Energy and Fuels
from Biomass and Waste
Prof.dr.ir. Gerrit Brem
Energy Technology
Onderzoeksdag KIVI NIRIA, 19th of May 2011, Enschede
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Biomass Research at University of Twente
 Faculty of Engineering
 Faculty of Science
 Faculty of Management and Governance
Biomass is spearhead of UT!
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Energy Technology group
 Faculty of Engineering
 Since 2000 (2009)
 15 fte staff, PhD and post-docs
 Academic and industrial network
 Well-equipped laboratory
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Laboratory “Kleinhorst”
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Energy Technology group
 Combustion of solid fuels
“Energy from biomass and waste”
 Production of sustainable fuels (liquid, gas and solid)
“Fuels from biomass and waste”
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Combustion of solid fuels
 Coal fired power plants
“biomass co-firing”
 Waste combustion
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Co-firing of biomass in power plants (combustion)
Focus on:
 Boilers with Ultra Supercritical steam conditions
 High ratio of biomass co-firing
 Slagging and fouling mechanisms
 Development of modelling tools
Sponsors: TSA, KEMA
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Co-firing of biomass in power plants (combustion)
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Co-firing of biomass in power plants (fouling)
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BioOxyfuel
 Torrefied Biomass Combustion under Oxy-fuel Conditions in
Coal Fired Power Plants
 Combustion characteristics
 Drop Tube Furnace
Sponsors: STW, NVV, TSA, KEMA
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Waste combustion
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Ignition and combustion of waste on a grate
• Ignition by flame radiation
• Self-ignition
• Mathematical modelling
• Reversed combustion concept
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AVI pilot-plant
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Smart sensors for combustion and fouling
Disturbances
by fluctuating
composition
Waste
Combustion plant
Boiler
Flue gas
Smart Sensor
Operator
Heating value
+
Fouling rate
Steam temperatures
Gas concentrations
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Fuel production from Biomass
 Flash pyrolysis
 Gasification
 Torrefaction
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Flash pyrolysis of biomass
Gas
Biomass
condenser
PYROLYSIS
REACTOR
Heat
Char
Separation
Bio-oil
Char
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Wood pyrolysis on lab scale - movie
PyRos pilot-plant with 30 kg/h biomass feed
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Near-future applications for pyrolysis oil
Gas
Biomass
condenser
PYROLYSIS
REACTOR
Heat
Char
Separation
Char
Bio-oil
Algae and scrap tyres
 Oil from car tyres
 Oil from algae
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Gasification in supercritical water
 Wet biomass
 Process conditions: 600 °C and 300 bar
 Production of a hydrogen or methane rich gas
 Process integrated reactor
 CO2 separation
600 °C
300 bar
C
supercritical
reactor
high P
gas/liquid
separator
low P
gas/liquid
separator
feedstock
Heat exchanger
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Torrefaction
 Biomass is wet and bulky
 Biomass sources are distributed
 Pretreatment required!
• Friable and less fibrous
• Hydrophobic
Torrefaction process
• Preserved
• Reduced contaminations
• Homogeneous
 On-site preparation of biomass by drying, milling and
Higher heating value
torrefaction (no external energy• requirement)
 Torrefaction: roasting of biomass at 250°C
OCRI – Bioenergy with provincie Overijssel
 Overijssels Centre for Research and Innovation
 Grant of 2,5 Meuro
 Cooperation with local industries
 9 postdocs (UT)
 Research projects:
> Catalytic pyrolysis for high-value fuels
> Combustion of pyrolysis oil in gas turbines
> Feedstock engineering
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Thanks for your attention
Prof.dr.ir. G. Brem
University of Twente
Energy Technology (CTW)
P.O.box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands
T: +31 53 489 2561 (2530)
M:+31 6 5328 6744
e-mail: g.brem@utwente.nl
www.thw.ctw.utwente.nl
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