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INVESTIGATOR: Kasseris, E.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
PLASMA ENERGY INNOVATION
176 WILSHIRE DR
SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS 020671562

A NOVEL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONCEPT TO ELIMINATE PRODUCER GAS TREATMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE COST OF BIOMASS TO POWER

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: We propose a solution to greatly reduce the cost of biomass-to-power. This would improve the sustainability of forest resources by reducing the carbon footprint of decaying biomass and the cost of wildfire prevention through forest fuel load reduction. It would also develop value-added products from woody resources (electricity, biochar fertilizer) increasing the productivity of forest lands.Biomass gasification is a well-known process to convert biomass from solid to a gas that an engine generator can burn to generate electricity. It could fundamentally use low cost equipment and scale down to be physically close to biomass feedstock sources. Currently, however, more than half the cost of biomass gasification to power is in produced gas pretreatment to remove organic contaminants (tars) that cause equipment fouling within hours. We propose using the internal combustion engine itself as the produced gas clean-up hardware as well as the power generation, achieving significant cost savings of more than 50% while also enabling a small, portable system that can be moved close to biomass sources, considerably reducing feedstock transportation costs.The concept was invented and proven at MIT. To bring the technology closer to commercialization, Plasma Energy Innovation, an MIT spin-off will, as part of this project, test the technology using minimally processed forest biomass (woodchips). Based on the experimental results, we will also develop a technoeconomic model of full system operation to prove its financial viability.If the project is successful, it could really introduce a paradigm shift in the cost of small scale biomass to power systems. A proven, low cost biomass to power system could have significant implications for reducing GHG emissions and improving energy security in the US by utilizing biomass that is otherwise wasted. It can also help provide financial growth for rural communities and forest management organizations by providing additional revenue streams (electricity, biochar).

OBJECTIVES: There is a clear and unmet need for transformative technologies to improve biomass to power systems by reducing their cost and complexity to make them competitive with fossil fuels. The big hurdles in biomass to power have always been the cost of transporting biomass over long distances and when using gasification, the cost of cleaning up the heavy organic components (tars) in the gasifier producer gas. These tars deposit on surfaces and force frequent maintenance of the equipment.The goal of this project is developing a novel technology to drastically reduce the cost of power generation from biomass waste (forest and agricultural). The end result will be a portable, biomass to power system based on internal combustion engines. The technology can be used to generate clean, sustainable power, locally, from biomass waste that would otherwise generate more greenhouse gas emissions if allowed to decay on its own (sustainable bioenergy and reducing climate change are program priorities). Forest trimmings can be easily converted to fuel (wood chips) which the proposed biomass to power unit can use thus significantly reducing the cost of wildfire prevention through forest fuel load reduction (a program priority). The electricity produced from biomass waste can be used locally or sold to the grid, providing a source of income for farmers and forest management professionals. Furthermore, the ash and char residue obtained from the gasifier has excellent soil quality enhancement properties and can used as a fertilizer. This technology would provide financial growth in rural areas using local resources which would otherwise have to be disposed as a waste. If successful, the technology will help farmers and forest management authorities monetize local woody biomass waste materials. The present application has a direct connection to agricultural and forest-related manufacturing technology, energy efficiency and alternative and renewable energyCurrently, more than half the cost of biomass and waste-to-power systems is in synthesis gas pretreatment to remove organic contaminants (tars). This is especially true for small scale systems that are required to be closer to the biomass source and minimize transportation costs. In the present application, we propose to use internal combustion engines as the synthesis gas clean-up hardware as well as for complete combustion for power generation, achieving significant cost savings of more than an order of magnitude. The concept of gas cleaning is based on extremely fuel rich hot intake gas partial oxidation in an engine. If the producer gases are kept above the tar dew point (~250 C) before they are inducted into the engine, tar condensation and thus fouling is prevented. The tars are then destroyed in a very fuel rich combustion where a small amount of air is provided to destroy the tars while leaving enough heating value in the exhaust. The cleaned producer gas in the exhaust is subsequently burned to completion in another engine to produce power.The objectives of Phase I of this project will involve experimentally proving tar removal from producer gas generated through gasification of different types of minimally processed waste woody biomass (woodchips from forestry enterprises) in the gasifier for their performance. We have already proven the concept at our laboratory at MIT using commercial wood pellets. Integration between gasifier, clean up engine and power generation engine will be examined to improve efficiency while considering combustion control challenges. We will model the overall system in terms of a techno-economic evaluation of potential savings not only from the cost of tar cleanup but also from reducing transportation costs by using a smaller system. Phase 1 of the proposal aims to further prove the technology concept and develop it to the point where it is ready to be used in small scale biomass to power applications, where a large and growing market exists. Addressing the current and significant unmet market needs by providing an inexpensive, robust, turn-key biomass to power solution with clear technical and cost advantages over the state of the art, will enable rapid adoption of the technology.In summary, the objectives of the project will be:To demonstrate operation of the system using woodchips instead of wood pellets.To develop a technical model of the physical system in order to size components for the applicationTo develop a technoeconomic model of the system operation and evaluate its financial viability e.g. in terms of levelized cost of electricity.