Paper details

Title:

Possible Utilization Pathways of Char from Biomass Thermochemical Conversion: Char as a Catalytic Filtering Medium for Tar Cracking

Author(s):

Ahmad, J., Cordioli, E., Patuzzi, F., Prando, D., Castaldi, M.J., Baratieri, M.

Document(s):

Abstract:

This work investigates the potential of char as catalytic filtering medium for gasification tar cracking. As a first step, chars from representative small-scale gasification plants installed in South-Tyrol (Italy), have been collected, characterized, and compared with chars obtained experimentally under controlled conditions. The results of the characterization show a specific surface area between 352.41 and 427.93 m2/g, higher heating value between 23.04 and 35.73 MJ/kg, and carbon content between 48.03% and 90.60%. As expected, different technologies produced different quality of char. In addition, the preliminary design of a fixed char bed reactor, currently in the setting up phase, is presented. The system will consist of a mixing station for preparing a synthetic tar mixture to be fluxed at controlled flow rate into the char bed reactor. The tar will be collected by means of a tar sampling apparatus and analyzed with a gas-chromatograph before and after the char bed, in order to evaluate the tar cracking effect of the char. The aim is to identify the conditions that maximize the tar-char interactions thus promoting the tar cracking. Moreover, the system will be used to test the effects of the char bed on "real" tar in a pilot scale open-top gasifier.

Keywords:

catalytic conversion, gasification, tar removal, char

Topic:

Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Cooling and Electricity

Subtopic:

Gasification for power, CHP and polygeneration

Event:

24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

2BO.2.3

Pages:

475 - 479

ISBN:

978-88-89407-165

Paper DOI:

10.5071/24thEUBCE2016-2BO.2.3

Price:

FREE