Ablative fast pyrolysis: Converting wood, agricultural wastes and crops into energy and chemicals
- Interchem Environmental, Inc., Overland Park, KS (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
Each year more than 170 million tonnes (190 million tons) of yard waste, pallets, forest and agricultural residues are discarded that could become feedstocks for saleable products. The United Stated could potentially grow more than 450 million tonnes (500 million tons) per year of energy crops as dedicated feedstocks in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. About 85% of this lignocellulosic material can be converted into a biocrude oil and charcoal via fast pyrolysis. An engineering scale pyrolysis system has been designed and is being built according to the NREL ablative vortex fast pyrolysis concept in Kansas City. The system has been designed for a throughput of 32.7 dry tonnes (36 dry tons) per day (TPD) of biomass. The 13 mm (1/2 in.) particles enter the vortex reactor where the solid biomass is heated very quickly and is converted into oil vapors, gas, char and water. The char particles are separated from the hot gas and vapor stream. Next, the vapors are condensed to form an oil that is removed for sale or for upgraded products. The residual non-condensible gases are then sent back to the furnace where they are burned to provide process heat. The 36 TPD unit is projected to cost $1.5 million to build. This scale is appropriate for waste feedstocks that are available with a tipping fee in selected locations in the United States. Larger scale units of 90 tonnes (100 tons) and 227 tonnes (250 tons) per day are being designed to gain economies of scale in larger operations. The environmental impacts of a properly designed fast pyrolysis system are minimal and continue to be monitored at all these scales. Fast pyrolysis offers an excellent process for converting biomass into oils, char, and chemicals, much like a petroleum refinery does for crude oil.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 140245
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-200-5768-Vol.2; CONF-9308106-Vol.2; ON: DE94000435; TRN: 93:003832-0049
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1. biomass conference of the Americas: energy, environment, agriculture, and industry, Burlington, VT (United States), 30 Aug - 2 Sep 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]; Related Information: Is Part Of First Biomass Conference of the Americas: Energy, environment, agriculture, and industry; Proceedings, Volume 2; PB: 711 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
PYROLYSIS
CHARCOAL
PRODUCTION
WOOD WASTES
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
LIQUID FUELS
WOOD
RESIDUES
PROCESS HEAT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OILS
LIGNIN
CELLULOSE
TIME DEPENDENCE
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES