(498c) Advanced Biomass Gasification for the Production of Biopower, Fuels, and Chemicals

Recent price increases for various forms of energy along with projected shortages of supply have resulted in renewed interest in alternative fuels. Biomass gasification provides a renewable basis for supplying not only direct energy products such as gaseous and liquid fuels, and electric power, but also a broad suite of chemicals such as Fisher-Tropsch liquids as well as hydrogen. A medium calorific value (MCV) gas is necessary to achieve the full potential of biomass gasification for fuels, chemicals, and hydrogen production. The Taylor gasification process, being developed by Taylor Biomass Energy is a biomass gasification process that produces a MCV gas. The Taylor gasification process provides improvements over currently available gasification processes by integrating improvements to reduce issues with ash agglomeration and provide in-situ destruction of condensable hydrocarbons (tars), an essential element in gas cleanup. The gas conditioning step integrated into the Taylor Gasification Process provides a unique method to convert the tars into additional synthesis gas and to adjust the composition of the synthesis gas to significantly increase its hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio. Testing has shown that approximately 90% of the tars can be removed by the gas conditioning step providing a synthesis gas suitable for a variety of applications.