Development of the IGT-RENUGAS process

The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) is conducting a program to convert forest and crop residues to substitute fuels (medium- and low-Btu gas) in a pressurized fluidized-bed biomass gasifier. The 11 tonnes biomass/day (12 tons/day) adiabatic process research unit (PRU) built for this purpose is 29.2 cm (11.5-inch) in ID, and is designed for operation at pressures up to 3.55 MPa (515 psia) and temperatures up to 1255K (1800/sup 0/F). The fluidized-bed gasifier performance is being determined as a function of the standard operating parameters to develop a basis for recommending specific process applications. The gasification temperature variation tests conducted in the range of 1028K (1390/sup 0/F) to 1172K (1800/sup 0/F) at 2.27 MPa (315 psia) show that the dry-gas production rate is 1 to 1.2 n.m/sup 3//kg feed material (16 to 19 SCF/lb) with a heating value of 10.9 to 13.3 MJ/n. m/sup 3/ (290 to 360 Btu/SCF). The estimated PRU heat loss is about 3% and the cold gas thermal efficiency is about 76%. In the PRU system, a raw-gas sampling line draws about 1% of the total gas through a high-temperature filter to trap the entrained solids before it is cooled to trap the condensate. In addition,more » an on-line wet-gas chromatograph monitors the raw-gas composition. 5 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.« less