Bio-oil Production from Biomass: Steps toward Demonstration

Abstract

Metso, UPM, Fortum, and VTT have developed the world’s first integrated bio-oil production concept to provide an alternative to fossil fuels. The consortium has constructed an up to 7 tons/day bio-oil production pilot unit, which uses a bubbling fluidized-bed (BFB) pyrolysis reactor integrated with a conventional fluidized-bed boiler. Proof-of-concept has been carried out; close to 90 tons of bio-oil has been produced from sawdust and forest residues at high availability. Around 40 tons of bio-oil has been combusted in Fortum’s 1.5 MW district heating plant in Masala, Finland, with high efficiency. Flue gas emissions were close to those of heavy fuel oil, at 4% O2, CO emissions ranged from 0 to 10 ppm and NO x emissions ranged from 300 to 400 ppm. Organic compounds were under 5 mg m–3 N–1, and particulate emissions were in the range of 150–200 mg m–3 N–1. No odor emissions occurred. Development of the concept has been supported by experimental work on fast pyrolysis at VTT. This paper presents the recent results from the piloting project covering the whole chain from feedstock processing to bio-oil combustion, including the quality control system with online gas and liquid analyzers. The research supporting the pilot project, from various laboratory-scale units to systematic analytical development, is discussed, and the potential for market introduction of the new technology in forest product industries in western Europe and North America is described.

Co-production of Pyrolysis Oil in District Heating Plants: Systems Analysis of Dual Fluidized-Bed Pyrolysis with Sequential Vapor Condensation

“…Such yields have been demonstrated in pilot-scale pyrolysis plants. 6 Out of the water leaving the pyrolysis reactor, 45% comes from the biomass and 55% is produced in the pyrolysis reactions. The composition of the noncondensable gases produced during pyrolysis was assumed to be 52 wt % carbon dioxide, 41 wt % carbon monoxide, and 7 wt % methane.…”

Performance of a conical spouted bed pilot plant for bio-oil production by poplar flash pyrolysis

“…Although these properties hinder the applicability of the bio-oil as fuel, efforts are being made towards the commercialization of bio-oil for energy applications, and nowadays biomass pyrolysis oil can be used as fuel in boilers, furnaces or turbines by performing certain modifications in order to improve combustion [13]. Thus, demonstration plants are being developed for producing bio-oil at large scale and burning it in district heating plants [52].…”

Co-processing of Dry Bio-oil, Catalytic Pyrolysis Oil, and Hydrotreated Bio-oil in a Micro Activity Test Unit

“…1 The first end use for bio-oil has been to replace heavy fuel oil in burners. 2 If the bio-oil is to be used for other applications, upgrading is needed. Catalytic pyrolysis and hydrotreatment of bio-oil are considered to be two technologies with good potential for producing bio-oil with improved fuel properties.…”