Screening of various low-grade biomass materials for low temperature gasification: Method development and application

Abstract This work aims at identifying potential low-grade biomass fuels for a near future Danish CHP system encompassing pretreatment of these fuels by Pyroneer gasification for subsequent conversion of the gas in existing coal-fired boilers. The focus of the work is on development of a suitable screening method and the subsequent use of the method to identify promising – but currently unproven, low-grade biomass resources for conversion in Pyroneer systems. The technical assessment is conducted by comparing the results from a series of physical-mechanical and thermochemical experiments to a set of proven references. The technical assessment is supplemented by an evaluation of practical application and overall energy balance. Applying the developed method to 4 references and 18 unproven low-grade potential fuels, indicated that one of these unproven candidates was most likely unsuited for Pyroneer gasification, 5 of the candidates looked highly problematic, 5 of the candidates looked very promising and 7 of the candidates ranged in between the highly problematic and the very promising.