(50c) Carbonaceous Feedstock Conversion to Fuels or Chemicals Using High Pressure Circulating Fluidized Beds

SwRI has developed a technology to produce conventional liquid fuels from carbonaceous feedstocks by process intensification of industrial fuel production processes using a high pressure, high temperature, circulating fluidized bed technology. SwRI has worked with industry to develop new processes to monetize or improve the efficiency of low value petroleum and bio based feedstocks in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve overall economics, including projects such as the production of fuels from chicken fat and using supercritical methanol to continuously produce biodiesel. A circulating fluidized bed has the main advantages of being able to continually regenerate catalyst, maximize surface area for catalyst activity and mixing, and reduced temperature gradients. SwRI conducted small-scale experiments and is evaluating the overall fundamental technology for scale-up and process intensification as materials of construction continue to evolve to support higher pressure and temperature systems. The patented technology utilizes a fluid bed for the direct conversion of carbonaceous materials to fuels and integrates pyrolysis and deoxygenation, maximizing hydrogen usage in one single fluidized bed reactor. The high pressure reactor takes advantage of the higher partial pressures needed for hydrogenation and any benefit of supercritical conditions to work on typically low hydrogen bio derived or hydrogen depleted feedstocks. Initial testing is focused on pyrolysis and hydrotreating in a single reactor utilizing reactor design and catalyst development capabilities. This presentation will describe the high pressure circulating fluidized bed technology, future applications, and process development data.