Temperature and Feedstock Effects on Tar Formation During Pilot-Scale Biomass Gasification

Daniel Carpenter, Steven Philips, Katherine Gaston, Steve Deutch, Calvin Feik, Richard French, Mark Nimlos

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Thermochemical conversion of biomass for producing renewable transportation fuels provides a technology option to improve the economic viability of the burgeoning biofuels industry. One important consideration, and added benefit, of a thermochemical process is its effectiveness with different feedstocks. NREL's Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU) was used to study steam gasification of wood, wheat straw, switchgrass and corn stover. A total of 23 experimental conditions were examined for each feedstock to investigate the effects of fluid bed temperature, secondary thermal cracker temperature and steam-to-biomass ratio on the syngas composition. Continuous analysis of permanent gases and tars was conducted for each experimental condition, as well as complete elemental analysis of feed, char, and final bed material. Multiple linear regression was used to develop mathematical equations showing that, for most tar groups, tar generation is well correlated with thermal cracker temperature and feedstock proximate analysis.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages425-426
Number of pages2
StatePublished - 2008
Event235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2008 - New Orleans, LA, United States
Duration: 6 Apr 200810 Apr 2008

Conference

Conference235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans, LA
Period6/04/0810/04/08

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-510-42827

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