Distributed processing of biomass to bio‐oil for subsequent production of Fischer‐Tropsch liquids

This study compares centralized processing to distributed processing of biomass for subsequent produc- tion of Fischer-Tropsch liquids (FTLs) at a centralized catalytic synthesis facility. Distributed processing in this study is based on fast pyrolysis to bio-oils, which are more economically transported to a centralized F-T plant where bio-oil is gasifi ed and the syngas catalytically converted to FTLs. The study indicates that a centralized gasifi cation plant can produce FTLs from biomass for $1.56 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (gge) in an optimally sized plant of 550 million gge per year. Three distributed processing systems were investigated based on the scale of biomass processing capacity: 'on-farm' pyrolyzers of 5.4 ton per day (tpd) capacity; 'small cooperative' pyrolyzers of 55 tpd capacity, and 'large cooperative' pyrolyzers of 550 tpd capacity. Distributed processing is combined with very large centralized bio-oil processing plants that accept bio-oil for catalytic upgrading to transportation fuels, achieving costs as low as $1.43 for total fuel production capacities in excess of 2500 million gge. Total capital investment (distributed pyrolyzers and centralized bio-oil processing plant) for this optimally sized distributed processing system is projected to be $4 billion compared to $1.6 billion for the centralized biomass processing facility. © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

[1]  A. Bridgwater,et al.  Fast pyrolysis processes for biomass , 2000 .

[2]  V. Putsche,et al.  Large-Scale Pyrolysis Oil Production: A Technology Assessment and Economic Analysis , 2006 .

[3]  B. Jenkins.  A comment on the optimal sizing of a biomass utilization facility under constant and variable cost scaling , 1997 .

[4]  D. Mohan,et al.  Pyrolysis of Wood/Biomass for Bio-oil: A Critical Review , 2006 .

[5]  J. Lehmann.  Bio-energy in the black , 2007 .

[6]  Leif Gustavsson,et al.  Regional production and utilization of biomass in Sweden , 1996 .

[7]  A. Bridgwater,et al.  An Overview of Fast Pyrolysis , 2008 .

[8]  L. Lynd,et al.  Potential for Enhanced Nutrient Cycling through Coupling of Agricultural and Bioenergy Systems , 2007 .

[9]  A. Faaij,et al.  Exploration of the possibilities for production of Fischer Tropsch liquids and power via biomass gasification , 2002 .

[10]  A. Bridgwater,et al.  Physical properties of flash pyrolysis liquids , 1994 .

[11]  Akwasi A. Boateng,et al.  Bench-Scale Fluidized-Bed Pyrolysis of Switchgrass for Bio-Oil Production† , 2007 .

[12]  Anthony V. Bridgwater,et al.  Technoeconomic assessment of biomass to energy , 1995 .

[13]  P. Badger,et al.  Use of mobile fast pyrolysis plants to densify biomass and reduce biomass handling costs—A preliminary assessment , 2006 .

[14]  Richard L. Bain,et al.  Technoeconomic analysis of the production of biocrude from wood , 1994 .

[15]  A. J. Toft,et al.  A techno-economic comparison of power production by biomass fast pyrolysis with gasification and combustion , 2002 .

[16]  A. Demirbas,et al.  Converting Biomass Derived Synthetic Gas to Fuels via Fisher-Tropsch Synthesis , 2007 .

[17]  Anthony V. Bridgwater,et al.  Techno-economic modelling of biomass flash pyrolysis and upgrading systems , 1994 .

[18]  D. C. Elliott,et al.  Assessment of liquefaction and pyrolysis systems , 1992 .

[19]  Robert C. Brown,et al.  Establishing the optimal sizes of different kinds of biorefineries , 2007 .

[20]  Benny D. Freeman,et al.  NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES FOR GASEOUS CONTAMINANTS CONTROL , 2001 .

[21]  Sn Barker,et al.  Gasification and pyrolysis - routes to competitive electricity production from biomass in the UK , 1996 .

[22]  Elena Maceviciute,et al.  Review of: Einspruch, Eric L. An introductory guide to SPSS® for Windows®. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2005 , 2006, Inf. Res..