Combustiongasification of hydrolysis residues from ethanol production B

Combustion/gasification of hydrolysis residues from ethanol production B. Kjellström, G. Eriksson, B. Lundqvist Division of Energy Engineering Luleå University of Technology, Sweden About a third of the wood feedstock for ethanol production cannot be fermented to ethanol. It is crucial for the overall process economy that a profitable use for this material can be found. SEM pictures of the hydroysisresidue particles The low alkali content makes gas turbines for CHP (Combined Heat and Power) production an attractive option. The project • Physical and chemical characterization of the material; Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) graphs for the hydrolysis residue compared with commercial wood powder (upper and middle graph). The sample material is heated at a programed rate. During TGA the loss of mass is continuously monitored and used to determine rates of devolatilization. In Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA, lower graph) the sample temperature is compared with an inert material, to give qualitative information of reaction enthalpies during pyrolysis/ combustion. The measurements were done by Åbo Akademi, Finland. • Fundamental combustion experiments. Determination of parameters for combustion CFD simulations; • Applied combustion experiments. Methods to achieve stable combustion/gasification with sufficiently low concentrations of ash particles and alkali (to avoid corrosion, erosion and contamination of the turbine blades) will be tested experimentally. 150 k. W powder burner at SLU, Umeå Main results • Stable combustion in a 150 k. W powder burner has been demonstrated; • The low ash and alkali content is confirmed for weak-acid residues; • Combustion parameters useful for computer simulations have been determined. Flow scheme of pressurized facility at ETC, Piteå The research is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency as part of the Ethanol programme