Thermochemical Process Integration, Scale-Up, and Piloting Publications

2016

Conceptual Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of ex situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Fixed Bed Reactor Implementation Scenario for Future Feasibility, Topics in Catalysis

Image of a schematic of hot gas filter and ex situ fixed bed fast pyrolysis vapor upgrading reactors. It shows From FP, to Hot Gas Filter, which produces Particulate Solids, to Fixed Bed 1 (2 Online/1 Regenerating), to Fixed Bed 2 (2 Online/1 Regenerating), which leads to Quench in the end.

Conceptual Process Design and Economics for the Production of High-Octane Gasoline Blendstock via Indirect Liquefaction of Biomass through Methanol/Dimethyl Ether Intermediates, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

Image of a schematic showing Biomass going through the Flue Gas, which includes the following processes: Feed Handling & Preparation, Gasification, and Gas Cleanup. It then moves through the next phase, H2, which includes the following processes: Methanol Synthesis and Methanol Recovery. From that phase, it moves on to the Methanol Intermediate phase, which converts Methanol to Dimethyl Ether (DME), and from DME to High-Octane Gasoline to Product Recovery and finally to a High-Octane Gasoline Blendstock.

2015

Corrigendum to "One Dimensional Steady-State Circulating Fluidized-Bed Reactor Model for Biomass Fast Pyrolysis", Fuel

Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Thermochemical Research Pathways with in situ and ex situ Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors, NREL Technical Report

Image of a flowchart with the following: Process Flow Diagrams Rigorous Process Simulations (Aspen Plus) Material and Energy Balances Capital and Operating Cost Estimates Discounted Cash Flow Analysis Minimal Fuel Selling Prices (MFSP). Other variables in the process include: Engineering Consultation on Process Configuration Process Flow Diagrams; Results from DOE/NREL/PNNL Sponsored Research Programs, Third-Party Engineering Studies on Commercial Processes, and Process Estimates from Commercial Technology Licensors Rigorous Process Simulations (Aspen Plus); Vendor Cost Quotations, Cost Estimates from Engineering Firm (Harris Group Inc.), and Results from Cost Estimating Software (Aspen) Capital and Operating Cost Estimates; and Project Financing Assumptions Discounted Cash Flow Analysis.

Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbons via Indirect Liquefaction: Thermochemical Research Pathway to High-Octane Gasoline Blendstock Through Methanol/Dimethyl Ether Intermediates, NREL Technical Report

2014

Pilot Scale Production of Mixed Alcohols from Wood, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

Image of a chart showing methane conversion and H2:CO ratio in reformers as a function of time on stream for steam + CO2, using both reformers.

Technoeconomic Analysis for the Production of Mixed Alcohols via Indirect Gasification of Biomass Based on Demonstration Experiments, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

Image of a bar chart showing minimum ethanol selling price (MESP)--$2.05/gallon ($0.54/L)--breakdown for a cost-competitive case based on an integrated model at lower alcohol synthesis pressure with respect to the design case. Costs include Capital Recovery Charge; Catalysts, Raw Materials & Waste; Co-Product Credits; Process Electricity; Electricity Generated; and Fixed Costs. Bars show: Feedstock 34.3%, Gasification 12.6%, Reforming & Quench 9.0%, Acid Gas & Sulfur Removal 7.8%, Syngas Compression & Expansion 31.9% (Net), Alcohol Synthesis Reaction 3.6% (Net), Alcohol Separation 4.6%, Steam System & Power Gen. -6.8% (Net), and Cooling Water & Other Utilities 3.0%.

Perspective on Oxygenated Species in the Refinery Integration of Pyrolysis Oil, Green Chemistry

Images of the cellular structures of typical products formed from the pyrolysis of the biopolymers in plant cell walls. The cellulose and hemicellulose image structures point to the following product structures: organic acids, esters, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones and hydroxyl carbonyls, furans, and sugars and anhydrosugars. The lignin image structure points to the product structures of phenolics and substituted aromatics.

Speciation of Sulfur in Biochar Produced from Pyrolysis and Gasification of Oak and Corn Stover, Environmental Science and Technology

Two microscopic images labeled corn stover biochar and below them two black square images, labeled Elemental maps: one with a green dot labeled S the other with a red labeled K. From KCI, there are two arrows pointing inside one of the microscopic images.

Bio-Oil Stabilization and Upgrading by Hot Gas Filtration, Energy and Fuels

Image of a line chart showing acid and carbonyl contents of raw and HGF oils during the accelerated aging test (PSS filter element). The y-axis is labeled mol/kg, and the x-axis is labeled Aging Time, Hours. The chart shows Raw Oil, Carbonyls at 4.5 mol/kg at 0 hrs, 3.5 mol/kg at 8 hrs, and 2 mol/kg at 24 hours; HGF Oil, Carbonyls at 3 mol/kg at 0 hrs, 2.25 mol/kg at 8 hrs, and 2.25 at 24 hrs; Raw Oil, Acids at 1.4 mol/kg at 0 hrs, 1.5 mol/kg at 8 hrs, and 1.6 at mol/kg at 24 hrs; and HGF Oil, Acids at 1.1 mol/kg at 0 hrs, 1.2 mol/kg at 8 hrs; and 1.3 mol/kg at 24 hrs.

One Dimensional Steady-State Circulating Fluidized-Bed Reactor Model for Biomass Fast Pyrolysis, Fuel

$Image of two line charts showing pyrolysis products distribution: (a) in the entire reactor, (b) within the first 1.2 m. The y-axis is labeled Weight fraction (%wt DAF), and the x-axis is labeled Height (m). On chart a, the green-dashed line representing biomass starts off at 100% at 0.0 m, dropping to 0% at 2.0 4.0 m; the red line representing organics starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 70% at 1.0 -2.0 m, and then dropping a bit to 65% at 3.0 m; the yellow dashed-dotted line representing gas starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 20% at 2.0-4.0 m; the black dotted line representing char starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 5% at 2.0 - 4.0 m; the blue dashed-dotted line represent H20 starts off at 0.0% at 03.0 m, rising to maybe 4% at 1.0 4.0 m. On chart b, the green-dashed line representing biomass starts off at 100% at 0.0 m, dropping to 2% at 1.2 m; the red line representing organics starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 70% at 1.0 -1.2 m; the yellow dashed-dotted line representing gas starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 19% at 1.2 m; the black dotted line representing char starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to 5% at 0.6 - 1.2 m; the blue dashed-dotted line represent H20 starts off at 0.0% at 0.0 m, rising to maybe 2% at 1.0 1.2 m.$

Investigation of Thermochemical Biorefinery Sizing and Environmental Sustainability Impacts for Conventional Supply System and Distributed Pre-Processing Supply System Designs, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

Biomass Feedstocks for Renewable Fuel Production: A Review of the Impacts of Feedstock and Pretreatment on the Yield and Product Distribution of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oils and Vapors, Green Chemistry

An image of a bar chart with the y-axis labeled Cost per Unit, and the x-axis labeled Dry tonnes per year. It shows at $20 Residues at 0-9 and Thinnings at 9-12 dry tonnes per year; at $32 Residues at 12-31 and Thinnings at 30-35 dry tonnes per year; at $45 Thinnings at 36-38 dry tonnes per year; at $55 SRWC at 39-67 and Thinnings 68-69 at dry tonnes per year; at $65 Pulpwood at 69-70, SRWC at 71-89, and Thinnings at 89-90 dry tonnes per year; at $78 Pulpwood at 91-96, SRWC 97-105, and Thinnings at 106-107 dry tonnes per year; at $88 Pulpwood at 108-116 and SRWC at 116-120 dry tonnes per year; at $99 Pulpwood at 120-130 dry tonnes per year; and at $110, Pulpwood at 130-136 dry tonnes per year.

Pyrolysis of Woody Residue Feedstocks: Upgrading of Bio-oils from Mountain-Pine-Beetle-Killed Trees and Hog Fuel, Energy and Fuels

Image of a line chart and a table showing results of SimDist for hydrocarbons produced at selected times for MPBK wood and hog fuel (RHF).

Evaluate Impact of Catalyst Type on Oil Yield and Hydrogen Consumption from Mild Hydrotreating, Energy and Fuels

$Image of four bar charts showing properties of the organic fraction of the product oil. For each catalyst, the results are given for low, moderate, and high severity from left to right.$