Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasifier (CFB) including hot gas filters

This integrated test rig for biomass gasification is unique in Europe due to the integration with crucial process components for Syngas cleaning. The facility consists of a 100 kWth CFB gasifier that is steam/oxygen/air blown, two ceramic filter units (one operating on approximately 450C – BWF type, the other at substantially higher temperatures until 850C –Pall type- and in the slipstream a catalytic reformer and a catalytic water gas shift unit. Herewith the whole chain from biomass to Hydrogen-rich Syngas can be demonstrated. Fuels used so far: wood (clean and demolition), agricultural residues (straw, DDGS), dedicated energy crop species (Miscanthus).

The unit is fully instrumented with advanced PLC control, temperature measurements via arrays of
thermocouples, pressure and pressure drop sensors along with an extensive set of analysis instrumentation, like a high resolution Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrophotometer for quantitative gas analysis, micro-GC’s, GC for tar and Sulphur traces, on-line analysers (NDIR, paramagnetic, UV) and solids particle size distribution (cascade impactor). Moreover, the section has a SEM for particle morphology study. There is a closely integrated lab for specific wet chemical analyses, like e.g. ICP-AES (trace metals), ion-chromatography, HPLC-UV-RFI.

This integrated unit allows to perform applied research, but also very closely associated with it fundamental research can be carried out. Accompanied to the gasification research fundamental fuel and char/flyash characterization units are there to study their behavior (TGA with an additional FTIR and a heated wire mesh reactor, which is also integrated with an FTIR).

The high temperature catalytic filter allows the fundamental study of the combination of fly ash capture and catalytic conversion of tars (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) and other components. It is equipped with a set of mass flow controllers for precise metering of made up Syngas with addition of model tar components via a dedicated saturator. Water is added via an HPLC pump. The gases pass a preheater. The temperature range is between about 500 and 900C. Also the dust cake can be regenerated.