Language
Country/Area
No result found
The miracle of underwater oil fields: Why can water transform biomass into high-energy oil?
As human demand for energy increases dramatically, it is increasingly important to find various methods of renewable energy. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a process that converts wet biomass into petroleum-like products and is gaining increasing attention in the scientific and technological community. This technology not only efficiently produces bio-oil with extremely high energy density, but also helps solve the waste problem and set off a new revolution in renewable energy.
Hydrothermal liquefaction is a pyrolysis-polymerization process that converts wet biomass into usable petroleum-like products at moderate temperatures and pressures.
History of hydrothermal liquefaction technology
The concept of hydrothermal liquefaction was proposed as early as the 1920s. This technology received great attention in the 1970s, driven by the oil crisis. Many research institutions and companies have begun to carry out relevant research, including the Pittsburgh Energy Research Center (PERC) in the United States and Shell in the Netherlands. With the advancement of technology, the applications of hydrothermal liquefaction have gradually expanded to cover a variety of sources ranging from agricultural waste to food processing waste.
According to the latest research, water under pressure can more effectively break down biomass and organic matter, making hydrothermal liquefaction a promising technology.
The process of hydrothermal liquefaction
During the hydrothermal liquefaction process, long carbon chain molecules are thermally cracked under high temperature and pressure, and oxygen molecules are removed under the action of water. This process can ultimately produce bio-oil with a high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio. Different raw material compositions, temperatures, pressures and the presence of catalysts will affect the quality and yield of the final product. Typically, the temperature range for this process is between 250 and 550°C, which is the temperature at which water can exist in a supercritical or subcritical state.
Environmental impact
Biofuels produced in the hydrothermal liquefaction process are considered carbon neutral. This means that when biofuels are burned, the carbon dioxide released is almost completely offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed when growing the plants. According to reports, hydrothermal liquefaction does not produce harmful compounds and can form harmless by-products such as nitrogen and inorganic acids.
Comparison with other technologies
Compared to traditional pyrolysis technology, hydrothermal liquefaction can process wet biomass, and the energy density of the produced bio-oil is twice that of pyrolysis oil, which makes HTL technology particularly important in energy transformation. As the pace of commercialization of technology accelerates, many companies and institutions have begun to further develop related applications and products with the goal of meeting future energy needs.
During the hydrothermal liquefaction process, the addition of catalysts can significantly increase oil yields, even to a gain of more than 20%, further expanding the range of biomass that can be utilized.
Future Outlook
Currently, many countries and companies around the world have carried out extensive research and application of hydrothermal liquefaction technology. As related technologies mature, hydrothermal liquefaction may become an important direction in the future energy field. Its potential to efficiently convert biomass into energy provides a new solution to the global energy crisis.
With global environmental issues becoming increasingly severe, can hydrothermal liquefaction technology become one of the main directions of renewable energy in the future?
