Thermal Conversion of Biomass: Progress and Prospects

摘要

The Biomass Thermochemical Conversion Program is sponsoring research and development projects on innovative concepts for converting biomass into a spectrum of versatile energy products. Innovative process concepts are being tested and developed in both bench-scale and process research unit (PRU) facilities. Critical process steps are first defined and evaluated in small bench-scale facilities. If the process innovation continues to show technical and economic merit at the end of the bench-scale stage, further testing and development are usually conducted in a PRU. Typical PRU's are capable of processing between 900 and 9000 kilograms (1 to 10 tons) of biomass per day. The PRU stage allows key process features to be tested and evaluated in a continuous operating mode while optimizing process parameters and obtaining material and energy balances. Scale-up of a process beyond the PRU stage will depend upon private sector commitment to cost sharing further development work such as pilot plants. Currently, several of the projects sponsored by the program are attracting significant interest from the private sector. Current research activities can be divided into three areas: innovative direct combustion technology; gasification technology; and liquid fuels technology. Selected projects with nearer term potential for technology commercialization by the private sector are discussed for these three areas. 5 references, 14 figures. (ERA citation 10:015886)