EU-Japan small-scale biomass gasification seminar

16 January 2019 – Higashihiroshima City and Art Center Kurara

Hosted by the 14th Conference on Biomass Science

Technology overview: main small-scale gasification

technologies, point of strength and critical issues

Marco Baratieri
The South Tyrol (Südtirol) region

Area: 7400 km2

Population: 511750 ab.
42% forest
 Modelling
(pyro-gasification)
+ Analytics + Thermo-fluidynamic modelling
Thermochemical

. Feedstock characterization + Kinetic modelling

. Advanced thermal analysis
conversion

. Catalyts analysis
+ Process analysis

+ Pilot/bench scale plant + Modelling of energy systems

design and development + Modelling of DH systems
CHP systems

+ Monitoring of
real scale plants

+ Char valorisation pathways + Analysis of scenarios

Polygeneration
management -

. Activated carbon production . Optimization strategies

By-products

. FT synthesis . B.O.P.
. Biodiesel production
+ Tar analysis / reduction
 Biomass upgrading

( COMPLEX STRUCTURE ) -----------> ( MULTI-PURPOSE )

heat & power final use

Combustion,
thermod.
cycles
Biomass intermediate fuels final use
chemicals
[D. Chiaramonti, 2011]
Gasification

CHAR

HEAT & POWER

SYNGAS SYNGAS SYNGAS GASOLINE

(FT)

TAR TAR CHEMICALS

Gasification
 Combustion for CHP

(traditional)

biomass fumes steam Fumes

combustion
generator cleanup

steam residues:
- ash

steam turbine
(Rankine, ORC)

electricity heat DH
network

CHP
 Gasification for CHP

(upgrade)

biomass syngas syngas int. comb.

gasification
cleanup engine

residues
- tar
- char electricity heat
- ash

FUEL UPGRADE CHP

DH
network
Systems for CHP

(combustion Vs gasification based)

Combustion based CHP systems Gasification based CHP systems

ST ORC Stirling ICE BIGCC
Electrical 50 kW – 500 kW – 10 kW –
< 200 kW 50-100 MW
Power 250 MW 10 MW 10 MW
CHP electrical
0.10-0.25 0.13-0.18 0.10-0.15 0.25-0.30 0.3-0.4
efficiency
CHP overall
0.8-0.9 0.8-0.9 0.8-0.9 0.8-0.9 0.8-0.9
efficiency
Power-to-heat
0.10-0.35 0.20-0.25 0.15-0.20 0.4-0.5 0.7-0.9
ratio
Field
extensive extensive limited sufficient very limited
experience
Gasification technologies: classification

According to the gasification medium:

• Air-blown gasifiers
• Oxygen-blown gasifiers
• Steam gasifiers
Gasification technologies: classification

According to the heat supply configuration:

• Autothermal or direct gasifiers (Heat is supplied by partial oxidation
of the biomass, which results in a lower heating value of the
product gas)
• Allothermal or indirect gasifiers (Heat is supplied from an external
heat source, or for two-stage gasifiers, from the combustion zone to
the gasification zone)
Gasification technologies: classification

According to the pressure level:

• Atmospheric
• Pressurised
According to the reactor design:
• Fixed bed
• Fluidised bed
• Entrained flow
Gasification technologies: classification

According to the size:

MW
Small scale gasification: technologies
Fixed bed reactors

Downdraft (co-current) Updraft (counter-current)

Small scale gasification: technologies
Fixed bed reactors

Downdraft Updraft
Small scale gasification: technologies
2-stage gasifier
 Small scale gasification: EU facts & figures

[D. Bräkow, 9. „Internationale Anwenderkonferenz Biomassevergasung“, 5. Dezember 2017 / Innsbruck]

Small scale gasification: technologies
Name Country Name Country
Agnion Technologies GmbH Germany MEVA ENERGY AB Sweden
AHT Pyrogas Vertriebs GmbH Germany Nexterra Systems Corp. Canada
Andritz AG Austria Pyrox GmbH Italy
Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd. India Qalovis GmbH Germany
BIO&WATT Gasification s.r.l. Italy Refgas Ltd UK
Burkhardt GmbH Germany ReGaWatt GmbH Germany
Cortus Energy Sweden Repotec GmbH Austria
Ronda Engineering Srl (Ecogasgenerator) Italy Simam S.p.A. Italy
ENTRADE ENERGY SERVICES LTD. Germany Spanner Re² GmbH Germany
EQTEC Spain Stadtwärke Rosenheim GmbH Germany
ESPE Srl Italy Stirling DK Denamrk
Froling srl Italy Syncraft Engineering GmbH Austria
Future Green S.r.l. Italy Terruzzi Fercalx Spa Italy
GLOCK Ökoenergie GmbH Austria Urbas Maschinenfabrik GmbH Austria
GTS Syngas Srl /
Italy / Switzerland Varat - Enea Italy
BR Energy Group AG
Hans Gräbner Germany Volter Oy Finland
Hargassner GesmbH Austria Weiss A/S Denamrk
Holzenergie Wegscheid GmbH Germany Xyloenergy GmbH Germany
Kuntschar Energieerzeugung GmbH Germany Xylogas & EAF / Christof industries Austria
KWS Germany XyloPower AG Switzerland
Ligento green power GmbH Germany Xylowatt S.A. Belgium
LiPRO Energy GmbH & Co. KG Germany
Small scale gasification: technologies

Electric Thermal
Technology Reactor Biomass power power
[kW] [kW]
Rising
Burkhardt GmbH Pellet 180 270
co-current
Entrade Energiesysteme Downdraft
Pellet A1 25 60
GmbH Fixed bed
Downdraft
Future Green Srl (Wubi) Woody chips 100 200
Fixed bed
Downdraft
Hans Gräbner Woody chips 30 60
Fixed bed
Holzenergie Wegscheid Downdraft Woody chips and
140 270
GmbH Fixed bed brickets
Kuntschar
Downdraft
Energieerzeugung Woody chips 150 260
Fixed bed
GmbH
Downdraft
Spanner Re2 GmbH Woody chips 45 105
Fixed bed
Double stage
Stadtwärke Rosenheim Woody chips 50 110
Fixed bed
Syncraft Engineering Double stage
Woody chips 250 990
GmbH Fixed bed
Urbas Maschinenfabrik Downdraft
Woody chips 296 550
GmbH Fixed bed
Downdraft
Xylogas & EAF Woody chips 440 880
Fixed bed
 Small scale gasification: syngas utilization

The gas produced in the gasifier can be used in various ways for electricity production
and for the production of process heat. These systems differ with respect to their
efficiency, costs and gas quality requirements.
Small scale gasification: syngas cleanup

Direct use in Gas Engines and Gas Turbines

In order to avoid fouling and deposits in the engine, the gas should
be tar and dust free to a high degree.
 Small scale gasification: gas cleanup (critical issues).

Pollutant Example Problems Method

Particulate Ash, char Erosion Filtration, scrubbing
Alkali Na, K compounds Hot corrosion Cooling, condensation,
filtration, adsorption
Nitrogen Mainly NH3, HCN NOx formation Scrubbing, SCR
Tar Aromatic Filters clogging, Removal,
compounds combustion problems, condensation,
deposits, catalysts thermal/catalytic
poisoning cracking
Sulfur, Clorine Mainly H2S, HCl Corrosion, gaseous Scrubbing, with
emissions, catalysts dolomite or lime,
poisoning adsorption
Small scale gasification: feedstock (critical issues).

 Very low moisture content: < 10%

 Vs direct combustion: 15-20%
 need of a dryer
 Constant characteristics
 homogeneous granulometry (e.g. chips, pellets)
 constant typology (wood)
 very few (no) finer presence

 Biomass higher cost: approx. 130 – 150 € / ton

Vs direct combustion 70 – 80 € / ton
Small scale gasification: others (critical issues).

 Feeding system: (screw conveyors):

 blockage/distortion for presence inhomogeneous or inert
material
 problems with woodchips geometry
 Reactor and air nozzles
 high temperature can melt steel components
 gasifier can reach higher T values than expected ones,
because of a drier or larger particles
 reactors must be periodically opened and cleaned to remove
inert materials (rocks, metal pieces or molten ashes)
Small scale gasification: others (critical issues).

 Char management
 char screw conveyors extract hot char from the gasifier, so
they are subjected to deformation and breakage
 char management and storage is often problematic because it
is a very light material and easily transportable by air
 Autonomy and control of the system
 low degree of automation, i.e. the software detects a problem
and shut down the entire system; to restore the operation,
there must be an operator who manages the problem manually
and restarts the system.
 Small scale gasification: “must-have” to verify

biomass syngas syngas int. comb.

gasification
cleanup engine

residues
- tar
- char electricity heat
- ash

FUEL UPGRADE CHP

Biomass mass Temperature Condensate Syngas Power

flow rate measurement measurement composition generation
measurement
EU-Japan small-scale biomass gasification seminar
16 January 2019 – Higashihiroshima City and Art Center Kurara
Hosted by the 14th Conference on Biomass Science

Technology overview: main small-scale gasification technologies, point of

strength and critical issues

Thank you very much for your attention!

marco.baratieri@unibz.it