Title:
The Production of Fungible Fuels from Biomass via Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH2)
Author(s):
Marker, T., Felix, L., Linck, M., Roberts, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Integrated hydropyrolysis and hydroconversion (IH2) is a new thermochemical conversion process which is being developed by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) for direct conversion of biomass to fungible fuels. In IH2 a first stage hydropyrolysis step, carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere at 14-35 bar with a catalyst, is followed directly by an integrated hydroconversion step. These two integrated steps directly produce a fungible gasoline and diesel hydrocarbon product with less than 1% oxygen from a variety of biomass feeds including wood and lemna. The C1-C3 gases from the hydroconversion step are directed to a steam reformer where all the H2 required by the process is made and then recycled back to the hydropyrolysis step. The process is very energy efficient because the hydropyrolysis and hydroconversion are quite exothermic and produce the steam required for the steam driven compressors and all the process steps are run at almost the same pressure. Because fungible hydrocarbon fuels are directly produced and no outside hydrogen is required, the IH2 technological solves all of the problems which have been barriers to the commercial adoption of conventional fast pyrolysis of biomass and the subsequent transportation and upgrading of acidic, low energy content, highly oxygenated pyrolysis oils. Initial economic analysis shows that the IH2 process is an economically attractive process which has the potential to produce gasoline and diesel at very competitive prices. The IH2 process also offers the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 90% based on an initial LCA(life cycle analysis) study. The IH2 process is in an early stage of development and roughly 3 years from commercialization. Research supported by US-DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-EE0002873 with partners Criterion/CRI Inc, Cargill, Johnson Timber, Aquaflow, Blue Marble, NREL and MTU.
Keywords:
biomass, diesel, fuel, pyrolysis, thermochemical conversion, wood
Topic:
Fuels from biomass
Subtopic:
Second generation biofuel production via thermochemical processing
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OD8.1
Pages:
1640 - 1644
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-OD8.1
Price:
FREE
