Production of clean combustible gas with pressurised thermal gasification of wet biomass

Goal of the project is: 1) to convert wet biomass in one step into clean combustible gas aimed for heat and power production. 2) to identify and collect data relating to the reaction mechanism of the process. 3) to optimise the process thermodynamically and maximise the regain of energy. 4) to investigate intermediates and side products of the process. 5) to calculate the process economy. Research in geochemical laboratories has shown that it is possible to convert organic matter by pressurised thermal treatment into a clean gas with hydrocarbons. The conversion is taking place at a pressure between 100 and 200 bar and a temperature between 350 deg. C and 600 deg. C. Late experiments have shown that an effective utilisation of biomass is taking place when the organic matter first is dissolved before conversion in a supercritical fluid like steam or carbon dioxide. The solute is then reacted thermal/catalytic into a combustible gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbobs. If the biomass is heated to fast or the steam pressure is too low, considerable amount of carbon is formed. The pressure is favouring a high heating value as a pressurised absorption process easily separates the formed carbon dioxide. The work programme is covering model experiments in micro reators with different fluid fraction of biomass in order to identify the reaction pathways, intermediates for the conversion into the conbustible gases: Hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. Experiments are carried out with the following solutions: 1) Cellulose monomer: Glucose. 2) Hemicellulose monomer: Xylose. 3) Lignin compound: Cutin. 4) Tar water with phenol. 5) Organic sludge. Inert and catalytic material is tested at 200-600 deg. C and 10-200 bars. The space-time is varied between 0.25-24 hours