Low-temperature conversion of high-moisture biomass: Continuous reactor system results
Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) is developing a low-temperature, catalytic process for converting high-moisture biomass feedstocks and other wet organic substances to useful gaseous fuels. This system, in which thermocatalytic conversion takes place in an aqueous environment, was designed to overcome the problems usually encountered with high-water-content feedstocks. The process uses a reduced nickel catalyst at temperatures as low as 350{degree}C and pressures ranging from 2000 to 4000 psig -- conditions favoring the formation of gas consisting mostly of methane. The results of numerous batch tests showed that the system could convert feedstocks not readily converted by conventional methods. Fifteen tests were conducted in a continuous reactor system to further evaluate the effectiveness of the process for high-moisture biomass gasification and to obtain conversion rate data needed for process scaleup. During the tests, the complex gasification reactions were evaluated by several analytical methods. The results of these tests show that the heating value of the gas ranged from 400 to 500 Btu/scf, and if the carbon dioxide is removed, the product gas is pipeline quality. Conversion of the feedstocks was high. Engineering analysis indicates that, based on these results, a tubular reactor can be designed that should convert greater than 99% of the carbon fed as high-moisture biomass to a gaseous product in a reaction time of less than 11 min.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5657956
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-7126; ON: DE90000984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Thermocatalytic conversion of food processing wastes: Topical report, FY 1988
Thermochemical conversion of high-moisture biomass feedstocks
Related Subjects
BIOCONVERSION
OPTIMIZATION
BIOMASS
GASIFICATION
CATALYSTS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BIOREACTORS
BIOTHERMGAS PROCESS
MOISTURE
NICKEL
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
METALS
MIXTURES
SOLUTIONS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)