EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe development of an efficient pressurized, medium-Btu steam-oxygenblown fluidized-bed biomass gasification process was conducted at the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT), Chicago, Illinois, for Pacific Northwest A long-duration gasification test of 3 days steady-state operation was conducted with whole tree chips to identify long-term effects of fluidized process conditions; to establish gasifier material and energy balances; to determine the possible breakthrough of low concentration organic species; and to evaluate the mechanical performance of the system components.Test results indicate that the pressurized fluidized-bed process, which has proven to be simple to operate, can achieve carbon conversions of about 95% with cold gas thermal efficiencies of about 75% and with low oil and tar production.New information was collected on the oil and tar fraction, which relate to the process operating conditions and feedstock type. The different feedstocks studied were very similar in elemental compositions, and produced similar product gas compositions, but each has a different distribution and character of the oil and tar fractions. This information is important environmentally and would have an impact on the proper design of process clean-up equipment.iii

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In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Biomass Power Program, a Westinghouse Electric led team consisting of the Institute of Gas Technology, Gilbert/Commonwealth, and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, is conducting a 30-month research and development program to provide validation of hot gas cleanup technology with a pressurized fluidized bed, air-blown, biomass gasifier for operation of a combustion turbine. This paper discusses the gasification and hot gas cleanup processes, scope of work and approach, and the program’s status.

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