. Bankability of projects; most biobased projects are not solid enough for bank financing and equity/subsidies financed. Costs of capital(thus biobased products) can be significantly reduced by debt financing. *Torrgreen is a technology company for torrefaction of herbaceous biomass like bagasse, EFB, cornstover, banagrass etc.
Solution 4: high value creation and market flexibility in final products. Engineered carbon combined with tar, nitrogen free syngas. Engineered carbon Tar, nitrogen free syngas 1. Activated carbon market: water and flue-gas cleaning. 2. Soil Enhancer (biochar): a high-carbon soil supplement that retains water, microbes and nutrients. 3. Metallurgical char: high purity biochar can produce high purity steel with low carbon footprint. 4. Petcoke replacement for producers (Titanium, Silicon Carbide) requiring low sulfur petcoke. Syngas 5. BBQ-briquettes: the high carbon content / low volatile content makes it an ideal recreational fuel. 6. Filler in compounding industry (cars, construction)
Mass & Energy balance of planned biobased syngas and engineered carbon production. Raw Biomass @40% moisture Mass:238 Energy:111 Torrefied biomass 100 100 Pyrolysis 650 750 C Char 24 33 Crude syngas Dewatering / Drying Fuel Feeding Gasification 1300-1500 C 108 66 143 111 Cooling Heat Recovery Torrefaction Clean Syngas 17 105 42
Final solution 1; integration of Power to Gas with biobased syngas. 20 MW project Torrgas Delfzijl focus on integration. Hydrogen 20% of global transition is power related Electrolysis Biobased Chemicals 80% of global transition is related to molecules Biomass (herbaceous, wood, waste) Oxygen Torrefaction Gasification Engineered Carbon Syngas Gas Turbines & Gas Engines
Final solution 2: a completely integrated, independent high value creation biobased value & technology chain creating biobased products. Food High protein content silage banagrass is ideal protein feedstock for farms Climate Change Sequences 400.000 mt CO 2 per 1000 ha/year Energy Torrefied biomass is ideal fuel to substitute fossil coal in existing processes or de-centralized power production Jobs Short rotation concept creates up to 100 jobs per 1000 ha bio-based project Zero waste All biomass produced is converted into products with zero waste Bio-based energy or chemicals & fuels Produced syngas is suitable for conversion to synthetic chemicals & fuels and/or application in gasturbines/engines Sustainable land use Biochar improves soil fertility, soil structure, water holding capacity and efficiency of fertilizer Water & air purification Char(by-product) can be applied for air and water purification
Current status developments. Torrgas key focus is on the complete biobased value chain demonstration of 20 MW in Delfzijl, The Netherlands with a focus on both torrefaction and gasification Torrgas development: Modifications on pyrolysis part 700 kw demo plant in Q4 2017 FID 20 MW end of Q1 2018 Operations start early 2019 Proof of engineered carbon spec (92% Carbon, 720 g/m 2 ) Integration with power to gas (use of oxygen and hydrogen) is key focus Torrgreen project: Pilot plant at Technical university of Delft R&D program on various herbaceous feedstock (bagasse, banagrass, EFB) Demo plant (100 kg/hr output capacity) under construction Funding round for 1 mt/hr output capacity ongoing
Our partners and investors.
Thank you for your attention r.postvanderburg@torrgas.nl