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© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by

the Minister of Natural Resources, 2019

Overview of Biomass Thermochemical Conversion Research at CanmetENERGY-

Ottawa for the Utilization of Forestry Residues

Dillon Mazerolle

CIF-IFC National Conference 2019Session: Advances in the Forest Bio-economy Supply Chain

October 7th, 2019



NRCan: Bioenergy Program at CanmetENERGY-Ottawa (CE-O)

Increased utilization of biomass will allow Canadian industries to lower their carbon footprint while using secure, local, sustainable resources. Communities also derive economic and employment benefits from increased use of local resources. CE-O advances these national interests through innovation on conversion of biomass for energy and production of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels.



CE-O Biomass Conversion Facilities 1A. 50-200 kg/hr extruding briquette machine

B. 1 MWth1 Moving Grate Boiler: Wood chips, pellets, hog

fuel, bark, oat hulls, corn stover/cobs, willow, switchgrass, miscanthus, bio-oil, etc.

C. 20L hydrothermal carbonization / steam explosion processing unit

D. Slow pyrolysis/carbonization unit (rotary drum or kiln)1: Rating Based on input

3

D

A B

C



CE-O Biomass Conversion Facilities 2E. 25-150 kWth

1 biomass gasification with tar control capabilities

F. Twin Fast Pyrolysis pilot plants at 10 kg/h (one fluidized bed and one ablative unit)

G. 50 kWth1 modified heavy oil furnace for biofuel combustion

H. 1-3 kg/hr process development unit for production of bio-distillate transportation fuels (biojet & renewable diesel) from biocrude intermediates 1: Rating Based on input

4

E.1

F

HG



Biomass Value Chain Challenges5

Optimizing on-site pre-processing and transportation

Matching feedstock to conversion technology

Overcoming technical challenges during conversion and scaling factors

Optimizing yields and treatment pathways

Public perception and acceptance

Infrastructure: supply contracts, distribution and

use

Product specifications and standards

Regulation Compliance

Inventory & mapping

Storage, handling, transportation, processing

practices

Optimizing material yields

Competing markets for raw materials

Harvest and Upstream

ConversionDownstream and End-Use



Feedstock Properties: Myth vs. Reality

• Conversion technologies are not “feedstock agnostic” as some suppliers boast

• To achieve “feedstock adaptability” of conversion processes, interactions between feedstock and conversion process must be understood

• Knowledge and data gaps exist on the qualitative and quantitative attributes of potential bioenergy & waste feedstocks for thermochemical conversion processes

6



Feedstock Heterogeneity & Variability-Example7

Mixed Harvest Residue Sawmill Bark

Sorted Wood from C&DSalt-Laden Hog



Interactions of Feedstocks and Conversion Processes

Feedstock

Process

Product

Thermochemical Conversion Performance and Yields-Gasification -Torrefaction & Carbonization-Pyrolysis (fast, intermediate, slow)-Hydrothermal carbonization

Feedstock Characterization-Forestry residues and products-Agricultural residues and energy crops-Waste or end-of-life materials

Conversion Product Characterization-Gases-Liquids (tars, aqueous condensates, bio-oils, biocrudes, etc.)-solids (char, inorganics)

8



CE-O Database Structure and Interactions9

Feedstock Information-Geospatial Data-Biomass Species

-Feedstock Classification-Harvest procedure

-Treatment methods, if applicable

Feedstock Properties-Bulk Properties

-Proximate & Ultimate -Biochemical Analysis-Heteroatom Content-Mineral Content and

Composition

Conversion Information-Reactor Temperature &

Pressure Distributions-Condensation Approach

-Scale-Conversion Product Yields

(solid, liquid, gaseous)

Solid Product Properties-Bulk Properties

-Proximate & Ultimate-Heteroatom Content

-Heating Value-Mineral Content and

Composition

Liquid Product Properties-Bulk & Rheological Properties

-CHNO Content-Heating Value

-Mineral Content and Composition

Gaseous Product Properties-Composition

-Gravimetric Tar Content-Heating Value

Feedstock Inventory & Availability-Sustainable

Collection Volumes

Evaluation of Optimal Feedstock Treatment

Pathways

Feedstock Sample Receipt

-Selection Criteria?-“Representative”

sampling?

Product Value-Market Value and

Performance-GHG Reduction Value



De-risking Biomass Supply Chain10

• Develop densification and pre-treatment protocols for biomass residuals

• Support development of guidelines, protocols and standards related to conversion and utilization of biomass residuals, intermediates and end-products

• Evaluate impact of fuel quality and conversion on emission factors



11

• Maximizing potential from Canada’s sustainable biomass streams requires accessing lower quality, under-utilized materials and wastes

• Economic viability of thermochemical conversion relies on obtaining full utilization of the energy and multitude of products generated, i.e. a combination of gases, liquids, solids and heat

Biorefinery - Snapshot

Conversion: Pyrolysis

Hydrothermal Carbonization Hydrothermal LiquefactionHydrothermal Gasification

TorrefactionGasification

etc.

Pre-treatment:Moisture Reduction

Size ReductionDensification

Contaminant removaletc.

Advanced Liquid Biofuels and Biocrudes:

Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oilsHydrothermal Liquefaction Biocrudes

Pyrolytic LigninChemicals

Distillate Transportation Fuels (biojet, renewable diesel, etc.)

etc.

Gaseous and Fungible Fuels:Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Bio-hydrogenCommodity Chemicals (Ex. Methanol)

Renewable Distillate Fuelsetc.

Advanced Solid Biofuels and Bioproducts:

High Density BiocharsMetallurgical Biofuels

Advanced Carbon Materialsetc.

Residual Biomass Feedstocks:

Hog FuelBark

Sawmill & SawdustSlash

Disturbance WoodUsed Wood

etc.



12

Bio-oilBiocrude

Bio-oil and biocrude combustion

Biorefinery Processes – Heat from Biomass

Liquefaction




etc.





etc.



13

Organic / Aqueous phases from biomass liquefaction

Pyrolytic Lignin

Biochar and bio-binders

Biorefinery Processes – Bioproducts




etc.





etc.

Advanced Solid Biofuels and Bioproducts:

High Density BiocharsMetallurgical Biofuels

Advanced Carbon Materialsetc.



14

Hydrocarbon Product

Jet Fuel Fraction

Bio-oil or biocrude

Biorefinery Processes – Transportation Fuels




etc.





etc.



Research in Advanced Liquid Biofuels

• Upgrading of biocrudes (pyrolysis bio-oils and hydrothermal liquefaction biocrudes) to renewable transportation biofuels – Renewable distillates for further refining in oil refineries

– Preliminary upgrading of NRC biocrude from HTL of algae

– Biojet fuel components

• Green Aviation R&D Network (GARDN) project

• CFS-sponsored project under the Forest Innovation Program

• Conversion of lignin-derived intermediates to drop-in biofuels – R&D agreement with a Canadian company

– Transport Canada-sponsored project on development of lignin-derived renewable diesel fuels for rail applications

15



16

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Production• Cleaned syngas (after tar and other

contaminants have been removed) can be chemically reacted to form RNG using a methanation catalyst:

• Evaluate syngas cleaning strategies through process optimization, catalytic tar cracking/destruction and feedstock pre-treatment

Biorefinery Processes – RNG Research




etc.

Gaseous and Fungible Fuels:Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Bio-hydrogenCommodity Chemicals (Ex. Methanol)

Renewable Distillate Fuelsetc.



Selected Collaborators, Partners & Clients17



Questions?Dillon Mazerolle

Research EngineerCanmetENERGY-Ottawa,

Natural Resources [email protected]

www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/offices-labs/canmet/5715

mailto:[email protected]

an overview of the biomass thermochemical conversion ... › wp-content › uploads › 2019 › 10...

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