Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating Bio-Oil Pathway

Abstract

Executive SummaryThe goal of the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is to enable the development of biomass technologies to: Reduce dependence on foreign oil  Promote the use of diverse, domestic, and sustainable energy resource  Establish a domestic bioenergy industry  Reduce carbon emissions from energy production and consumption. (DOE 2013) To meet these goals, the BETO promotes the development of liquid hydrocarbon fuels that can serve as gasoline, jet and diesel blendstocks.This report describes a proposed thermochemical process for converting biomass into liquid transportation fuels via fast pyrolysis followed by hydroprocessing of the condensed pyrolysis oil. As such, the analysis does not reflect the current state of commercially-available technology but includes advancements that are likely, and targeted to be achieved by 2017. The purpose of this study is to quantify the economic impact of individual conversion targets to allow a focused effort towards achieving cost reductions.

Hydrogen production from switchgrass via an integrated pyrolysis–microbial electrolysis process

“…While commercial-scale pyrolysis technology is still being developed, making it difficult to predict the volume and composition of an aqueous-phase stream, a recent update at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) estimates that a 2000 ton/day pyrolysis plant would require 1000 m 3 water/day, and produce approximately 1000 m 3 wastewater/day (Jones et al, 2013). This high water demand coupled with high GHG emitting natural gas reforming for H 2 production makes microbial electrolysis an attractive alternative for continued development.…”

“…The ability to produce hydrogen from biomass or biomassderived streams can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions released by use of natural gas as a hydrogen source. Production of hydrogen from natural gas contributes 18% to capital costs via the thermochemical route converting biomass to fuels (Jones et al, 2013). Biomass used for pyrolysis typically contains 20% moisture or more resulting in a water-rich bio-oil from the http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.06.085 0960-8524/Ó 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.…”

Estimation of economic impacts of cellulosic biofuel production: a comparative analysis of three biofuel pathways

“…Davis et al . performed a detailed TEA for a feasible biological conversion process using cellulosic biomass feedstock to produce renewable diesel blendstock.…”

“…Woody residues are assumed to be piled at the forest landing as part of a whole‐tree harvest of merchantable wood . Pulpwood is harvested and then moved to a landing, where it is debarked to reduce ash content to meet the quality characteristics required by the fast pyrolysis biorefineries . Field drying techniques are used to reduce the moisture content of woody residues and pulpwood to 30%.…”

“…Field drying techniques are used to reduce the moisture content of woody residues and pulpwood to 30%. Preprocessing of woody residues at landing includes screening operations to remove high‐ash biomass fractions, chipping, and grinding to reduce the size of the woody biomass to desired specifications . Preprocessing of pulpwood includes debarking, chipping, and grinding operations.…”