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This page contains descriptions of ThermalNet work packages, their objectives and outcomes/deliverables. You can click on the links after the work package description to see reports produced by the work packages. If you have any problem viewing or accessing this material please contact Emma Wylde
WP2A: CHARACTERISATION AND ANALYSIS Description of the work: The scope of this task is methods for the characterisation and analysis of biomass feedstocks as well as liquid, gaseous and solid products from thermo-chemical conversion processes. Relevant methods that are accurate and consistent will be identified and recommendations will be disseminated to companies and institutions in order to harmonise methods and enable comparison of results. Outcome of this work package: Available analytical methods will be reviewed and recommendations for development and improvement will be made. For some analytical parameters, especially those related to solid biomass fuels and ashes, CEN-standards are presently being prepared. These forthcoming standards will be discussed and evaluated. Available methods for sample types/parameters that are not covered by standardisation work will be evaluated by conducting Round Robin Tests. For e.g. pyrolysis liquids this may include: GC-MS and HPLC, water content, elemental analysis, solid content, water solubles, water insolubles and stability test will be applied Deliverable(s) of this work package:
WP2B: CO-PROCESSING AND CO-FIRING Description of the work: The objective is to further stimulate the expansion of the production of bio-energy by generating and disseminating information on technical barriers and possible solutions for co-firing biomass. Biomass can be co-fired in several ways; direct co-firing of the biomass itself, co-firing of producer gas, pyrolysis oil or biomass based carbon and by combining steam cycles. Technologies: Biomass co-firing with distinction to the different ways of co-combustion, co-firing and pretreatment technologies (grinding, drying, gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction etc.) Technical issues:
Work program General activities are Meetings and Workshops (twice a year). Further, a final report will be produced. Outcome of this work package: The outcome of the work package will be the combination and dissemination of state-of-the-art knowledge on biomass co-combustion. Furthermore a very strong international network combining the distinct fields of expertise will be established. Through ThermalNet a strong international network will be put in place combining knowledge of combustion with knowledge on both gasification and pyrolysis. By having strong links to the IEA Bioenergy Task 32 "Biomass Combustion and Co-firing" ThermalNet has even stronger international links. Dissemination of knowledge and a strong (in)formal network will lead to new initiatives in the field of biomass co-combustion. Deliverable(s) of this work package:
Description of the work: This Work Package involves identifying and categorising feed stocks that are appropriate for the different technologies, including pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. The Work Package will identify the following:
Outcome of this work package: This Work Package will identify the characteristics of feed stocks that will allow the technologies to develop. Biomass fuels tend to be unrefined products with inconsistent quality and poor quality control. Production methods vary according to crop type, location and climatic variations. Erratic fuels have compounded the difficulties associated with technological innovation in the fields of pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. There is a need to rationalise fuel production in an endeavour to produce more consistent, higher quality fuels described by standards. Less homogenous and low quality fuels need more sophisticated conversion systems. Larger scale systems tend to be suitable for lower quality cheaper fuels. Smaller plants tend to require higher fuel quality and better fuel homogeneity. We need to understand this relationship and the specific tolerances that each technology can accommodate.
Description of the work: The design, operation and integrity of thermal processing equipment (combustion, gasification and pyrolysis) for biomass materials are strongly affected by the behaviour of the non-combustible components of the feedstock, and particularly the mineral/ash constituents and the sulphur and chlorine compounds. The behaviour of these constituents at elevated temperatures is complex and, for biomass materials, the characteristics of the products of thermal processing are highly variable and not well understood. In the case of gasification and pyrolysis processes, there are condensable components of the product gases, which present additional problems. The result has been the technical failure of a number of important projects, in Europe and elsewhere, involving the thermal processing of biomass materials, particularly due to fouling and corrosion of plant components. The key areas of concern are:
There has been significant R&D work in this subject area carried out over the past few years, however the results of this work are largely contained in technical reports and papers, which may only be readily accessible and understandable by technical experts in this field. It is also the case that pilot plant and industrial experience of the thermal processing of biomass materials is progressing rapidly at the present time and, as a result of this activity, new problems and solutions are emerging. There is clearly a requirement for the preparation of summaries, reviews and guideline documents in these subject areas, which provide information on these processes in a readily understandable form, and for the wider dissemination of this information to equipment suppliers, plant designers and operators and project developers in a form suitable for direct implementation within the industry. In technical areas where there are specific concerns it may be necessary to direct future research to relevant areas, and ThermalNet will provide a suitable forum for discussion of these issues. Outcome of this work package: The principal Deliverable Items from this WP are at least three Technical Reports, presenting technical summaries of the current state of knowledge in the following subject areas:
Description of the work: This Work package aims at exchange of high quality information and experiences between experts on gas treatment, and in particular between experts working in different technology areas, i.e. combustion, gasification and pyrolysis. Outcome of this work package: The main deliverables from this WP are:
WP2F: SCIENCE AND MODELLING Description of the work: The highly variable composition and properties of biomass fuels and the huge number of compounds generated while decomposing make the chemistry of thermochemical conversion processes extremely complex. The design and development of practical conversion systems is further complicated by the interaction with physical processes (mass and momentum transport, turbulence, radiation, slag formation, etc.) and by the need to control pollutants emissions (NOx, SOx, CO2, VOCs, PAHs, dioxins, smoke, etc.), problems enhanced by the scale of the plants. In contrast with coal, only a limited effort has been devoted to research activities on the fundamentals of biomass pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. Research projects directly linked to technological development often lack thorough and deep analysis which can lead to a generalized approach, applicable beyond the usually narrow range of experimental conditions explored. Moreover, specifically for the objectives of the program of this proposal, it should be noted that a comprehensive assessment about the actual scientific knowledge on thermochemical conversion processes is not available, often the results achieved in one sector are unknown to the other despite the inter-relation (i.e. pyrolysis for gasification and combustion) and it is not known to which extent industrial development relays on science. On the other hand, only a truly scientific approach can be actually apt to make the processes more efficient and economically viable. These are the motivations for the WP10 on "Science and Modeling". The network will provide the basis for discussing and reviewing the current state of scientific understanding, for making available the results of one sector to another and for proposing methodologies aimed at improving the exploitation of scientific results in technology implementation. The work to be carried out in the WP10 is structured into three main tasks as follows. Task 2F.1 - Literature Review As a first activity, the production of a list of references is foreseen, consisting of the published reviews on the different aspects of biomass thermochemical conversion (for instance, applications of bio-oils, NOx mechanisms, supercritical gasification of biomass, etc.). From an accurate and extensive bibliographic search and with the advice and information of experts and project Partners, the topics which necessitate critical reviews will be listed. Afterwards, reviews on a few selected topics, based on the scientific and strategic relevance, will be produced. Again, the selection will be made in cooperation with experts and project Partners. References, not included in previous published reviews, will be critically examined in relation to methodologies and results, the optimal methodologies will be identified for the investigation of specific aspects of each topic and indications will be formulated for future research. Special attention will be given to models of biomass thermochemical conversion processes and systems appeared in the literature. Sub-models will be reviewed for the different processes (both proprietary and commercial software) with definition of the degree of accuracy/detail in relation to scope and applications. The problems for the assembly of the different sub-models and the limitations/modifications for the passage from laboratory to full scale will be pointed out and adequate guidelines will be provided. This analysis, providing an overview of computational tools potentially available in the biomass sector, can facilitate the achievement of objectives of both fundamental and industrial research. Particular effort will also be made to transfer the information about the current scientific understanding from one sector to another, by simultaneously examining the selected topics and modeling in relation to pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. In this way, a common scientific basis will be provided which will allow to better exploit results already available and to improve the organisation of future research projects. Task 2F.2 - Review about Ongoing Research An extensive investigation will be carried out about the research groups (research centers, universities and industries) working on the processes and systems of interest in this proposal, providing a list of the subjects investigated and related methodologies. This activity will be carried out using direct (available from all the Partners of the network) and indirect (conventional or electronic publication/data) information. The results of the analysis can be useful for establishing links between different groups at a national or international level, to avoid overlap or repetition of activities, to favor the amalgam between groups of different experience and expertise, and to provide the industries with a list of on site institutions available for scientific support. Aside from the synergistic effects resulting from the combination of areas of different expertise, the enhanced cooperation among research groups and with industry can speed up the optimisation of the biomass conversion technologies. Task 2F.3 - Assessment of industrial needs The objective of this task is to formulate a list of future research activities to be carried out following industry requirements. A questionnaire will be distributed, for compilation, to industrial Partners and a significant number of other industry representatives also using electronic mail. In addition to the list of topics of relevant industrial interest, the survey will also explain the type information to be supplied from research to industry and the optimal form for it. Outcome of this work package: The main deliverables from this WP are:
Description of the work: Collection of information on the status, knowledge and experiences in the field of transport fuels. Inviting industries, research institutes, and academic institutes in this discussion to establish an informal European biofuel network. Preparing progress reports and a final report and dissemination of the results by publications in the newsletter and website. Outcome of this work package: Biannual progress reports and a final report describing the status and developments of biofuels and production technologies in Europe, publications, and an informal European network with participants for industry, research, and academic.
Description of the work: This work package is unique in that it is only being considered within the PyNe (pyrolysis) area and is being carried out in conjunction with the USA, as part of the IEA Pyrolysis task.
The key contribution of PyNe will be consideration of how pyrolysis can be or should be integrated into a biorefinery. To this end, one of the outputs of the Task will be a set of case studies as summarised below:
Chemicals as primary product · Speciality chemicals and separation Transport fuels as primary product · Bio-oil for transport fuels via gasification and FT and/or methanol · Bio-oil (hydro)de-oxygenation for transport fuels Reference case · Power and heat
In order to address a commonly recognized issue, a Round Robin on lignin pyrolysis has been agreed in order to consider biorefinery concepts. This will be based on those laboratories who wish to participate who will be provided with a standard sample of lignin, possibly several samples if these can be resourced. Each laboratory will carry out analytical and/or laboratory scale tests and will provide full details for review and comparison. It is planned that this will result in at least one journal paper as well as a report.
The objective of the Round Robin is to compare process, methods, analyses and products to share experiences, methodologies and results and these results will be published in a journal as a Task output.
For more information on the work of this task please visit the PyNe website where further information is available at http://www.pyne.co.uk/?_id=95
Description of the work: Efforts to develop reliable, commercially viable, clean and efficient biomass technologies in Europe have intensified in recent times, consistent with national and international efforts to limit anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Despite development efforts, significant technical and non-technical barriers to deployment of biomass technologies remain throughout Europe, the latter often being more difficult to address. These are fundamental obstacles to biomass development, representing limits or boundaries to the extent of deployment, often related to institutional frameworks, perceptions, socio-economic issues or engagement of and interfaces with related technology sectors. Unlike research questions or problems these are generally not soluble solely by developing technical knowledge or expertise within the particular technology sector. Objectives: This work package seeks to
Outcome of this work package: The main outcomes of this work package are as follows:
Description of the work: The work passage covers issues of process (competitive assessment, case studies), social (e.g. effect on import/export balances, employment etc.) and environmental (cost of (GHG) emission mitigation) economics related to the energetic use of biomass via combustion, gasification and pyrolysis. In the course of the ThermalNet meetings workshops will be organised comprising presentations of experts being involved in ThermalNet on energy and biomass economics and discussions on selected topics. Topics intended to be discussed in workshops are:
More topics will be discussed and agreed within the meetings of ThermalNet in order to meet the interest of the participants. Outcome of this work package: The main outcomes of this work package are as follows:
Description of the work: A first activity is represented by the overview of the Education and Training activities in Bioenergy in the EU. The project will develop a web site, preliminary designed by the University of Saragozza, which will list the ongoing activities in EU: nevertheless, when available also E&T activities in non-EU Countries will be listed. The possibility of elaborating the web site in such a way to disseminate trained students will be considered (for instance, including a link to a section with curricula of graduated students). Possibly, the analysis of the educational and training activities will distinguish among the level (primary, secondary, master, specialisation,..), the content, the length and eventually the integration with other RES. A Form for information collection will be drafted and proposed to the Network for comments. A survey will then be carried out through this questionnaire delivered by email to concerned Institutions by the Network coordinator. The results of the survey will be analysed and evaluated by the E&T group of experts, and presented for discussion to the ThermalNet members. In parallel to these activities, the task aims at investigating the existing needs, identifying the demand from two main types of actors: the industry and the public sector. In fact, the training and education needs are significantly different among these two: while a more practical approach is demanded by the industry, which needs to operate "on the field" and therefore looks for skilled personnel able to design, install, and operate the different bioenergy technologies and systems, the public officers are usually in charge of programme design and management, and project evaluation and monitoring. While the first group asks for very specific and qualified operators, the second one instead needs for personnel having a broad non-specific knowledge in order to be able to understand the complex problems of the whole bioenergy chain. Therefore, it seems reasonable to expect that the survey of these two actors will lead to different results and therefore different educational programme and training courses. The possibility of implementing multimedia for educational purposes, including distance learning, will be discussed, and cost/benefits will be compared. Outcome of this work package: The Workpackage will list the on going educational activities in the EU, thus constituting a reference point for both EU students interested in bioenergy as well as for industry and public bodies. Possible educational activities will be elaborated on the basis of the results of the analysis of the potential employers of the trained students, i.e. the industry and public bodies. An online survey of Bioenergy Education and Training in Europe was carried out as a joint activity between ThermalNet and the Bioenergy Network of Excellence. The preliminary results can be accessed by clicking the link below To visit the WP3C website to discover more about the work carried out please click here.
Description of the work: As the other technical and non technical tasks the Environment, health and safety (EHS) Task will collect available information (national projects, literature search) on EHS risks of biomass conversion plants and available / applied measures to minimise these risks, review the state of the art, illustrated through presentations by guest speakers within workshops and seminars that will be held at the regular ThermalNet meetings. The scope is to contribute to a better understanding and rapid consideration at the inception of projects about EHS issues, which will permit more successful and more rapid implementation of biomass technology. The Task will gather technology developers and providers to help identify and define their problems. Combustion technology being well established, benefit can be expected through a comprehensive assessment on how EHS issues have been addressed in both large and medium scale biomass combustion plant. Finally a review of EU member state environmental regulations and emission regulations will be carried out with a particular attention to new member countries. It is planned that there will be one significant report per year with supplementary material provided through the meetings and workshops that are published in the minutes, and where appropriate, on the web. Co-operation will also be set up with on going EU project related to task issue like BIOTOX project presently studying bio oil toxicity and eco-toxicity. In addition to state of the art review and up date realised on a continuous basis, specific actions will be undertaken within this work package, concentrating the efforts on four specific topics. 1- Environment, health and safety issues assessment in gasification and pyrolysis : plant case Study The intention is the identification of the existing main gaps in minimising the EHS risks in existing small-scale plants (up to 5 MWth) a questionnaire will be sent to manufacturers and a minimum of 2 cases will be monitored with the objectives of assessing the EHS risk involved in the operation of the plant and the actual solutions provided by the owner of the plant. A set of recommendation will be addressed and provided to the plant owner and an executive report published, with respect to confidentiality. It will highlight the main problems that need to be solved as well as the gap that may exist with the operational solutions implemented. These case studies will constitute the basis for the elaboration of a risk assessment methodology as described below. Due to limited pyrolysis plant in operation this sub task will concentrate on gasification. However, the report and the recommendations will be prepared having in mind to identify similarities, differences that may exist with pyrolysis plant to benefit to both technologies. Contact will be established with conventional oil refinery in order to assess similarities with pyrolysis plant. Parallel will also be address with biomass combustion technology. 2- Elaborate a general framework for risk assessment methodology The amount of work to develop a complete HSE guideline exceeds the possibilities of ThermalNet. The activity suggested here will be mainly dedicated to small scale gasification unit as large plant generally belongs to large company which have their own facilities/team to take care of EHS aspects. Small unit owners are indeed generally badly aware of EHS aspects. The underestimation of the risk involved have frequently induces larger capital cost as well as running costs, affecting drastically the feasibility of bio energy projects. A correct integration of these aspects at the earliest of the project would have minimised costs and delays. This general methodology will benefit from the plant case study. Partners and experts from ThermalNet have submitted an additional proposal "Bio-guide". The objective of Bio-guide is to accelerate the process of commercialisation and market introduction of gasification and pyrolysis by an accepted guideline on HSE aspects for all target groups and key actors. Contact and collaboration will be envisaged with the project in case of success to avoid duplication. Feedback of ThermalNet will be given to Bio-guide to improve the quality and the acceptance of the guideline. 3- Collect existing information, procedures and methodologies existing in large wood handling and preparation unit referring to large paper mill, particle board and fibreboard industries.
The Common activities include contributions to online information systems, participation in conferences, preparations of general presentation materials etc. The Project dissemination activities include preparation and dissemination of information from the Tasks and respective technologies through newsletters, websites and technical reports from the Tasks.
An adequate management structure has been established to control the quality of the deliverables of ThermalNet. This includes a project manager, Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, Steering Committee as well as experts. Particular attention is paid to Co-operation with Industry and other Networks, Organisation and International Programmes. |
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