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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/M013162/1
Title Novel low energy plasma/catalytic gas cleaning process to deliver high quality syngas from the gasification of waste biomass
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 25%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 25%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 25%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor P Williams
No email address given
Energy Resources Research Unit
University of Leeds
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 January 2015
End Date 31 August 2018
Duration 44 months
Total Grant Value £911,539
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region Yorkshire & Humberside
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor P Williams , Energy Resources Research Unit, University of Leeds (99.997%)
  Other Investigator Dr X Tu , Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool (0.001%)
Dr S (Sai ) Gu , School of Engineering, Cranfield University (0.001%)
Dr M Wang , Engineering, University of Hull (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , C-Tech Innovation Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Process Systems Enterprise Limited (0.000%)
Project Contact , Future Blends Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Alstom Ltd (UK) (0.000%)
Project Contact , Thermitech Solutions Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The gasification of biomass wastes represents a major thermochemical route to produce a high energy value syngas from a source which is renewable and CO2-neutral. However, one of the major issues in the gasification process is contamination of the product syngas with tar. Tar is the key problem for biomass gasification and is a complex mixture of condensable hydrocarbons. The formation of tar causes major process and syngas end-use problems, including tar blockages, plugging and corrosion in downstream fuel lines, filters, engine nozzles and turbines.This proposal seeks to develop a novel gas cleaning process based on low temperature plasma/catalytic technology to produce a clean, high quality syngas from the gasification of waste biomass. Gasification of the biomass will be investigated in an existing small-pilot scale fluidised bed gasifier, modified to include a downstream plasma/catalytic syngas cleaning process. Experimental and detailed analytical work developing the coupled biomass gasification-gas cleaning process will enable a mechanistic understanding of the tar reduction process and will be extended by CFD modelling of model tar compounds. Process modelling and simulation of the combined biomass gasification-plasma/catalytic gas clean-up sytem will build a foundation for process analysis, optimal design and operation to facilitate exploitation of this innovative technology development.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 16/07/15