Performance of a 100 kW Heatpipe Reformer Operating on Lignite

Abstract

The heatpipe reformer provides an allothermal gasification process for the generation of a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas. Heat pipes transport heat from a fluidized bed combustor to a steam-blown fluidized bed gasification reactor. The objective of the Institute of Energy Process Engineering (FAU-EVT) is the generation of hydrogen from the synthesis gas by means of in situ membrane separation in the fluidized bed gasification reactor. This paper presents the current state-of-the-art of the heatpipe reformer (HPR) technology as well as the recent development of the construction of the 100 kW pilot test stand at FAU-EVT and shows the results of a 24 h gasification operation. Lignite was used as feedstock. The results include the synthesis gas and tar composition, the temperature profile of the process, and the sulfur and hydrocarbon concentrations in the synthesis gas. Furthermore, the influence of gasification temperature and pressure on the synthesis gas composition and the influence of the gasification temperature on the tar composition are evaluated. In addition, the anticipated operation points of the HPR, depending on the temperature spread between combustor and reformer temperature and the HPR heat duty, are determined. The generated synthesis gas at gasification temperature of 800−930 °C had a tar content of 2.8−3.6 g/Nm 3 and a H 2 S content of 1000−2000 ppm. Conversion of methane was quite high; its content in the synthesis gas was in the range of 4−7%, resulting in a high hydrogen content of up to 56%.

Conversion of tars on solid oxide fuel cell anodes and its impact on voltages and current densities

“…A producer gas composition from wood gasification was added to give an example how the ternary diagram can be used to predict safe operation domains. The black dot represents the gas from a 100 kW Heatpipe reformer, operated at an excess steam ratio of 3, gasification pressure ranging from 1.3 to 4 bar, and gasification temperatures from 800 to 830°C . In this gasification case, the risk for solid carbon formation rises, if the temperature decreases and if hydrocarbons are added to the gas.…”

Biomass Gasification for Rural Electrification, Small Scale

“…Heat transport between both reactors is provided by heat pipes. This is also a possibility for realization of allothermal gasification [34, [64][65][66][67][68][69].…”