Yrjö Solantausta

Wood-pyrolysis oil as fuel in a diesel-power plant

Abstract Flash-pyrolysis oil is projected as the most competitive liquid fuel from biomass. The use of pyrolysis oil as a diesel-power-plant fuel is studied. Pyrolysis-oil fuel characteristics are analysed, the oil is employed as fuel in a test diesel engine, and the economics of the system are analysed. The diesel-power-plant concept has several advantages, especially in small-scale production. The concept has several technical uncertainties, which are addressed in a research project.

Technoeconomic assessment of direct biomass liquefaction to transportation fuels

Abstract This paper discusses the results of a technoeconomic assessment of direct biomass liquefaction processes converting wood to gasoline and diesel fuels. The study was carried out by the Working Group of the International Energy Agency Direct Biomass Liquefaction Activity, in which Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the US participated. The processes chosen for detailed analysis were Atmospheric Flash Pyrolysis (AFP) and Liquefaction In Pressurized Solvent (LIPS). The assessment covered three steps for each process from feed to final product: 1. 1. primary liquefaction to a crude oil product, 2. 2. catalytic hydrotreating to upgrade the crude product to a deoxygenated product oil, 3. 3. refining the deoxygenated product to gasoline and diesel fuel. Present technology cases and potential future technology cases were evaluated. A consistent analytical basis was used throughout to allow comparison of the processes. This assessment shows that AFP is more economical than LIPS both for the production of boiler fuel oil as the primary liquefaction product and for the production of gasoline and diesel fuel products. The potential for future cost reduction through research and development is also clearly demonstrated.

Assessment of liquefaction and pyrolysis systems

Abstract A summary is presented on the developments in the state of the art of experimental direct liquefaction of biomass, and the technoeconomic studies carried out within the IEA Biomass Agreement liquefaction activities from 1983 to 1991. The objectives of the study are: to identify potential improvements in developing process concepts, and to evaluate technically and economically the processes in direct thermal liquefaction. The principal instrument utilized in assessing the new technologies was a technoeconomic assessment. A standard procedure was constructed. Balances were calculated for a 1000 dry t/d plant size. Feedstocks included wood, peat, and straw. The thermal efficiency in the fuel oil substitute and gasoline production from woody biomass is above 60 % and 50 %, respectively. At a wood cost of US

Use of pyrolysis oil in a test diesel engine to study the feasibility of a diesel power plant concept

30/wet t (US

Feasibility of power production with pyrolysis and gasification systems

3.4/GJ), and with a capital recovery factor of 0.12, a fuel oil substitute could be produced at US

Biomass Direct Liquefaction Options. TechnoEconomic and Life Cycle Assessment

8/GJ. The estimated cost for the least expensive transportation fuel process would be US

Performance of Cogeneration Gasification Combined-Cycle Power Plants Employing Biomass as Fuel

12/GJ. Areas where more research is needed are highlighted.

Pyrolysis in Finland

Abstract The economic viability of power production in a diesel power plant utilizing flash pyrolysis oil produced from sawmill wastes in Finland has been investigated. A combination of biomass feedstock costs, pyrolysis oil fuel properties (ignition quality, lubricating properties, combustion speed and duration, emissions, etc.) and their effect on power plant investments and maintenance will ultimately determine electricity busbar costs and the economic competitiveness of the concept. Pyrolysis oil is not a suitable fuel for a conventional diesel engine as such. The preliminary tests with additive treated pyrolysis oil demonstrated, however, that once ignition has taken place, pyrolysis oil burns rapidly. Pyrolysis oil may be a suitable primary fuel for a diesel engine with a pilot injection system, which secures the ignition of the main fuel.

New Options for Biomass-Based Power Production by IGCC: A Finnish National Research Programme — JALO

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the development potential of advanced power production systems based on biomass pyrolysis and gasification. Several alternative process configurations and power plant types (diesel, gas turbine, combined cycle) were compared to conventional steam cycle power plants. Electricity production capacities between 5 to 60 MWe were included. It was shown that although presently more expensive than conventional alternatives, all the new options have potential for further development. The biomass to power projects are most likely at sites, where low cost side products are available in countries, which have a favourable electricity tariff or subsidies for renewables. These projects are often small scale. Under these extreme circumstances capital intensive, high efficiency thermal biomass power technologies have difficulties in competing with conventional technology with lower investment cost and lower efficiency. However, environmental taxes and increasing fuel costs will improve the competitiveness of new biomass fuelled power plant concepts.

Power generation using fast pyrolysis liquids from biomass

The purpose of this work was to assess the competitiveness of two biomass to transportation fuel processing routes, which were under development in Finland, the U.S. and elsewhere. Concepts included fast pyrolysis (FP), and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), both followed by hydrodeoxygenation, and final product refining. This work was carried out as a collaboration between VTT (Finland), and PNNL (USA). The public funding agents for the work were Tekes in Finland and the Bioenergy Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. The effort was proposed as an update of the earlier comparative technoeconomic assessment performed by the IEA Bioenergy Direct Biomass Liquefaction Task in the 1980s. New developments in HTL and the upgrading of the HTL biocrude product triggered the interest in reinvestigating this comparison of these biomass liquefaction processes. In addition, developments in FP bio-oil upgrading had provided additional definition of this process option, which could provide an interesting comparison.