Torrefaction: technology overview and development status R.W.R. Zwart March 2012 ECN-L--12-077
Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart BioPower Generation Rotterdam, the Netherlands 13/14 March 2012
Energy research Centre of the Netherlands Dedicated to Sustainable Energy Innovation ECN focuses on developing applied knowledge and technology for a sustainable energy society with and for the market. Core activities Sustainable energy technology development R&D services to industry Feasibility studies, system & technology assessments Largest Dutch energy R&D institute Independent 570 employees R&D units: - Biomass - Solar energy - Wind energy - Energy Efficiency - Policy studies 2 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
ECN and torrefaction 20 years experience in biomass co-firing R&D, identified the potential of torrefaction and played pioneering role in adapting torrefaction to bioenergy applications since 2002 Contract R&D for industry assessing torrefaction potential of specific feedstock, producing test batches and optimising product quality ECN s torrefaction technology proven on pilotscale and together with industrial partners now taken to demonstration and market introduction June 2010: June 2011: Torrefaction Pelletisation Tenacious & fibrous LHV: 9-12 MJ/kg Hydrophilic Biodegradable Heterogeneous Friable & less fibrous LHV: 18-24 MJ/kg Hydrophobic Preserved Homogeneous Bulk density: 650-800 kg/m 3 Bulk energy density: 15-19 GJ/m 3 3 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Torrefaction development: how difficult can it be? Coffee roasting is practiced since the late 13 th century Isn t torrefaction just high-temperature drying or low-temperature pyrolysis? Old coffee roasting machine Bourg St. Maurice, France 4 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Torrefaction development: how difficult can it be? ECN 2008-03 Stramproy Green 2012-02 Thermo meter Smoke in 24 Minutes Fire in 32 Minutes End of production run on Wednesday Fire on Saturday 5 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Torrefaction development Many technology developers (>50 due to strong market pull) Often application of reactor technology proven for other applications (drying, pyrolysis, combustion) Often limited bench-/pilot-scale testing and directly to demo operation (limited attention to efficiency, impact of exothermicity underestimated) Good process control is essential for good performance & product quality control (temperature, residence time, mixing, condensables in torrefaction gas) Overall energy efficiency is strongly dependent design and operation (heat integration, degree of torrefaction) In general: torrefaction technology in demon phase with >10 demo-units and first commercial units in operation and under construction 6 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Torrefaction development New Biomass Energy Stramproy Green Thermya Multiple hearth furnace Rotary drum reactor Moving bed reactor Screw conveyor reactor EU developments US developments red marker: developing company headquarters reference: Schorr, Muinonen and Nurminen blue marker: planned or realized pilot plant Miktech (March 6 th 2012) Topell Energy Torrcoal Torkapparater Torbed reactor Oscillating belt reactor TurboDryer Microwave reactor 7 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Torrefaction development Low grade heat Fossil fuel Biomass or Product Combustion Gas cleaning Biomass Pre-drying Torrefaction Cooling Densification Product Heat recovery Gas cleaning Flue gas / Moisture Many heat integration options: Pre-drying and torrefaction Use of low-grade heat Indirect or direct heating Mystifying mass and energy balances: Different technology concepts Different degree of torrefaction 8 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction in view of: Logistics End-use Costs (handling, transport and feeding) (combustion, gasification, chemical processing) (efficiency, CAPEX, OPEX) Difficult properties are: Low energy density (LHV ar : 10-17 MJ / kg ) Hydrophilic Vulnerable to biodegradation Tenacious & fibrous (grinding difficult) Poor flowability Heterogeneous 9 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction Wood chips Wood pellets Torrefied wood pellets Charcoal Coal Increasing temperature? Moisture content (wt%) 30 45 7 10 1 5 1 5 10 15 Calorific value (LHV, MJ/kg) 9 12 15 17 18 24 30 32 23 28 Volatile matter (wt% db) 70 75 70 75 55 65 10 12 15 30 Fixed carbon (wt% db) 20 25 20 25 22 35 85 87 50 55 Bulk density (kg/l) 0.20 0.25 0.55 0.65 0.65 0.80 0.18 0.24 0.80 0.85 Vol. energy density (GJ/m 3 ) 4.5 6.0 8 11 15 19 6.0 6.4 18 24 Hygroscopic properties Hydrophilic Hydrophilic Moderately Hydrophobic Hydrophobic Hydrophobic More hydrophobic Biological degradation Fast Fast Slow None None Slower Milling requirements Special Special Standard Standard Standard More standard Product consistency Limited High High High High Higher Transport cost High Medium Low Medium Low Lower Efficiency 10 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction TorTech project Report ECN-E--11-039 http://www.ecn.nl 11 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction TorTech project Report ECN-E--11-039 http://www.ecn.nl 12 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction TorTech project Report ECN-E--11-039 http://www.ecn.nl 13 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction TorTech project Report ECN-E--11-039 http://www.ecn.nl 14 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction Wood chips Wood pellets Torrefied wood pellets Charcoal Coal Moisture content (wt%) 30 45 7 10 1 5 1 5 10 15 Calorific value (LHV, MJ/kg) 9 12 15 17 18 24 30 32 23 28 Volatile matter (wt% db) 70 75 70 75 55 65 10 12 15 30 Fixed carbon (wt% db) 20 25 20 25 22 35 85 87 50 55 Bulk density (kg/l) 0.20 0.25 0.55 0.65 0.65 0.80 0.18 0.24 0.80 0.85 Vol. energy density (GJ/m 3 ) 4.5 6.0 8 11 15 19 6.0 6.4 18 24 Hygroscopic properties Hydrophilic Hydrophilic Moderately Hydrophobic Hydrophobic Hydrophobic Biological degradation Fast Fast Slow None None Milling requirements Special Special Standard Standard Standard Product consistency Limited High High High High Transport cost High Medium Low Medium Low 15 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
Degree of torrefaction Lower LHV acceptable Less transport gas +40% 2 3 +30% 4 +20% -30% 6 5 1 16 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
EU FP7 project SECTOR Production of solid sustainable energy carriers from biomass by means of torrefaction 2012/01/01 2015/06/30 17 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
EU FP7 project SECTOR 18 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
NL Agency project Colombian bamboo Second generation torrefied pellets for sustainable biomass export from Colombia 2011/01/01 2012/12/31 Partners: Technological University of Pereira Colombian Bamboo Society Imperial College Findings (so far): Stronger exothermal behaviour in torrefaction Torrefaction possible Grindability like coal Higher temperatures needed though Co-firing/gasification tests currently on-going Potassium and chlorine content higher Testing 19 Guadua A. bamboo Torrefaction: as fuel technology for torrefaction overview and development and subsequent status Robin co-firing Zwart and co-gasification
Thank you for your attention! For more information, please contact: Robin Zwart phone +31 224 56 4574 e-mail zwart@ecn.nl internet www.ecn.nl Production of tonne-scale test batches at ECN for industrial trials 20 Torrefaction: technology overview and development status Robin Zwart
ECN Westerduinweg 3 P.O. Box 1 1755 LE Petten 1755 LG Petten The Netherlands The Netherlands T +31 88 515 4949 F +31 88 515 8338 info@ ecn.nl www.ecn.nl 8