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Biomass gasification for production of gaseous and liquid fuels

Conference · · Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5355783
A 50-kg/h fast-pyrolysis reactor is now being built at Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) for fast-pyrolysis-high-olefin research. A molecular beam quadrupole mass spectrometer has also been built at SERI to sample the initial products of pyrolysis and determine the rate of subsequent degradation reactions. A small-scale updraft gasifier has been built at SERI to permit accurate measurement of temperature and sampling of gases at each level in the gasifier. The values measured experimentally agree quite well with values predicted from the known properties of biomass. Downdraft gasifiers consume most of the pyrolysis oils by cracking them on a hot char bed. This gas then can be used to operate spark or diesel engines, and possibly turbines, for power generation. This same principle has been used at SERI to design and build a pressurized downdraft oxygen gasifier for producing clean synthesis gas for making methanol, ammonia, or other fuels. To date, 13 runs have been made on the gasifier and results are reported.
Research Organization:
Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO
OSTI ID:
5355783
Report Number(s):
CONF-810554-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States) Journal Volume: 11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English