Post on 02-Apr-2015
Country Report -- USA
Presented at the IEA Bioenergy Task 34 meeting
September 15, 2009
Doug Elliott
Outline
USA research groups
USA commercialization efforts
Biomass to End Use
Integrated Biorefineries
Thermochemical Conversion
Feedstock Production and Infrastructure
Demonstration & Deployment
Processing RD&D
BiofuelsFeedstock Production
Feedstock Logistics
Bioproducts
Biopower
Biofuels– rail, truck,
pipelines– blenders– fuel pumps
VehiclesCONVERSION
Biopower– transmission
lines
Bioproducts– rail, truck
DISTRIBUTION END USE
Chemicals, Materials
Grid
Infrastructure
Biochemical Conversion
Hydrotreating of Biomass Pyrolysis Oils
fastpyrolyzer
HC
light products
mediumproducts
heavyproducts
hydrogen recycle and byproduct gas reforming
charbyproduct
H2
biomass
HT
aqueousbyproduct
gasbyproduct
aqueousbyproduct
Laboratory Research and Development
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DOE)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (DOE)
Eastern Regional Research Center (USDA-ARS)
Iowa State University
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Maine
Washington State University-Pullman and Tri-Cities
Mississippi State University
Virginia Tech
University of Minnesota
University of Georgia
Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Alan Zacher
Fluidized-bed pyrolysis1 kg/h, 2 in pipe
oil spray quench
feedstock assessment
Catalytic pyrolysis
Technoeconomic assessments
Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Todd Hart
Improved catalysts for bio-oil hydrogenation
ruthenium
palladium
Small batch testing of model compounds
acetic acid
guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol)
furfural
Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryDouglas Elliott, Gary Neuenschwander
Continuous-flow bench-scale reactor tests have been performed to test catalysts and processing conditions.
99 hydrotreater data sets49 hydrocracking data sets
Recovered products are analyzed at PNNL and UOP to determine composition and value
National Renewable Energy LaboratoryStefan Czernik, Kristiina Iisa
Bio-oil neutralization and stabilizationCatalytic Pyrolysis
MBMS testing
Mild-hydrotreating batch reactorTechnoeconomic assessments
Integration into petroleum refinery
Hot-gas filtration (bio-oil stabilization DOE solicitation)
Eastern Regional Research Center-USDA ARSAkwesi Boateng, Charles Mullan
Pyro-probe GCMS
Bubbling fluidized-bed fast pyrolysis2.5 kg/h, 3 in diameter
fractional product recovery with electrostatic precipitator
agricultural feedstock comparisons
Catalytic pyrolysis (DOE bio-oil stabilization solicitation)
Iowa State UniversityRobert Brown
Fast pyrolysis researchmicropyrolysis -- 500 g to ¼ ton/day PDU
fluidized beds, auger pyrolyzers, free-fall reactor
bio-oil recovery methods with fractionation
hot-gas filtration
Interdisciplinary studiesupgrading
plant ideotypes to affect bio-oil properties
carbon sequestration using bio-char
technoeconomic assessments
Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)
University of Massachusetts-AmherstGeorge Huber
Catalytic fast pyrolysisgasoline range aromatics directly from biomass
Upgrading of bio-oil by aqueous-phase processingcatalytic processing to hydrogen and alkanes
Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)
Fundamental kinetic model of pyrolysisreactor engineering model
Virginia TechFoster Agblevor
Fluidized-bed pyrolysis100 g/hhot gas filtercondensers and electrostatic precipitator
Chicken litter pyrolysis5 ton/dayfluidized bed reactor
Fractional catalytic pyrolysis2 kg/hfluidized bed reactor
Bio-oil stabilization (DOE solicitation)Stable bio-oils that can be distilled into various fractionsStable bio-oils will also be mixed with petroleum feedstock for processing
Mississippi State UniversityPhilip Steele
Extensive review of fast pyrolysis
Auger pyrolysis unitmodified from ROI original design1 kg/h <1.5 sec to few sec vapor residence time30 to 50 seconds solids residence time)
Bio-oil hydrotreatinghydrocarbon products
University of MaineClayton Wheeler, Brian Frederick, William DeSisto
Fluidized-bed fast pyrolysis 100 g/h
hybrid cyclone/hot gas filter
electrostatic precipitator
whole biomass and biomass fractions
Catalytic upgrading of bio-oilfundamental study of HDO by model compound tests
novel catalyst synthesis
Washington State UniversityManuel Garcia-Perez, Hanwu Lei
Pullman CampusFundamental studies of of reactions
Pretreatment methods
Built a 2 kg/h auger pyrolyzer
Develop and validate new analytical methods
Tri-Cities CampusComparisons of microwave heating and bubbling fluidized-bed
University of MinnesotaR. Roger Ruan
Microwave-assisted pyrolysisup to pilot scale (70 kg/h) continuous-flow
Catalytic pyrolysis to produce stable bio-oil
Reach and maintain exothermic reactions
Low-cost distributed system for on-farm application
University of GeorgiaKC Das
Slow pyrolysisbatch reactors, 1 to 5L
Intermediate pyrolysisauger reactor, 4 in diameter by 14 in long
1 ton/d auger unit operated by Eprida Inc.
Commercial process Research
UOP LLCEnvergent TechnologiesDynamotiveRenewable Oil International (ROI)R&A Energy Solutions
UOP LLCJennifer Holmgren, Rich Marinangeli
Formed a Renewable Energy and Chemicals division in November 2006
CRADA project with PNNL and NREL for petroleum refinery feedstock from biomass pyrolysis 2006-2009
Bio-oil stabilization project (DOE solicitation) with PNNL, NREL, ERRC, Ensyn and Pall 2009-2011
Distributed Pyrolysis and Centralized Bio-oil Processing
StabilizationPyrolysisBiomass
Mixed WoodsMixed Woods
Corn StoverCorn Stover
Deoxygenate
GasolineDiesel JetChemicals
Other Refinery
Processes
Biocrude
Ref
iner
y
P P
P P
P P
Ref
iner
y
P P
P P
P P
Holmgren, J. et al. NPRA national meeting, San Diego, February 2008.
Envergent TechnologiesMark Reno, Geoff Hopkins
Joint venture 55/45 of UOP LLC and Ensyn
Near term commercialization of fast pyrolysis of biomass for heat and power
Longer term potential of upgraded fuels being evaluated
Dynamotive USATom Bouchard
Bio-oil production under contractWest Lorne operated at 75% of 130 ton/d capacityreached peak of 090% of nameplate6-month contract for $260,00018 shipments planned, August delivery completed
200 ton/day feed contract signed for Arkansas plant220,000 green ton per year for 10 years
2-stage hydrotreating of bio-oil to hydrocarbons
Renewable Oil InternationalPhillip Badger
Has built several auger pyrolysis unitsFlorence, AlabamaUniversity of GeorgiaMississippi State UniversityBoston, MassachusettsVirginia
Small Business Industrial Research workMobile demonstration unit
recently in Oregonfew hundred pounds per day
R&A SolutionsJoel Keller
Slow pyrolysis auger kiln
Vapor products burned for power generation in integrated plant
Oil, char and aqueous byproducts all have uses
A wide range of biomass and waste can be processed
3 ton/day unit for the Army; 50 ton/day considered largest expected size
Conclusions
Biomass conversion to liquid fuels via pyrolytic processes and catalytic hydroprocessing is under development.
Interesting yields of hydrocarbon liquid products have been demonstrated at the bench-scale.
Improved understanding of process steps and product properties is developing.