National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Biomass Gasification
Overview

Presented by Richard L. Bain

January 28, 2004

Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle
 Office of the Biomass Program

Goals
Reduce U.S. dependence upon foreign sources of
petroleum
Realization of the Industrial Biorefinery
Mission
To foster research and development on advanced
technologies to transform our abundant biomass resources
into clean, affordable, and domestically-produced biofuels,
biopower, and high-value bioproducts for improving the
economic development and enhancing the energy supply
options of the U.S.
 The Unique Role of Biomass

While the growing need for sustainable

electric power can be met by other
renewables…

Biomass is the only renewable that can

meet our demand for carbon-based
liquid fuels and chemicals
 Research Focus for the Biorefinery
Advanced Biomass R&D

Sugar Feedstocks
Sugar Platform

Residues

Combined Fuels, Integrated

Heat & Chemicals, Industrial
Biomass Power Biorefineries
& Materials
Clean Gas

Thermochemical
Platform Conditioned Gas

Systems Integration
 Thermochemical Platform Costs for SynGas Intermediate
Impact of Overcoming Technical Barriers
20
Reference: Hamelink and Faaij (2001)

18

16
Without Integrated
Demonstrations
14
Cost of Production ($/GJ)

Pioneer Plant Costs

12

10

With Integrated
6 Demonstrations

0
Base Feed Thermochemical Gas Sensors & Controls Process
550 tpd Handling Conversion Conditioning Integration
Nth plant
 Performance Specific
Program Goals
Ye a r 2003 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Minim um Synga s Se lling
9 8.3 6 5.6 5.1 4.7 4.3
Price ($/GJ, LHV)
Corre sponding H2 cost
($/kg)
j 2.16 1.98 1.26 1.17 1.08 0.99 0.90
product, e .g., m e tha nol
1.30 1.20 0.90 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.54
($/ga l)
Fe e dstock cost ($/dry ton
30 30 30 30 30 30 30
de live re d)
Pla nt size (dry tons/da y) 550 550 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 4,000

Feed Preparation/Gasification: 10% reduction in product cost by 2010

Gas Cleanup: 20% reduction in product cost by 2010

System Integration: 10% reduction in product cost by 2010

Strategic Fit
 Biomass Thermochemical Conversion
PRODUCTS
For Fuels and Chemicals
• Hydrogen
• Alcohols
• FT Gasoline
• FT Diesel
Gasification Cleanup Synthesis
• Olefins
• Oxochemicals
• Ammonia
• SNG

• Hydrogen
Conversion • Olefins
Biomass Pyrolysis Purification
or Collection • Oils
• Specialty Chem

• Hydrogen
Other • Methane
Separation Purification
Conversion * • Oils
• Other

* Examples: Hydrothermal Processing, Liquefaction, Wet Gasification

 Basic Definitions

Biomass is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural

crops or other biological material. It can be used as a solid fuel, or
converted into liquid or gaseous forms for the production of
electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels.

Black Liquor is the lignin-rich by-product of fiber extraction

from wood in Kraft (or sulfate) pulping. The industry burns black
liquor in Tomlinson boilers that 1) feed back-pressure steam
turbines supplying process steam and electricity to mills, 2)
recover pulping chemicals (sodium and sulfur compounds) for
reuse.
 Representative Biomass & Black Liquor Compositions

Poplar Corn Stover Chicken Litter Black Liquor

Proximate (w t% as rece ived)
Ash 1.16 4.75 18.65 52.01
Volatile Ma tter 81.99 75.96 58.21 35.26
Fix ed Carbon 13.05 13.23 11.53 6.11
Moisture 4.80 6.06 11.61 9.61

HHV, Dry (Btu/lb) 8382 7782 6310 4971

Ultimate, w t% as rece ive d

Carbon 47.05 43.98 32.00 32.12
Hydrogen 5.71 5.39 5.48 2.85
Nitrogen 0.22 0.62 6.64 0.24
Sulfur 0.05 0.10 0.96 4.79
Oxygen (by diff) 41.01 39.10 34.45 0.71
Chlorine <0.01 0.25 1.14 0.07
Ash 1.16 4.75 19.33 51.91

Ele mental Ash Ana lysis, w t% of fuel a s re ceive d

Si 0.05 1.20 0.82 <0.01
Fe --- --- 0.25 0.05
Al 0.02 0.05 0.14 <0.01
Na 0.02 0.01 0.77 8.65
K 0.04 1.08 2.72 0.82
Ca 0.39 0.29 2.79 0.05
Mg 0.08 0.18 0.87 <0.01
P 0.08 0.18 1.59 <0.01
As (ppm) 14
 Representative Biomass and Coal Properties

Biomass 1 Biomass 2 Coal 1 Coal 2 Tar Sands

Name Wood Red Corn Cob Grundy, IL. No 4 Rosebud, MT Athabasca

Classification HvBb sub B Bitumen

Proximate Analysis, wt% Dry

Moisture 25-60 16 8.16 19.84
Volatile Matter 77-87 ca. 80 40.6 39.02
Fixed Carbon 13-21 -- 45.47 49.08
Ash 0.1-2 4 13.93 9.16
Ultimate Analysis, wt % Dry
C 50-53 45 68.58 68.39 83.6
H 5.8-7.0 5.8 4.61 4.64 10.3
N 0-0.3 2.4 1.18 0.99 0.4
Cl .001-0.1 -- 0.12 0.02 --
O 38-44 42.5 6.79 16.01 0.2
S 0-0.1 0 4.76 0.79 5.5
Ash 0.1-2 4 13.93 9.16

H/C Atomic Ratio 1.4-1.6 1.5 0.8 0.81 1.47

HHV, Dry, Btu/lb 8,530- 9,050 7,340 12,400 11,684 17,900
 Basic Definitions
Pyrolysis
• Thermal conversion (destruction) of organics in the absence of oxygen
• In the biomass community, this commonly refers to lower temperature
thermal processes producing liquids as the primary product
• Possibility of chemical and food byproducts

Gasification
• Thermal conversion of organic materials at elevated temperature and
reducing conditions to produce primarily permanent gases, with char,
water, and condensibles as minor products
• Primary categories are partial oxidation and indirect heating
 Thermochemical Conversion
Of Biomass and Black Liquor
Product Bio-Oil Syngas
Dry Ash Slag
Changing World
Technologies
GTI (O2) Chemrec (O2)
Gas Product: PNNL Wet Carbona (O2) Noell
Gasification (CH4/H2) HTW O2)
High Foster Wheeler (O2)
Pressure 10-25 MPa 1- 3 MPa 2 – 3 MPa

Feed: Biomass
Feed: Biomass MTCI-also Black Feed: Black Liquor
Liquor

FERCO (Indirect)
MTCI (Indirect)
Pearson (Indirect)
Low TUV (Indirect)
ENSYN For CHP:TPS (Air)
Pressure Carbona (Air) Chemrec (Air)
Dynamotive
0.2 MPa Lurgi (Air)
BTG
Fortum Foster Wheeler (Air)
EPI (Air)
Prime Energy (Air)

Low Medium High

(300-600°C) (700-850°C) (900-1200°C)
Temperature
 Technical Barrier Areas
Biomass Residues Hydrogen Fuels Export
Dedicated Crops & Bioproducts & Chemicals Electricity

Feed Gasification Gas Heat

Processing & Conditioning Syngas & Power
& Handling Pyrolysis & Separation Utilization Generation

Biorefinery
Residues

™ Feed Processing and Handling

™ Gasification / Conversion
™ Gas Cleanup and Catalytic Conditioning
™ Syngas Utilization
™ Process Integration
™ Process Control, Sensors, and Optimization

Critical Issues
 Biomass Thermochemical Conversion
Primary Technical Barriers

Gasification Pyrolysis Black Liquor Gasification

• Feed Pretreatment • Oil Handling • Containment

- Feeder reliability
- Feed modification
• Gasification
- Tar & Heteroatom chemistry
- Gasifier Design
• Gas Cleanup & Conditioning
- Catalytic Conversion
- Condensing Cleanup
- Non-condensing Cleanup
• Syngas Utilization
- Cleanliness requirements
- Gas composition
• Process Integration
• Sensors and Controls
- Toxicity - Metals
- Stability - Refractories
- Storage - Vessel design
- Transportation - Bed behavior/agglomeration
• Oil Properties • Mill Integration
- Ash - Steam
- Acidity - Power
• Oil Commercial Properties - Causticizing
- Commercial Specifications • Fuels Chemistry
- Use in Petroleum Refineries - Carbon management
- Tars
- Sulfur management
- Alkali management
- Halogen management
• Sensors and Controls
 Representative Gasification Pathways

Low Pressure Shift

Biomass Compression
Gasification Conversion

Feed Preparation
Oxygen
& Handling
CO2 Product

High Pressure Hot Gas Acid Gas

Reforming Compression Synthesis
Gasification Cleanup Removal

LP Indirect Cold Gas Compression

Gasification Cleanup & Reforming

Catalytic
LP Indirect
Conditioning Compression
Gasification
& Reforming
 Biomass Biomass
Cyclone

Freeboard

Gas, Tar, Water Gas, Tar, Water

Ash
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis
C + CO2 = 2CO C + O2 = CO2 Fluid Bed
C + H2O = CO + H2 Reduction 4H + O2 = 2H2O
Combustion
Biomass
C + CO2 = 2CO
C + O2 = CO2 Combustion
C + H2O = CO + H2 Reduction Air Plenum
4H + O2 = 2H2O Air/Steam
Ash
Ash
Air

Downdraft Gasifier Fluid-Bed Gasifier

Updraft Gasifier

Flue Gas

Secondary
Primary Cyclone
Gasifier Cyclone

Fly Ash

Biomass Char

Biomass Furnace
Recycle Gas
N2 or Steam
Air/Steam
Air
Bottom Ash

Circulating Fluid-Bed Gasifier Entrained Flow Gasifier

 Community Power Corporation’s
BioMax 15 Modular Biopower System
FERCO GASIFIER- BURLINGTON, VT

350 TPD
 Carbona Project: Skive, Denmark
TAR CRACKER
GASIFIER
STACK
GAS COOLER GAS COOLER
BIOMASS

ASH GAS TANK

FUEL
FEEDING

HEAT RECOVERY

POWER

AIR HEAT
GAS ENGINE(S)
ASH
 Typical Gas Heating Values

Gasifier Inlet Gas Product Gas Product Gas

Type HHV
3
MJ/Nm

Partial Oxidation Air Producer Gas 7

Partial Oxidation Oxygen Synthesis Gas 10
Indirect Steam Synthesis Gas 15
Natural Gas 38
Methane 41
 Gas composition versus reactor type

Gas ifie r FERCO Carbona Prince ton IGT

M ode l

Type Indire ct CFB Air FB Indire ct FB PFB

Age nt s te am air s te am O2/s te am
Be d M ate rial olivine s and none alum ina
Fe e d w ood chips w ood pe lle ts black liquor w ood chips

Gas Com pos ition

H2 26.2 21.70 29.4 19.1
CO 38.2 23.8 39.2 11.1
CO2 15.1 9.4 13.1 28.9
N2 2 41.6 0.2 27.8
CH4 14.9 0.08 13.0 11.2
C2+ 4 0.6 4.4 2.0
GCV , M J/Nm 3 16.3 5.4 17.2 9.2
 Gas composition versus reactor type

Gas ifie r Te ch Univ Fre e Univ Univ of USEPA IGT

V ie nna of Brus s e ls Zaragos a

Type Indire ct FB Air FB Dow ndraft Updraft PFB

Age nt s te am air air air O2/s te am
Be d M ate rial s ilica s ilica none none alum ina
Fe e d w ood chips w ood chips w ood chips w ood chips w ood chips

Gas Com pos ition

H2 31.5 9 - 11 16 10 19.12
CO 22.7 15 - 17 21.5 14.8 11.07
CO2 27.4 18 14.4 12.8 28.88
N2 2.8 Diff 44.4 28.9 27.77
CH4 11.2 5-7 3.3 4.9 11.21
C2+ 4 3 NA NA 1.95
Gasifier Types-Advantages and Disadvantages

G asifier A dvantages D isadvantages

Updraft M ature for heat Feed size lim its
Sm all scale applications High tar yields
Can handle high m oisture Scale lim itations
No carbon in ash Producer gas
Slagging potential

Dow ndraft Sm all scale applications Feed size lim its

Low particulates Scale lim itations
Low tar Producer gas
M oisture sensitive

Fluid Bed Large scale applications M edium tar yield

Feed characteristics Higher particle loading
Direct/indirect heating
Can produce syngas

Circulating Fluid Bed Large scale applications M edium tar yield

Feed characteristics Higher particle loading
Can produce syngas

Entrained Flow Can be scaled Large am ount of carrier gas

Potential for low tar Higher particle loading
Can produce syngas Potentially high S/C
Particle size lim its
 Typical Gas, Contaminant Yields

Hybrid Poplar Switchgrass Mixed Woods

H2, vol % 33.99 24.31 31.82
CO 36.67 39.47 31.59
CO2 17.91 14.97 17.96
CH4 12.56 13.77 11.73
C2H4 4.41 5.86 4.50
Benzene 1.35 0.96 1.06
Toluene 0.31 0.20 0.24
H2/CO 0.93 0.62 1.01
H2S, ppmv 64-72 323-396 36-63
Ammonia, ppmv 290 max 760 max 339-369
-
Cl cond, ppm-m/v 0 486 max 4 max
+
K cond, ppm-m/v 10 max 208 max 7 max
Tot org. C cond ppm-m/v 2060 max 2320 max 2480 max
Cyanide, ppm-m/v 37 1442-1472 ND
 Primary Processes Secondary Processes Tertiary Processes

Light HCs, PNA’s, CO,

Vapor CO, CO2, Primary Olefins, Aromatics CO, H2,
Aromatics, H2, CO2, CO2, H2O
Phase H2O Vapors CO, H2, CO2, H2O
& Oxygenates H2O, CH4

Low P

Liquid Primary Condensed Oils

Liquids (phenols, aromatics)
Phase High
P

Low P
Solid
Phase Biomass Charcoal Coke Soot
High
P

Pyrolysis Severity
Mixed Phenolic Alkyl Heterocyclic Larger
Oxygenates Ethers Phenolics Ethers PAH PAH
o o o o o o
400 C 500 C 600 C 700 C 800 C 900 C
C o n v e n tio n a l H i- T e m p e r a tu r e C o n v e n tio n a l H i- T e m p e r a tu r e
F la s h F la s h S te a m S te a m
P y r o ly s is P y r o ly s is G a s ific a tio n G a s ific a tio n
(4 5 0 - 5 0 0 oC ) (6 0 0 - 6 5 0 oC ) (7 0 0 - 8 0 0 oC ) (9 0 0 - 1 0 0 0 oC )

A c id s Benzenes N a p h th a le n e s N a p h th a le n e *
A ld e h y d e s P h e n o ls A c e n a p h th y le n e s A c e n a p h th y le n e
K e to n e s C a te c h o ls F lu o r e n e s P h e n a n th r e n e
F u ra n s N a p h th a le n e s P h e n a n th r e n e s F lu o r a n th e n e
A lc o h o ls B ip h e n y ls B e n z a ld e h y d e s P y re n e
C o m p le x P h e n a n th r e n e s P h e n o ls A c e p h e n a n th r y le n e
O x y g e n a te s B e n z o fu r a n s N a p h th o fu r a n s B e n z a n th r a c e n e s
P h e n o ls B e n z a ld e h y d e s B e n z a n th r a c e n e s B e n z o p y re n e s
G u a ia c o ls 226 M W PAH s
S y r in g o ls 276 M W PAH s
C o m p le x
P h e n o ls

* A t th e h ig h e s t
s e v e r ity , n a p h th a le n e s
s u c h a s m e th y l
n a p h th a le n e a r e
s tr ip p e d to s im p le
n a p h th a le n e .
Chemical Components in biomass tars (Elliott, 1988)
Gasification Applications
• Heat
• District heating
• Plant steam
• Institutional heating

• Combined heat and power

• Pulp and paper industry
• District heating/electricity

• Electricity only
• Cofiring - ash segregation
• Integrated gasification combined cycle

• Synthesis gas
• Oxygenates - methanol, ethanol, DME, etc.
• Fischer-Tropsch Liquids
• Hydrogen
• Methane
• Chemicals
Biorefinery Utilities Applications
 Synthesis Gas - Examples
of Conversion Processes

• Oxygenates
• Methanol, DME, Mobil MTG
• Mixed alcohols
• Snamprogetti/Topsoe, Lurgi, Dow, IFP/Idemitsu
• Modified Fischer Tropsch - ethanol
• Dow, Pearson Technologies
• Biochemical (fermentation)
• Mississippi State University, University of Arkansas
• Hydrocarbon fuels
• Methane
• Fischer Tropsch
• Iron based - Sasol Synthoil
• Cobalt based - Shell middle distillate synthesis (SMDS)
• Hydrogen
• Methane steam reforming
• High and low temperature shift
• H2 separation
 Waxes Olefins
Diesel Gasoline
MTBE
Mixed Acetic Acid

acidic ion exchange

Alcohols Fischer-Tropsch

+ Ction
O
yla
Al

Fe, Co, Ru
ka

Formaldehyde

isobutylene

CH rbon
Zn u/Z /Co

li-

Ni
C O

do
O nO O/

3O
Cu oS 2

/C ; A

Ag

ca
pe

h,
M

r 2O Cu l 2O

,R
3

Co
/Z 3
nO
/A
l 2O

Syngas Cu/ZnO zeolites Olefins

3

Isosynthesis
i-C4 Methanol
ThO2 or ZrO2
CO + H2 MTO
Gasoline

Dir
Co
MTG

Al2O3
tion

ect
,
Ox

Rh
H2O

Co ologa
os

U
HC o( )(P

WGS
HC h(CO

se
yn
o( CO Ph
R

Purify
CO ) 3P 3) 3

hom
th

DME
e
) 4 (Bu

sis

M100
N2 over Fe/FeO Ethanol M85
3
)

NH3
(K2O, Al2O3, CaO)
H2 Aldehydes
DMFC
Alcohols
 FEED CLEANUP &
BIOMASS PREP
GASIFICATION
CONDITIONING
SYNGAS

Ethanol From Biomass

BIOCONVERSION

Thermochemical Syngas – Biochemical Ethanol

SEPARATION

ETHANOL
 Fischer Tropsch Synthesis

Low T FTS
Slurry (Co) or
Tubular (Fe) Waxes (> C20)
Air, Oxygen, Reactor
Hydrocracking
Steam

Coal,
Natural Gas, Gasifier
Gas Cleanup Clean syngas Diesel
and Conditioning H 2 and CO
or Biomass Particulate Removal
Wet Scrubbing
Catalytic Tar Conversion
Sulfur Scrubbing
WGS CFB or FFB(Fe)
Olefins
etc. Reactor (C3 - C11)
Oligomerization
High T FTS Isomerization
)1) CO + 3H2 Æ CH4 + H2O (Methanation) Hydrogenation

)2) nCO + (2n+1)H2 Æ CnH2n+2 + nH2O (Paraffins)

Gasoline
)3) nCO + 2nH2 Æ CnH2n + nH2O (Olefins)

)4) nCO + 2nH2 Æ CnH2n+1OH + (n-1)H2O (Alcohols)

 Simplified Methanol Synthesis Process Flow Diagram

Steam, O2

Natural
Desulphurization Steam Reforming
Gas
BioSyngas
syngas (CO/CO2/H2)
Cooling
Compressor Methanol
and Methanol
Converter
Distillation
Purge
Gas syngas recycle loop

CO + 2H2 Æ CH3OH ∆Hr = -90.64 kJ/mol

CO2 + 3H2 Æ CH3OH + H2O ∆Hr = -49.67 kJ/mol
CO + H2O Æ CO2 + H2 ∆Hr = -41.47 kJ/mol

Preferred Stoichiometry: (H2 – CO2)/(CO + CO2) = 2

 Heat and Power - Prime Movers

Steam turbines
Extracting - for CHP
Non extracting - electricity only
Small to large scale

IC engines
5 kW to 2 MW
Control of NOx and CO

Turbines
Microturbines
Gas Turbines - GT and IGCC applications

Stirling engines

Fuel cells
 Why Biomass + Fuel Cells?
Good temperature and pressure match

Attractive fuel gas characteristics

Allows penetration of fuel cells into markets without

natural gas distribution networks

High efficiency maximizes biomass conversion to electricity

- reduces biomass demand for energy production

Fossil carbon substitution

Fuel Cells are "Reverse" Electrolysis
 Fuel Cell Schematic

Electrolyte
(Ion conductor)

Depleted fuel Out Depleted Oxidant Out

O2
+
H2 H 80ºC
PEMS H2O

O2 200ºC
PAFC H2 H+
H2O
H2 O2
MCFC CO2 CO3= 650ºC
H2O CO2

SOFC H2
O= O2 1000ºC
H2 O
Fuel In Oxidant In

Anode Cathode
 Cyclone
Gas
Cleanup
Freeboard Product Gas

Exhaust

Ash Isothermal
Pre-reformer
Compressor
Fluid Bed

Biomass
Cooling
Plenum Air
Air/Steam HRSG

Fluid-Bed Gasifier

Carbonate
A C
Fuel Cells Process
Water

DC/AC A.C.
Inverter Output

Air
Burner
Research and Development Areas
(not all-inclusive)

• Feed characterization
• Materials handling
• Storage
• Conveying
• Moisture control
• Comminution
• Feeding
• Gasification
• Kinetics
• Phase equilibria
• CFD modeling
• Gas cleanup
• Tar, ammonia, water
• Particulates, ash
• Residual carbon control
• Integrated process specific species
• Gas separations
• Process integration
• Prime mover systems
• Catalytic syngas conversion
• Sensors and controls
• LCA and TE modeling
 NREL Facilities

MBMS
Engine Testing

Emissions
Gasification (TCUF) Monitoring

TMBMS
 Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU)
™Base Configuration

Thermal Blower
Biomass Cracker
Coalescing
Feed Filter

Wet
scrubbed
Scrubber
Hopper/Feeder Syngas

Settling
Tank
Controller

8-in. Fluidized
Bed Reactor

Cyclones

Superheated Aqueous
Steam Effluent

Char
 TCPDU Process Conditions and
Product Gas Composition
TCPDU process parameters
11-Feb-03 to 28-Feb-03 Average gas composition from
steam feed rate (kg/h) 20.0 ± 0.2 indirect wood gasification in TCPDU
biomass feed rate (kg/h) 10.5 ± 0.9 2/11 to 2/28/03
fluid bed T (ºC) 615 ± 1
GC analysis of Port 3 (vol. %, N2- and
thermal cracker T (ºC) 775 ± 2 steam-free)
product gas flow rate (kg/h) 8.2 ± 0.8 hydrogen 26.9 ± 1.4
material balance 98.9±10% methane 15.6 ± 0.2
carbon monoxide 26.7 ± 1.4
Averaged mass spectrum (TMBMS) of tars carbon dioxide 23.5 ± 0.8
from indirect wood gasification ethylene 4.1 ± 0.1
ethane 0.68 ± 0.07
78 - benzene 142 - methylnaphthalenes
1e+5
78
91,92 - toluene 152 - acenaphthalene acetylene 0.47 ± 0.04
94 - phenol 166 - flourene propylene 0.32 ± 0.04
104 - styrene 178 - anthracene/phenanthrene
8e+4 108 - cresol 192 - methylanthracene? 1-butene 0.16 ± 0.04
116 - indene 202 - pyrene/flouranthene H2/CO ratio 1.0 ± 0.1
128 - naphthalene 216 - benzo(a)flourene
6e+4
Tar concentrations by TMBMS (ppmv,
w/ steam and N2)
4e+4
91,92 128 benzene 1732 ± 165
94 116
toluene 715 ± 89
2e+4 104 cresol 216 ± 44
142 152
108 166 178 naphthalene 327 ± 33
192 202 216 phenanthrene 72 ± 7
0
75 100 125 150 175 200
 Experimental Approach
5 cm bench-scale reformer – March, 2001 30 cm pilot-scale reformer – April 2002
Gas Flow Rate

0.35-0.4 kg/hr 7-18 kg/hr

WHSV (weight of feed/hr /

weight of catalyst)

1.6 hr-1 0.16-0.48 hr-1

Temperature

700-900°C 850°C

25000
CO 2 (/1 0 )
20000

15000 Difference Mass Spectrum (catalyst

10000
outlet-inlet) showing destruction of
biomass gasifier tars
Intensity (arb.)

5000

-5 0 0 0 p y re n e
to lu e n e n a p h th a le n e
-1 0 0 0 0

-1 5 0 0 0

benzene
-2 0 0 0 0
50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225

m /z
 Project Status
Revise scope
RFP Response Expected Installation
to reduce cost; Catalyst testing
issued received delivery complete
Contract placed

1/03 4/03 6/03 11/03 12/03 2/04-9/04

Scrubber
Tar Reformer

Cyclones
 o o o o o
100 850 C 825 C 800 C 775 C 750 C

benzene

80
% conversion

60 Methane and benzene

breakthrough vs. time-on-stream for
40
m ethane
temperature ramp experiments with
NREL-1 catalyst.
20

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

tim e-on-stream (h)

105 o o o o o
850 C 825 C 800 C 775 C 750 C
2000
100 total tar

95 1500

benzene slip (ppmv)

Total tar conversion and benzene
% conversion

90
slip for NREL-1Catalyst during
1000 temperature ramp experiments
85
benzene slip
(rt. axis)
500
80

75 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

time-on-srteam (h)
 NREL-1 Tem perature Ram p
100

80
% conversion

60 m ethane
benzene
toluene
naphthalene
40 phenan./anthr.
cresol

20

750 775 800 825 850

2FBR tem perature ( o C)
Steady State conversion of several tar species and methane for NREL-1 catalyst