Gasification of Coal and Biomass Char Using a Superheated Steam Flame
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Gasification of Coal and Biomass Char Using a Superheated Steam Flame By: Thomas Edward Lakey, MEng (Hons), AMIChemE, GradEI A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Sheffield Faculty of Engineering Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering October 2016 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors Professor Vida N. Sharifi and Professor Jim Swithenbank for the opportunity to undertake this research work, and their continued guidance throughout the project. Also thanks to Dr Yajue Wu for taking over supervisory duties after Professor Sharifi’s retirement. I would also like to extend thanks and gratitude to the technical staff of the University of Sheffield, in particular Mr David Palmer and Mr Mike O’Meara for their invaluable input in bringing this project to fruition. Finally, thanks and appreciation are extended to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for providing the funding which made this work possible and to Carbon Compost Co. for provision of softwood char material used in this experimental work. ii Summary Gasification of coal or biomass can produce hydrogen rich synthetic gas (syngas) for use in fuel cells, liquid fuels or chemicals. While coal gasification is well established, biomass gasifiers have been hindered by costs and difficulties such as tar and ash deposition. Ultra-Superheated Steam (USS) has been proposed as an economical method to maximise gasification temperatures and hydrogen yields. A novel entrained flow USS gasification system showed promise with coal in a previous investigation. The main objectives were to investigate how a USS gasification system produced high hydrogen yields and feedstock conversion within a short residence time. Secondly, apply the system to biomass gasification for sustainable hydrogen production. The principle tasks were to identify the factors affecting the product composition, and experimentally compare the conversion and yields from coal and biomass materials. Numerical software was used to investigate gas and particle behaviour inside the burner. Coal and a unique high ash softwood char were successfully gasified. Char yielded up to 34.9%mol H2 and 25.1%mol CO in the dry gas, demonstrating higher conversion and yields than coal despite lower feedstock heating value and feeding rates. Biomass ash was considered to catalyse char conversion. No detrimental effect was observed from ash deposition, which was dry and easily removed. A fluid model mapped temperature distribution, showing good correlation with validation measurements and supporting the observation that wall temperature greatly affected particle conversion. Particle residence times were inversely proportional to particle diameter and density. High ash biochar showed greater conversion than coal. Economic analysis revealed the system would be most competitive on an existing site with available feedstocks and steam. A longer reactor would increase time for homogeneous reactions to play a greater role. With further development this technology has potential to produce hydrogen competitively on a commercial scale. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... ii Summary ...................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x List of Tables................................................................................................................................ xiv Nomenclature ............................................................................................................................. xvi Greek Letters .............................................................................................................................. xvii Super / Subscripts ....................................................................................................................... xvii Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. xviii 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Global Energy Demand ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Traditional Electricity Generation ....................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Coal Power ................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Natural Gas ................................................................................................................ 3 1.2.3 Nuclear Power ............................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Renewable Energy Sources ................................................................................................. 5 1.3.1 Wind and Solar Power ....................................................................................................... 5 1.3.2 Biomass Energy ................................................................................................................. 5 1.3.3 Hydrogen Fuel ................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.4 Waste to Energy Systems .................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Efficient Energy Use ........................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Large Scale Energy Storage ......................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) ...................................................................................... 8 1.5 Environmental Concerns .................................................................................................... 9 1.5.1 Global Warming ......................................................................................................... 9 1.5.2 Observable Environmental Effects ............................................................................ 10 1.5.4. Environmental Targets.............................................................................................. 11 1.6 The Cost of Power ............................................................................................................ 11 1.7 The Hydrogen Economy ................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Objectives of Research ..................................................................................................... 14 1.9 Layout of Report .............................................................................................................. 15 1.10 Summary.......................................................................................................................... 15 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 17 iv 2.1 Gasification Feedstocks .................................................................................................... 17 2.1.1 Coal .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 Biomass .................................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Thermal Technologies ...................................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Combustion .............................................................................................................. 23 2.2.2 Pyrolysis ................................................................................................................... 25 2.2.3 Coal Gasification ....................................................................................................... 27 2.2.4 Commercial Biomass and Waste Gasification Systems .............................................. 34 2.2.5 Feedstock Preparation .............................................................................................. 36 2.3 Legislation ........................................................................................................................ 36 2.3.1 International Agreements ......................................................................................... 36 2.3.2 Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) ............................................................................ 37 2.3.3 UK National Policies .................................................................................................. 38 2.4 Gasification Research ....................................................................................................... 40 2.4.1 Tar Destruction Methods .......................................................................................... 40 2.4.2 Influence of Gasification Medium ............................................................................. 41 2.4.3 Catalytic