VTT SYMPOSIUM 164 Power production from biomass II with special emphasis on gasification and pyrolysis R&DD Edited by Kai Sipila & Maija Korhonen VTT Energy TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND ESPOO 1996 ISBN 951-38-4555-9 ISSN 0357-9387 Copyright © Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus (VTT) 1995 JULKAISIJA - UTGIVARE - PUBLISHER Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus (VTT), Vuorimiehentie 5, PL 2000,02044 VTT puh. vaihde (90) 4561, telekopio 456 4374 Statens tekniska forskningscentral (VTT), Bergsmansvagen 5, PB 2000,02044 VTT tel. vaxel (90) 4561, telefax 456 4374 Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Vuorimiehentie 5, P.O.Box 2000, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland phone intemat. + 358 0 4561, telefax + 358 0 456 4374 VTT Energia, Energian tuotantoteknologiat, Biologinkuja 3-5, PL 1601, 02044 VTT puh. vaihde (90) 4561, telekopio (90) 460 493 VTT Energi, Energiproduktionsteknik, Biologgranden 3-5, PB 1601,02044 VTT tel. vaxel (90) 4561, telefax (90) 460 493 VTT Energy, Energy Production Technologies, Biologinkuja 3-5, P.O.Box 1601, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland phone intemat. + 358 0 4561, telefax + 358 0 460 493 VTT OFFSETPAINO, ESPOO 1996 DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. Power production from biomass II with special emphasis on gasification and pyrolysis R&DD. Ed. by Kai Sipila & Maija Korhonen. Espoo 1996, Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Symposium 164. 319 p. UDC 620.91:621.311.23:061.3 Keywords energy, energy production, biomass, gasification, electric power plants, pyrolysis, combustion, meetings, fuels ABSTRACT The Seminar on Power Production from Biomass II with special emphasis on gasification and pyrolysis R&DD, was organized by VTT Energy on 27 - 28 March 1995 in Espoo, Finland. All seminar speakers were invited in order to give a high-level overview of the achievements of biomass com ­ bustion, gasification and flash pyrolysis technologies. The sessions included presentations by all key industrial entrepeneurs in the field. The poster session was open to all groups interested. Globally bioenergy covers about 3 % of the primary energy consumption. Locally it has a significant role in many countries like in Finland, where bioenergy covers almost 15 % and peat 5 % of primary energy consump ­ tion. Today's cost-effective heat and power production is based on industrial wood residues and spent cooking liquors in relatively large industrial units or municipal heating and power stations. Agricultural residues like straw and especially energy crops are becoming more interesting in co-utilization with other biomasses or fossil fuels. The seminar succesfully displayed the status of present technologies as well as development targets for new gasification and flash pyrolysis technologies in the coming years.The many industrial participants showed that there are growing business possibilities in many countries all over the world. The proceedings include the most oral presentations given at the Seminar and also abstracts of poster presentations. 3 FOREWORD The Seminar on Power Production from Biomass II, with special emphasis on gasification and pyrolysis R&DD, was organized by VTT Energy on 27 - 28 March 1995 in Espoo. The first seminar on the same subject was held in December 1992 to finalize the Finnish Bioenergy R&D Programme JALO on Thermochemical Conversion Technologies. The seminar was financially supported by the European Commission DG XII and the IEA Bioenergy Agreement. Dr. Wolfgang Palz, Head of Re-newable Energy of EC, gave an overview of the EC research programmes and the future strategies. Dr. Raymond Costello of Department of Energy, the United States, Chairman of the IEA Agreement, presented the newly published Strategic Plan for the Agreement as well as the main project results. All seminar speakers were invited in order to obtain a high-level overview of the achievements in biomass combustion, gasification and flash pyrolysis technologies. The sessions included presentations by all key industrial entrepeneurs in the field. The poster session was open to all groups interested. The Proceedings include the most oral presentations and also abstracts of poster presentations. Globally bioenergy covers about 13 % of the primary energy consumption (55 EJ in 1990). Locally it has a significant role in many countries like in Finland, where bioenergy covers almost 15 % and peat 5 % of primary energy consumption. In some developing countries it accouts for over 90 % of energy use. Today's cost- effective heat and power production is based on industrial wood residues and spent cooking liquors in relatively large industrial units or municipal heating and power stations. Agricultural residues like straw and especially energy crops are becoming more interesting in co-utilization with other biomasses or fossil fuels. The high number of participants, about 200 specialists from 22 countries, showed the high international interest in the field of power production from biomass. The many industrial participants showed that there are growing business possibilities in many countries all over the world. For example, the goal of the EC Altener Programme is to double the share of renewable energy by the year 2005. The seminar succesfully displayed the status of present technologies as well as development targets for new gasification and flash pyrolysis technologies in the coming years. Organising the next seminar on this special subject in 1998 is under consideration. Espoo January 1996 Kai Sipila & Maija Korhonen 4 CONTENTS ABSTRACT 3 FOREWORD 4 OVERVIEWS 7 The IEA/Bioenergy implementing agreement and other activities 9 R. Costello, U.S.A. GASIFICATION OF BIOMASS FOR POWER 21 Biomass IGCC 23 K. Salo & H. Keranen, Finland IGCC technology and demonstration 41 J. Palonen, R. G. Lundqvist & K. Stahl, Finland Thermal gasification of biomass technology development in the U.S.A. 55 S. P. Babu, R. L. Bain & K. R. Craig, U.S.A. Gasification experience with biomass and wastes 67 H. -P. Schiffer & W. Adlhoch, Germany Experience with unconventional gas turbine fuels 93 D. K. Mukherjee, Switzerland Combustion of low heating value gas in a gas turbine 109 G. Kelsall & M. Cannon, U. K. Fixed bed gasification of solid biomass fuels 127 I. Haavisto, Finland Development of catalytic gas cleaning in biomass gasification 133 P. Simell, E. Kurkela, P. Stahlberg & J. Hepola, Finland MODERN BIOMASS COMBUSTION TECHNOLOGY 141 Biomass potential 143 D. Asplund, Finland 5 Boiler conversions for biomass 149 J. Kinni, Finland Small scale power production 159 M. Muoniovaara, Finland Co-combustion and gasification of various biomasses 165 K. Mutanen, Finland Use and co-combustion of straw in Denmark 183 J. S. Poulsert, Denmark NEW TECHNOLOGIES, PYROLYSIS 195 Thermochemistry : they key to minerals separation from biomass for fuel use in high performance systems 197 R. P. Over end, U.S.A. Commercial aspects of rapid thermal processing (RTP) 215 R. G. Graham & D. R. Huffman, Canada Pyrolysis oil as diesel fuel 225 S. Gros, Finland Assessment of advanced small-scale combined heat and power production 239 J. Spitzer, Austria EC-ASEAN COGEN PROGRAMME 243 Presentation 245 M. Pennington, L. Lacrosse, Thailand, & Y. Schenkel, Belgium POSTERS 251 6 Overviews 7 THE IEA/BIOENERGY IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Costello, R., Dr. U.S. Department of Energy, Biofuels Systems Division 1000 Independence Ave. SW Washington D.C., U.S.A. 1 INTRODUCTION The oil crisis of 1973 and 1978 heightened the world's realization that deriving its energy sources from multiple resources, especially those that stem from domestic and renewable resources, would provide a more energy secure and economically stable world. As a result, the newly formed International Energy Agency quickly decided that more could be done in the near and long term to diversify the sources of energy for the world's economies, by utilizing the abundant resource of biomass which represents a very real opportunity for many of the IEA member countries. In 1975, Article III of the Guiding Principles for Cooperation in the Field of Energy Research and Development was adopted by the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency. These articles are the genesis from which several of the IEA's Implementing Agreements in alternative energy research are founded. Implementing Agreements (IAs) are used widely in international collabora ­ tive work within the International Energy Agency (IEA). These agreements are meant to be very flexible depending on the nature of the work and the interests of the participating countries. Many IAs are directed at the develop ­ ment of specific technologies, while a number of IAs are primarily used to facilitate information collection and dissemination. There are also a number of agreements that do not deal directly with technology development, but deal with environmental, economic and safety aspects of the technologies under development. The IEA Bioenergy Agreement is a prime example of how Implementing Agreements can be utilized to establish and expand cooperative research for the effective leveraging of technical knowledge and financial resources in finding solutions to the future needs of a growing energy dependent world. As 9 will be illustrated, these activities are important to the commercialization and deployment of bioenergy technologies, which increasingly are being visual­ ized as one of the few options that can maintain and promote economic and environmental stability. 2 ENERGY DEMANDS AND THE RENEWABLE SOLUTION OECD oil demand in the transportation sector is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 1.5 percent per annum through the year 2010, rising from 892 million tons of oil equivalent in 1991 to 1176 million tons of oil equivalent in 2010, accounting for most of total incremental demand. In the power generation sector, the economics of oil fired generation are not favor ­ able for base load. The building of new and more efficient power generating capacity means that the role of oil in meeting peak demand is also likely to be reduced with comparable increases in the use of solid or gaseous fuels.