Progress 06/15/04 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The syngas storage characteristics in terms of variation of the major composition of hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide, methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen (N2) were evaluated under two pressures (2758 and 8274 kPa) and three temperatures (-15, 15, and 45 degrees C) when tars, particulates, and moisture exist together. The syngas generated from a down-drift gasifier using wood chips with 95% hard wood as the feedstock contained 17.0% H2, 23.9% CO, 1.4% CH4, 11.0% CO2, and 46.7% N2 in average. The H2, CO, CH4, CO2, and N2 concentrations in sysngas under the designed experimental conditions were determined by a gas chromatograph (GC) over a period of three weeks. The statistic model of single-factor experiment with repeated measures on treatments was used to perform the data analysis with the SAS program. The statistic analysis revealed that the temperature range from -15 to 45 degrees C had no effects on the syngas composition at the tested pressures. The pressures up to 8274 kPa had no effects on the syngas composition at the tested temperatures. However, the other storage characteristics such as possibilities of condensation of heavy hydrogen carbons, deposition of tars on the storage surface, and deterioration of the storage surface (especially when sulfur compounds exit in syngas), may be evaluated in a pilot scale storage facility due to low concentrations of these minor compositions. Biomass gasification is the one of the promising routes to produce hydrogen renewably. However, there are still certain technological challenges to be overcome before this technology becomes feasible for widespread commercialization. Synthesis gas produced from biomass gasification process is generally comprised of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), and nitrogen (N2), along with trace amounts of higher hydrocarbons. The amount of hydrogen in the synthesis gas is relatively low. Conventionally, WGS reaction is performed in a two-stage reactor with a cooler in between. High temperature shift (HTS) reactor is conducted using Fe-Cr catalysts working at around 450 degrees C and low temperature shift (LTS) reactor using Cu-Zn catalysts at around 250 degrees C. All catalysts were prepared on alumina monoliths using wetness incipience method. Initially, the monoliths were saturated and dried repeatedly until 0.1 g of ceria from (Ce(NO3)3).6H2O) solution was fully loaded. Then, monoliths were saturated and dried repeatedly with metal solution. The total metal loading was 0.1 g (around 2-3% of the monoliths). Finally, the catalysts were calcined at 700 degrees C for four hours in air. The catalysts were tested without reduction in a tube furnace at temperatures of 500 and 700 degrees C. HPLC pump and mass flow controller were used respectively to control flow rates of water at 0.1 to 0.5 ml/min and CO at 28.5 ml/min. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The southeastern United States could produce enough biomass crops (grasses or woody crops) to help establish America's energy independence. The conversion of this biomass to energy can be accomplished by either producing ethanol and/or synthetic gas to burn in internal combustions engines to power generators or create steam that will produce electricity. This conversion of the biomass (wood or grassy crops) could generate new industries in the region which will improve the economic situation of the area. The heat from the engines and generators can also be used in the total concept of Cooling Heating and Power (CHP) which will make the region and the US less dependent upon petroleum products.
Publications
- Haryanto. A, Fernando, S. and Adhikari, S. 2007. Ultrahigh Temperature Water Gas Shift Catalysts to Increase Hydrogen Yield from Biomass Gasification. Catalysis Today.
- Fernando, S. D. and Haryanto, A. 2006. Producing Sustainable Hydrogen from Biomass Gasification Coupled With Water Gas Shift Catalysis. Abstracts of Papers, 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, United States, March 26-30. PETR-019.
- Haryanto, A. and S. Fernando. 2006. Producing Sustainable Hydrogen from Biomass Gasification Coupled with Wager Gas Shift Catalysts. July 11, 2006. Annual International Meeting ASABE, Portland OR, July 9-12. Paper number 066226.
- Haryanto, A and S. Fernando. 2007. Valuable Products from Glycerin Gasification under Sub- and Supercritical Water Treatment. Institute of Biological Engineering Annual Meeting, March 30-April 1, 2007, St. Louis, MO at Crowne Plaza.
- Haryanto, A. and Fernando, S. 2006. "Producing Sustainable Hydrogen from Biomass Gasification Coupled with Wager Gas Shift Catalysts. July 11, 2006. Annual International Meeting ASABE, Portland OR, July 9-12. Paper number 066226.
- Fernando, S. and Haryanto, A. 2006. Producing Sustainable Hydrogen From Biomass Gasification Coupled With Water Gas Shift Catalysis, paper presentation at the 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 26-30, 2006. DIVISION:Division of Petroleum Chemistry. SESSION: 1st International Symposium on Hydrogen from Renewable Sources and Refinery Applications Oral Presentation. 26 March 2006.
- Columbus, E.P., Batchelor, W. D., Wie, L. , Baldwin, B. S., Wooten, J. R., To, S. D. and Buchireddy, P. R. 2006. A Switchgrass Gasification System. 5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, Vicenza, Italy, 30 Aug - 1 Sept, 2006.
- Yang, P., Columbus, E.P., Wooten, J., Batchelor, W.D., and Wei. L. 2007. Evaluation of Syngas Storage under Different Pressures and Temperatures. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, June 17-20, 2007, paper no. 076199.
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Progress 06/15/04 to 09/30/06
Outputs
The multi-fuel 15 KVA asynchronous electric generator set (GENSET) has been used to generate electricity that was "pushed" onto the Mississippi State University grid. An auxiliary electronic observer system for the GENSET has been installed so that real-time parameters such as diesel fuel intake, diesel fuel return, air intake, syngas intake, syngas supply pressure, generator RPM, voltage and current outputs, coolant temperature, oil temperature. The preliminary data showed that there is a need to modify the fuel system to the engine to enable better delineation of the contribution of syngas to the electrical power output of the system. This will require detailed analysis of the operational need and operational control that are possible with the given engine. It might be necessary to reconsider the means by which sysngas can be used to generate electricity. Turbine technology may have to be considered in the future. The overall objective of this research is to find the
useful applications of the low-value high-volume products that are produced from biorefineries. Ternary phase diagrams of selected biorenewable components are being developed and based on the stability of the systems, selected mixtures were analyzed for octane number with the view in mind that the certain mixtures could be used as alternate fuels for gasoline engines. Some of the key properties of the fuels that were tested in the analysis were energy value, density, and ASTM D86 distillation values. The energy values were tested in the ABE biofuels laboratory whereas the Distillation was performed at Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX. It should be noted that propanediol and propanol can be derived from glycerol. With the extraction of one oxygen from glycerol produces propanediol and similarly, removing one oxygen from propanediol produces propanol. To maximize the use of syngas from biomass in the Cooling, Heating and Power (CHP) concept, the syngas will have to be
pressurized and stored at the CHP site. Thus, it is imperative that the storability of syngas is known and what, if any, changes will occur during pressurization and storage. Tar and particulate content, BTU value, and any shifts or changes in the chemical content of the gas will need to be known initially, after pressurization, and during storage for different climate conditions. Storage conditions will be temperature (0 - 110 F) and length of storage (0 - 6 months). Since the BTU value of syngas is lower than propane, other information needed will include the amount of syngas that can be mixed with propane to sustain combustion in a typical internal combustion engine. Thus, we will determine mixture ratios of syngas to propane to sustain engine power to produce electricity for the CHP system.
Impacts
The southeastern United States could produce enough biomass crops (grasses or woody crops) to help establish America's energy independence. The conversion of this biomass to energy can be accomplished by either producing ethanol and/or synthetic gas to burn in internal combustions engines to power generators or create steam that will produce electricity. This conversion of the biomass (wood or grassy crops) could generate new industries in the region which will improve the economic situation of the area. The heat from the engines and generators can also be used in the total concept of Cooling Heating and Power (CHP) which will make the region and the US less dependent upon petroleum products.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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