(89a) Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels – Process Demonstration Unit Test Results

TRI offers a proprietary two-stage gasification technology for biomass that has some unique attributes: production of a medium calorific value syngas, ability to dial in the H2 to CO molar ratio to match the synthesis reaction step for biofuels and/or biochemical production, feedstock flexibility, generation of the highest syngas flow for synthesis reaction due to the indirect heating method, and opportunity for superior thermal and process integration.

TRI has constructed and commissioned a Process Demonstration Unit (PDU) at Durham NC. This integrated gasification and gas to liquids biorefinery plant is designed to process 4 dry tons per day of biomass, generate, clean up, compress and condition syngas, and catalytically convert it to Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids. The PDU is made up of the following sub-systems: biomass storage and feed system, biomass gasification system, primary gas cleanup system, secondary gas cleanup and conditioning system, synthesis reactor system and a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) system. The biomass feed system is capable of feeding a wide range of feedstocks. The gasification system uses TRI's proprietary indirectly heated gasification technology. The synthesis reactor is an Emerging Fuels Technology (EFT) FT reactor with their proprietary cobalt catalyst to produce fuels and waxes. The PDU is designed to be integrated to any number of alternate downstream catalytic or fermentation processes to produce fuels and chemicals from syngas. Many trials have been run on woody biomass feedstocks and more diverse feedstock trials including energy crops and refuse derived fuel (RDF) are planned.

System configuration details will be provided and test results on performance, products and emissions will be presented.