Energy centre for the thermal conversion of biogenous raw materials and residues of a region to produce heat, electricity, SNG and liquid biofuels II
Short Description
Status
completed
Summary
During this project the development and optimization of an energy centre for the production of synthesis gas from biological fuels and residues using steam blown gasification and the utilization of the synthesis gas for polygeneration especially for heat, power, gaseous and/or liquid fuels was continued. Techno-economic evaluations were carried out for further concretizing the basic structure of such an energy centre.
The experimental investigations are mainly focussed on those process steps for which no suitable solutions exist at the market. The work was concentrated on the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and production of BioFiT as for this process a higher research demand is still necessary compared to the methanation process and production of BioSNG. One main focus of the experimental work was the improvement of sulphur removal as the content of the sulphur components in the syngas has to be lower than 1 ppmv. The second process step of interest was the product condensation.
The energy centre under development in this project is intended to produce several products and to be integrated into a regional context. Therefore, it is not necessary to maximise the synthetic biofuel yield but to present cost-effective solutions also for the medium size range (50-100 MW fuel power input). Under these conditions low pressure (ambient pressure) Fischer-Tropsch synthesis can be an interesting technology. Therefore, preliminary fundamental studies were carried out using this technology. The results look promising and the research work will be continued.
An essential feature for the further development and future commercializing of synthetic fuels is the achievable product quality. Due to this reason the results from product analyses carried out during the last years were collected and summarized. In general it can be stated that with the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis high grade diesel can be produced which can be used as premium diesel or as blending component.
A market study was carried out during the course of the project to find out the acceptance of such synthetic biofuels at the market. Several companies from seven different market segments were selected and evaluated. From the results it can be concluded that especially the agricultural and the wood working sector would be well suited to take the role as trailblazer for the utilisation of synthetic biofuels.
In the area of techno-economic evaluation deeper insight was obtained out of this project. This led to the following new aspect that two types of energy centre, both producing three products (heat, electricity and BioSNG or BioFiT) should be distinguished:
- Fuel oriented - in this case the production of a synthetic biofuels is maximised (BioSNG or BioFiT)
- Polygeneration - in this case the overall profit out all three products is maximised in a specific situation (e.g. green feed-in tariff)
Project Partners
Projectleader
Univ. Prof. Dr. Hermann Hofbauer
Institut für Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik und Technische Biowissenschaften, Technische Universität Wien
Projectpartner
- Repotec Umweltechnik GmbH (Projektpartner)
- Biomasse Kraftwerk Güssing GmbH u. Co KG
- OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH
- Renet Kompetenzknoten Güssing Forschungsinstitut (WV-Partner)
- Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Universität Wien
Contact Address
Univ. Prof. Dr. Hermann Hofbauer
Institut Institut für Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik und Technische Biowissenschaften, Technische Universität Wien
Getreidemarkt 9/166, A-1060 Wien
Tel.: +43 (1) 58801-15901 / 15970
Fax: +43 (1) 58801-15999
Internet: www.vt.tuwien.ac.at