Developing bed particle layer characteristics for the next generation of fluidized bed biomass thermal conversion processes

The proposed project´s overall purpose is to develop more efficient thermochemical biomass conversion processes by improving the performances of fluidized bed biomass combustors and gasifiers for heat, power, chemicals, H2, and transportation biofuel production that can additionally promote efficient carbon capture.The aim is to generate new scientific knowledge that can be used for designing bed particle layers that 1) reduce the risk for bed agglomeration and fouling in fluidized bed combustion (FBC) and gasification (FBG) of biomass fuels, 2) provide a positive catalytic influence on internal tar and gas reforming and thus increasing the quality of the raw syngas in the FBG process, and 3) increase the oxygen-carrying ability for used bed materials in chemical-looping processes based on fluidized bed combustion (CLC) and gasification technologies (CLG) and with this avoid energy-intensive CO2-separation processes.FBC/FBG/CLC/CLG experiments with typical biomass fuels and synthetic ash will be performed in lab-, pilot- and full-scale fluidized bed units.

The resulting bed particle layers and ash fractions will be analyzed using physical and chemical characterization methods, e.g., SEM/EDS, XRD, XMT, and advanced synchrotron-based methods at MAX IV.

A combined model approach using thermochemical- and diffusion-reaction modeling will be used to predict the bed particle layer characteristics and interpret the experimental findings.