ICES Black Liquor Gasification Research

Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming - Experimental Studies

The fluidized bed black liquor steam reforming project includes a number of experimental studies aimed at acquiring data on the behavior of the fluidized bed and the black liquor as it undergoes conversion. Several of experimental studies are described below.

Particle Development Studies

The University of Utah has constructed a small, heated, lab-scale fluidized bed into which it is possible to slowly feed black liquor. It is known that the mean particle size in a fluidized bed steam reformer increases during operation. The lab-scale fluidized bed is being used to identify the mechanism of particle growth. Various starting materials are being tested, including limestone, glass beads and actual reformer bed material. As the system is operated and liquor is injected, the particles increase in size as they are coated and the organic portion of the liquor is reacted away. By using different types of starting material and examining physical characteristics and compositions of particles and particle cross-sections after various lengths of operation, the manner in which particles grow can be identified.

Bed Agglomeration Studies

Brigham Young University has constructed a lab-scale fluidized bed with horizontal electric in-bed heaters similar to the pulsed combustion heaters in MTCI's commercial system. Experiments are being performed using a variety of bed materials and different concentrations of impurities to identify what conditions and bed compositions cause the bed material to agglomerate. The mechanism of agglomeration is also being explored. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a matrix of operating conditions and bed compositions intcudicating the relative risk for bed agglomeration at each set of conditions.

Syngas Characterization Studies

The syngas that is produced in the University of Utah's fluidized bed steam reformer will be characterized in detail. Not only will major components (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide) be quantified, but minor species, including hydrocarbons, halogen species and reduced sulfur species, will be identified. This will be done under sevaral operating conditions (varying fuel feed rate, total system pressure) and with a variety of black liquors.

Tar Formation and Catalytic Destruction Studies

Condensable hydrocarbons ("tars") formed in the University of Utah steam reformer will be characterized by several analytical methods, including GC/MS. The gas in the reformer will be sampled at different locations to identify any variations in tar concentrations as the gas travels from the bed through the freeboard. ICES is working with the Georgia Institute of Technology to assess the technical feasibility of catalytic tar destruction. Georgia Tech has spent several years developing catalysts that may be suitable for use on black liquor gasification systems. These will be screened, and the best will undergo extended testing in a special slipsteam reactor that is part of the University of Utah's gasification research system.

Titanate Addition Studies

Addition of titanates to black liquor gasification systems promises to improve performance by effecting causticization of the alkali components in the liquor, a process that otherwise must take place in a dedicated recuasticization plant within the pulp mill. For fluidized bed gasifiers such as the MTCI steam reformer, titanates should also increase the melting temperature of the bed material, allowing operating at higher temperatures and increasing conversion efficiency. The University of Utah is partnering with the University of Maine to explore the technical feasibility of titanate addition in a fluidized bed steam reformer by conducting trials in the University of Utah's research reformer. These tests will investigate both the potential to operate at higher temperature and the effectiveness of the in-situ causticization




Black Liquor Gasification Primer ICES Gasification Research • Gasification Research Facility • Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming - Experimental Research - Modeling Activities - Reports • Entrained-flow Gasification - Experimental Research - Reports Contact Information	Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming - Experimental Studies The fluidized bed black liquor steam reforming project includes a number of experimental studies aimed at acquiring data on the behavior of the fluidized bed and the black liquor as it undergoes conversion. Several of experimental studies are described below. Particle Development Studies The University of Utah has constructed a small, heated, lab-scale fluidized bed into which it is possible to slowly feed black liquor. It is known that the mean particle size in a fluidized bed steam reformer increases during operation. The lab-scale fluidized bed is being used to identify the mechanism of particle growth. Various starting materials are being tested, including limestone, glass beads and actual reformer bed material. As the system is operated and liquor is injected, the particles increase in size as they are coated and the organic portion of the liquor is reacted away. By using different types of starting material and examining physical characteristics and compositions of particles and particle cross-sections after various lengths of operation, the manner in which particles grow can be identified. Bed Agglomeration Studies Brigham Young University has constructed a lab-scale fluidized bed with horizontal electric in-bed heaters similar to the pulsed combustion heaters in MTCI's commercial system. Experiments are being performed using a variety of bed materials and different concentrations of impurities to identify what conditions and bed compositions cause the bed material to agglomerate. The mechanism of agglomeration is also being explored. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a matrix of operating conditions and bed compositions intcudicating the relative risk for bed agglomeration at each set of conditions. Syngas Characterization Studies The syngas that is produced in the University of Utah's fluidized bed steam reformer will be characterized in detail. Not only will major components (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide) be quantified, but minor species, including hydrocarbons, halogen species and reduced sulfur species, will be identified. This will be done under sevaral operating conditions (varying fuel feed rate, total system pressure) and with a variety of black liquors. Tar Formation and Catalytic Destruction Studies Condensable hydrocarbons ("tars") formed in the University of Utah steam reformer will be characterized by several analytical methods, including GC/MS. The gas in the reformer will be sampled at different locations to identify any variations in tar concentrations as the gas travels from the bed through the freeboard. ICES is working with the Georgia Institute of Technology to assess the technical feasibility of catalytic tar destruction. Georgia Tech has spent several years developing catalysts that may be suitable for use on black liquor gasification systems. These will be screened, and the best will undergo extended testing in a special slipsteam reactor that is part of the University of Utah's gasification research system. Titanate Addition Studies Addition of titanates to black liquor gasification systems promises to improve performance by effecting causticization of the alkali components in the liquor, a process that otherwise must take place in a dedicated recuasticization plant within the pulp mill. For fluidized bed gasifiers such as the MTCI steam reformer, titanates should also increase the melting temperature of the bed material, allowing operating at higher temperatures and increasing conversion efficiency. The University of Utah is partnering with the University of Maine to explore the technical feasibility of titanate addition in a fluidized bed steam reformer by conducting trials in the University of Utah's research reformer. These tests will investigate both the potential to operate at higher temperature and the effectiveness of the in-situ causticization