Hydrogen energy

1. Biomass Gasification for Hydrogen Production
Presented By
Md Tanvir Alam
Department of Environmental Engineering
Yonsei University

2. Introduction

3. Introduction
What is biomass?

4. Introduction
 What is Gasification?
 A process that converts organic or fossil fuel based
carbonaceous materials into CO, H2 and CO2
 By reacting the material at high temperatures (>700 °C)
 With controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam

5. Introduction
 What is hydrogen fuel?
 Zero-emission fuel when burned with oxygen
 Hydrogen (H2) reacts with oxygen (O2) to form
water (H2O) and releases energy.
2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(g)

6. Introduction
Why we need hydrogen fuel?
 Renewable energy
 Clean energy
 Environment friendly
 Fuel efficient

7. Introduction
Why hydrogen production from biomass?
 Renewable resource
 Most abundant
 Carbon neutral
 Cost effective
 Easy to use

8. Introduction
Pathways from Biomass to Hydrogen Production
Reference: Milne et al. (2001) National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA

9. Methodology

10. Methodology

11. Methodology
Source: Cuiping et al. (2004). Biomass and bioenergy, 27(2), 119-130.
 Elemental characteristics of biomass

12. Methodology
Reference: Higman & Burgt (2008). Gasification (2nd edition), Gulf Professional Publishing
1. C + ½ O2 → CO (-111 MJ/kmol)
2. CO + ½ O2 → CO2 (-283 MJ/kmol)
3. H2 + ½ O2 → H2O (-242 MJ/kmol)
Major chemical reactions within gasification process:

13. Methodology
Reference: Higman & Burgt (2008). Gasification (2nd edition), Gulf Professional Publishing
7. CO + H2O ↔ CO2 + H2 "Water-Gas-Shift Reaction"
(-41 MJ/kmol)
8. CH4 + H2O ↔ CO2 + 3 H2 "Steam-Methane-Reforming Reaction"
(+206 MJ/kmol)
4. C + H2O ↔ CO + H2 "the Water-Gas Reaction"
(+131 MJ/kmol)
5. C + CO2 ↔ 2CO "the Boudouard Reaction"
(+172 MJ/kmol)
6. C + 2H2 ↔ CH4 "the Methanation Reaction"
(-75 MJ/kmol)

14. Result & Discussion

15. Result & Discussion
Feedstock Reactor Catalyst used Hydrogen production (vol%) References
Sawdust Unknown Na2CO3 48.32 at 700 °C
55.40 at 800 °C
59.80 at 900 °C
Yongje et al.(1996) Acta Energiae Sol
aris Sinica
Sawdust Circulating fluidized bed Not used 10.5 at 810 °C Chuangzhi et al. (1997) Acta
Energiae Solaris Sinica
Wood Fixed bed Not used 7.7 at 550 °C Xia et al. (2000) ) Acta Energiae
Solaris Sinica
Sawdust Fluidized bed Unknown 57.4 at 800 °C Turn et al. (1998) Int. Jour. of Hydrog
en Energy
Sawdust Fluidized bed Ni
K2CO3
CaO
Na2CO3
62.10 at 830 °C
11.27 at 964 °C
13.32 at 1008 °C
14.77 at 1012 °C
Rapagna et al. (1998) Int. Jour. of
Hydrogen Energy
Chun et al.(2001) Chemistry and Ind
ustry of Forest Product
Pine sawdust Fluidized bed Unknown 26-42 at 700-800 °C Zhewei et al. (2002) Jour. Of Fuel Ch
emistry and Technology
Bagasse Fluidized bed Unknown 29-38 at 700-800 °C Same as above
Cotton stem Fluidized bed Unknown 27-38 at 700-800 °C Same as above
Sewage sludge Downdraft Unknown 10-11 at 700-800 °C Midilli et al. (2002) Int. Jour. of
Hydrogen Energy
Almond shell Fluidized bed La-Ni-Fe
Perovskite
62.8 at 800 °C
63.7 at 900 °C
Rapagna et al. (2002) Biomass & Bio
energy
Switchgrass Moving bed Cu-Zn-Al 27.1 Brown (2003) National Renewable en
ergy Laboratory

16. Factors that influence hydrogen production
Temperature
Type of reactor
Feeding materials
Catalysts

17. Cost Estimation
Source: Bowen et al. (2003) National Renewable Energy Lab, USA
Feedstock Moisture
Content
Test Run
(tonnes/day)
Bagasse 20% 500,1000,2000
Switchgrass 12% 500,1000,2000
Nutshell 12.5% 500
Fig. Process flow diagram
 Cost estimation
 Detailed breakdown of capital cost
 Including labour, construction and installation

18. Cost Estimation
Source: Bowen et al. (2003) National Renewable Energy Lab, USA

19. Cost Estimation
Source: Bowen et al. (2003) National Renewable Energy Lab, USA
 Results of economical analysis for gasification of three biomass feedstocks

20. Future Trend
Hydrogen Production by Reaction Integrated Novel Gasification (HyPr-RING) process
Source: Lin et al. (2002) Energy Conversion and Management

21. Future Trend
Concept of Hydrogen Production by Reaction Integrated Novel Gasification (HyPr-RING) process
Source: Lin et al. (2002) Energy Conversion and Management

22. Conclusion

23. Conclusion
 It is possible to achieve hydrogen production about 60 vol.% using a fluidized
bed gasifier along with suitable catalyst. Such high conversion efficiency makes
biomass gasification an attractive hydrogen production alternative.
 The cost of hydrogen production by biomass gasification is competitive with
natural gas reforming
 Based on both economical and environmental consideration hydrogen
production from biomass gasification should be a promising option.

24. THANK YOU!
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