Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of bed materials on the performance of the Nong Bua dual fluidized bed gasification power plant in Thailand

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bed materials and their catalytic activity are two main parameters that affect the performance of the dual fluidized bed (DFB) gasification system in terms of product gas composition and tar levels. Two sources of bed materials were used for the operation of a commercial DFB gasification system in Thailand, using woodchips as a biomass feedstock. One source of the bed materials was the calcined olivine which had been used in the Gussing Plant, Austria, and the other activated bed material was a mixture of fresh Chinese olivine and used Austrian olivine with additives of biomass ash, calcium hydroxide and dolomite. These bed materials were collected and analysed for morphological and chemical composition using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The product gas was cleaned in a scrubber to remove tars, from which the samples were collected for gravimetric tar analysis. Its composition data was automatically recorded at the operation site before it entered the gas engine. From the SEM, EDS and XRF analyses, calcium-rich layers around the bed materials were observed on the activated bed material. The inner layers of bed materials collected were homogeneous. Biomass ash, which was generally added to the bed materials, had significant calcium and potassium content. These calcium-rich layers of the bed materials, from the calcium hydroxide, biomass ash and dolomite, influenced system performance, which was determined by observing lower tar concentration and higher hydrogen concentration in the product gas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Devi L, Ptasinski KJ, Jassen FJJG, Van Paasen SVB, Bergman PCA, Kiel JHA (2005) Catalytic decomposition of biomass tars: use of dolomite and untreated olivine. Renew Energy 30:565–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2004.07.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Baratieri M, Pieratti E, Nordgreen T, Grigiante M (2010) Biomass gasification with dolomite as catalyst in a small fluidized bed experimental and modelling analysis. Waste Biomass Valoriz 1:283–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9034-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Koppatz S, Pfeifer C, Hofbauer H (2001) Comparison of the performance behaviour of silica sand and olivine in a dual fluidised bed reactor system for steam gasification of biomass at pilot plant scale. Chem Eng J 175:468–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.09.071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Virginie M, Adenez J, Courson C, De Diego LF, G-Labiano F, Niznansky D, Kiennemann A, Gayen P, Abad A (2012) Effect of Fe–olivine on the tar content during biomass gasification in a dual fluidized bed. Appl Catal B Environ 121-122:214–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2012.04.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kirnbauer F, Wilk V, Kitzler H, Kern S, Hofbauer H (2012) The positive effects of bed material coating on tar reduction in a dual fluidized bed gasifier. Fuel 95:553–562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2011.10.066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Pissot S, Vilches TB, Thunman H, Seemann M (2018) Effect of ash circulation on the performance of a dual fluidized bed gasification system. Biomass Bioenergy 115(2018):45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.04.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Biomass database potential in Thailand (2016) http://weben.dede.go.th/webmax/content/biomass-database-potential-thailand (Accessed 30 March 2016).

  8. Devi L, Craje M, Thüne P, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen FJJG (2005) Olivine as tar removal catalyst for biomass gasifiers: catalyst characterization. Appl Catal A Gen 294:68–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2005.07.044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kuba M, Kirnbauer F, Hofbauer H (2017) Influence of coated olivine on the conversion of intermediate products from decomposition of biomass tars during gasification. Biomass Convers Bior 7:11–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-016-0204-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Knutsson P, Cantatore V, Seemann M, Tam PL, Panas I (2018) Role of potassium in the enhancement of the catalytic activity of calcium oxide towards tar reduction. Appl Catal B Environ 229:88–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.02.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Siriwongrungson V, Thaveesri J, Pang S, Hongrapipat J, Messner M, Rauch R (2018) Influence of olivine activity on plant performance of a commercial dual fluidized bed gasifier power plant in Thailand. Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Green Energy and Applications: ICGEA 2018 : Singapore, 24-26, 2018. IEEE, Piscataway (NJ): 23-27. doi:https://doi.org/10.1109/ICGEA.2018.8356294

  12. Schmid JC, Pfeifer C, Kitzler H, Pröll T, Hofbauer H (2011) A new dual fluidized bed gasifier design for improved in situ conversion of hydrocarbons. Proc. Int. Conf. Polygeneration Strateg.: Austria. http://pivotalirm.com/files/tech/014.pdf

  13. Schmid J C, Pröll T, Pfeifer C, Hofbauer H (2011) Improvement of gas-solid interaction in dual circulating fluidized bed systems. Proc. 9th Eur. Conf. Ind. Furn. Boil. : Portugal

  14. Pfeifer C, Schmid JC, Pröll T, Hofbauer H (2011) Next generation biomass gasifier. Proc. 19th Eur. Biomass Conf. Exhib. : Germany. http://pivotalirm.com/files/tech/005.pdf

  15. Hongrapipat J, Messner M, Henrich C, Koch M, Nenning L, Rauch R, Hofbauer H (2015) 1 MWel prototype dual fluidised bed gasifier fuelled with renewable energy resources. Report

  16. Pfeifer C, Koppatz S, Hofbauer H (2011) Catalysts for dual fluidised bed biomass gasification—an experimental study at the pilot plant scale. Biomass Convers Bior 1:63–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-011-0005-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kuba M, Hofbauer H (2018) Experimental parametric study on product gas and tar composition in dual fluid bed gasification of woody biomass. Biomass Bioenergy 115:35–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.04.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Asadullah M, Miyazawa T, Ito S, Kunimori K, Yamada M, Tomishige K (2003) Catalyst development for the gasification of biomass in the dual-bed gasifier. Appl Catal A Gen 255:169–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-860X(03)00539-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Devi L, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen FJJG (2003) A review of the primary measures for tar elimination in biomass gasification processes. Biomass Bioenergy 24:125–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(02)00102-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kirnbauer F, Hofbauer H (2013) The mechanism of bed material coating in dual fluidized bed biomass steam gasification plants and its impact on plant optimization. Powder Technol 245:94–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.04.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Corella J, Aznar M, Gil J, Caballero M (1999) Biomass gasification in fluidized bed: where to locate the dolomite to improve gasification? Energy Fuel 13:1122–1127. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef990019r

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Rapagna S, Jand N, Kiennemann A, Foscolo P (2000) Steam-gasification of biomass in a fluidised-bed of olivine particles. Biomass Bioenergy 19:187–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(00)00031-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Corella J, Toledo JM, Padilla R (2004) Olivine or dolomite as in-bed additive in biomass gasification with air in a fluidized bed: which is better? Energy Fuel 18:713–720. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef0340918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Berguerand N, Marinkovic J, Vilches TB, Thunman H (2016) Use of alkali-feldspar as bed material for upgrading a biomass-derived producer gas from a gasifier. Chem Eng J 295:80–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.02.060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wagner K, Häggström G, Skoglund N, Priscak J, Kuba M, Öhman M, Hofbauer H (2019) Layer formation mechanism of K-feldspar in bubbling fluidized bed combustion of phosphorus-lean and phosphorus-rich residual biomass. Appl Energy 248:545–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Berguerand N, Vilches TB (2017) Alkali-feldspar as a catalyst for biomass gasification in a 2-MW indirect gasifier. Energy Fuel 31:1538–1592. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b02312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Florin NH, Harris AT (2008) Enhanced hydrogen production from biomass with in situ carbon dioxide capture using calcium oxide sorbents. Chem Eng Sci 63:287–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2007.09.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Delgado J, Aznar MP, Corella J (1996) Calcined dolomite, magnesite, and calcite for cleaning hot gas from a fluidized bed biomass gasifier with steam: life and usefulness. Ind Eng Chem Res 35:3637–3643. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie950714w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Dayton D (2002) A review of the literature on catalytic biomass tar destruction. US DOE NREL Report Golden: 32510–32815.

  30. Caballero MA, Corella J, Aznar MP, Gil J (2000) Biomass gasification with air in fluidized bed. Hot gas cleanup with selected commercial and full-size nickel-based catalysts. Ind Eng Chem Res 39:1143–1154. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie990738t

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tomishige K, Asadullah M, Kunimori K (2004) Syngas production by biomass gasification using Rh/CeO2/SiO2 catalysts and fluidized bed reactor. Catal Today 89:389–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2004.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Pfeifer C, Hofbauer H (2008) Development of catalytic tar decomposition downstream from a dual fluidized bed biomass steam gasifier. Powder Technol 180:9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2007.03.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yung MM, Jablonski WS, Magrini-Bair KA (2009) Review of catalytic conditioning of biomass-derived syngas. Energy Fuel 23:1874–1887. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef800830n

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Scala F, Salatino P (2003) Dolomite attrition during fluidized-bed calcination and sulfation. Combust Sci Technol 175:2201–2216. https://doi.org/10.1080/714923284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Morin M, Nitsch X, Hemati M (2018) Interactions between char and tar during the steam gasification in a fluidized bed reactor. Fuel 224:600–609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.03.050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Riosa MLV, Gonzaelezb AM, Lorab EES, Del Olmoc OAA (2018) Reduction of tar generated during biomass gasification: a review. Biomass Bioenergy 108:345–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Rapagnà S, Jand N, Foscolu PU (1998) Catalyst gasification of biomass to produce hydrogen rich gas. Int J Hydrog Energy 23:551–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-3199(97)00108-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Rauch R, Bosch K, Hofbauer H, Swierczynski D, Courson C, Kiennemann A (2004) Comparison of different olivines from biomass steam gasification. Proc. 6th Conf. for Science in Thermal and Chemical Biomass Conversion: Canada.

  39. Kiennemann A in A V Bridgwater, D G B Boocock (Eds) (2006) Comparison of different olivines for biomass steam gasification. in CPL Press, UK: 799–809

  40. Swierczynski D, Courson C, Bedel L, Kiennemann A, Vilminot S (2006) Oxidation reduction behavior of iron-bearing olivine (FexMg1-x)2SiO4 used as catalysts for biomass gasification. Chem Mater 18:497–905. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm051433+

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Kryca J, Priscak J, Łojewska J, Kuba M, Hofbauer H (2018) Apparent kinetics of the water-gas-shift reaction in biomass gasification using ash-layered olivine as catalyst. Chem Eng J 346:113–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.04.032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Kirnbauer F, Hofbauer H (2011) Investigations on bed material changes in a dual fluidized bed steam gasification plant in Güssing, Austria. Energy Fuel 25:3793–3798. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef200746c

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. James AK, Thring RW, Helle S, Ghuman HS (2012) Ash management review—applications of biomass bottom ash. Energies 5:3856–3873. https://doi.org/10.3390/en5103856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Hofbauer H, Rauch R, Bosch K, Koch R, Aichernig C (2002) Biomass CHP plant Güssing – a success story, https://www.tib.eu/en/search/id/BLCP%3ACN050571944/Biomass-CHP-Plant-Gussing-A-Success-Story/ 2002 (Accessed 30 March 2016).

  45. Hongrapipat J, Siriwongrungson V, Messner M, Hinrich C, Gunnarsson S, Koch M, Dichand M, Rauch R, Pang P, Hofbauer H (2020) Co-gasification of cassava rhizome and woody biomass in the 1 MWel prototype dual fluidized bed gasifier by Gussing renewable energy. IOP Conf Series: Earth and Environmental Science 495. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/495/1/012019

  46. Libourel G (1999) Systematics of calcium partitioning between olivine and silicate melt: implications for melt structure and calcium content of magmatic olivines. Contrib Mineral Petrol 136:63–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004100050524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Kuba M, Kirnbauer F, Skoglund N, Boström D, Öhman M, Hofbauer H (2016) Mechanism of layer formation on olivine bed particles in industrial-scale dual fluid bed gasification of wood. Energy Fuel 30:7410–7418. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b01522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Devi L, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen FJJG (2005) Pretreated olivine as tar removal catalyst for biomass gasifiers: investigation using naphthalene as model biomass tar. Fuel Process Technol 86:707–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2004.07.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Kuba M, Havlik F, Kirnbauer F, Hofbauer H (2006) Influence of bed material coatings on the water-gas-shift reaction and steam reforming of toluene as tar model compound of biomass gasification. Biomass Bioenergy 89:40–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.11.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kuba M, Kirnbauer F, Skoglund N, Bostrom D, Ohman M, Hofbauer H (2016) Thermal stability of bed particle layers on naturally occurring minerals from dual fluid bed gasification of woody biomass. Energy Fuel 30:8277–8285. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b01523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Kern S, Pfeifer C, Hofbauer H (2013) Reactivity tests of the water–gas shift reaction on fresh and used fluidized bed materials from industrial DFB biomass gasifiers. Biomass Bioenergy 55:227–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.02.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Tang Z, Ma S, Ding J, Wang Y, Zheng S, Zhai G (2013) Current status and prospect of fly ash utilization in China. World of Coal Ash Conf., USA

  53. Tiwari MK, Bajpai S, Dewangan UK (2016) Fly ash utilization: a brief review in Indian context. Int J Res Eng Technol 3:949–956

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank Markus Koch, the Gussing Plant manager for the successful operation of the Nong Bua Plant during experiments in this article. The authors appreciate support from Christian Henrich, the Nong Bua project manager, for his contribution and Stefan Gunnarsson and Peter Pessl for financial arrangement support. The authors greatly acknowledge King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) Research Fund Grant Number KREF206312 for financial support, and SEM, EDS and tar analysis. The authors deeply thank TU Wien (TUW) for XRF and XRD analysis, Gussing Renewable Energy (Thailand) Co. Ltd for the support on finance, human resources and data collection and financial support from Michael J. Dichand, International Business Development Shareholder, Gussing Renewable Energy International Holding GmbH.

Availability of data and material

The authors declare that all data supporting the findings of this research are available in this article.

Funding

This research was funded by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) Grant Number KREF206312, Gussing Renewable Energy (Thailand) Co. Ltd and Gussing Renewable Energy International Holding GmbH and Michael J. Dichand, International Business Development Shareholder, Gussing Renewable Energy International Holding GmbH.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Advanced Manufacturing Innovation, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand

    Vilailuck Siriwongrungson

  2. Güssing Renewable Energy (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand

    Janjira Hongrapipat & Michael Messner

  3. Bioenergy2020+ GmbH, Wienerstraße 49, 7540, Gussing, Austria

    Matthias Kuba

  4. Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria

    Matthias Kuba & Hermann Hofbauer

  5. Fuel Technology, Engler-Bunte-Institut, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Reinhard Rauch

  6. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Shusheng Pang

  7. Ministry of Industry, Bangkok, Thailand

    Jullapong Thaveesri

Authors
  1. Vilailuck Siriwongrungson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Janjira Hongrapipat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Matthias Kuba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Reinhard Rauch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shusheng Pang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jullapong Thaveesri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Michael Messner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hermann Hofbauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vilailuck Siriwongrungson.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

Not applicable

Ethics approval

Not applicable

Consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

The authors guarantee that the content in this research has not been previously published elsewhere in whole or in part or submitted at the same time for other publications. However, certain descriptions and images were from other publications. The citations were remarked.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Siriwongrungson, V., Hongrapipat, J., Kuba, M. et al. Influence of bed materials on the performance of the Nong Bua dual fluidized bed gasification power plant in Thailand. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 12, 2965–2979 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00908-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00908-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation