Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

Thermo Conversions, Denver, Colorado
Organizational Background–Thermo Conversions (TC) is a privately help company
involved in joint ventures with several organizations to pursue thermochemical
bioenergy technology development. Partner companies include Wiley Engineering
and others. TC plans are to develop and deploy fully integrated systems for the coproduction
of bioalcohols, electricity and heat.
Technology Characteristics–The TC technology utilizes thermochemical
pyrolysis/steam reforming in the absence of oxygen or air, intended to optimize
conversion efficiency of biomass carbon to syngas. TC claims to have made a
number of significant technical innovations and improvements to the state-of-the-art
including: modular design that facilitates sectional construction and allows rapid
service of parts and components; a track-feed biomass introduction system; a system
that eliminates air from entering the pyrolysis chamber, minimizing oxidation of organic
compounds; injection of ionized water into the reactor, enhancing syngas production
and reducing production of tars and phenols; and a flue gas closed-loop recycling
system to enhance carbon source conversion and reduce emissions.
Energy efficient production of cleaned syngas is predicted by TC to represent energy
content in the 400-600 BTU/cubic ft. range. This syngas can be used for the
production of electricity, heat and steam or converted to liquid fuels and chemical
feedstocks allowing the handling of most all types of feedstock materials.
Development Status–The TC technology has been integrated with a syngas to
bioalcohol and electricity production technology developed by Pacific Renewable
Fuels (PRF). The PRF technology employs next-generation catalysts and process
control technologies for which several patents are pending. Parts, components and
materials are applied that have undergone long-term testing under real-world
operating conditions and that are readily available from reliable suppliers. The trackfeed
biomass introduction system utilized has been proven to be reliable through many
years of use by the coal industry.
Future Plans–A 200 ton/day TC production plant for the conversion of biomass to
electricity and bioalcohol is being built at a location in the Port of Toledo, OH area.
This TC plant will be equipped with instrumentation that will allow environmental,
energy and mass balance measurements. The plant has been designed with a high
level of modularity so that operational changes can be made quickly to solve any
problems that may arise and to further enhance the “optimization” of syngas energy
value, purity, and volume output from the system. TC indicates they are also
designing other plants for deployment in the U.S. and Canada.
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