BioOil Application Demonstrations

Dynamotive's BioOil Fuels Orenda's Gas Turbine at West Lorne Cogeneration Plant

Orenda, Magellan Aerospace Corp.

One of the first major opportunities for BioOil utilization came about through co-operation with Orenda Aerospace Corporation and the proposal to use BioOil to run their aero-derivative turbine to generate electric power. Initial trials clearly indicated BioOil could substitute for the kerosene distillate that usually serves as turbine fuel. With a few alterations to the fuel preparation and firing systems of the OGT 2500 gas turbine package, a full-scale demonstration test was set up at the Magellan Aerospace Center in Toronto with the 2.5MW turbine operating successfully on BioOil. This project culminated with the transfer of the turbine to the Erie Flooring Plant in West Lorne, Ontario, Canada, combining it with Dynamotive’s 100 tonnes per day pyrolysis plant, making this project the world’s first BioOil fired co-gen plant.

Measured levels of CO, SO2, and NOx in BioOil off gases are similar to those of natural gas, and lower than those of diesel fuel. BioOil is essentially a sulphur-free fuel and therefore SO2 levels are almost zero. Figure 1 shows the NOx emissions profile from burning BioOil in a Magellan, Orenda division gas turbine (OGT 2500).

Figure 1: Measured Levels of NOx vs. Engine Power

Figure 2: % Particulates vs. Engine Power

Natural Resources Canada, CANMET – BioOil fuel firing nozzle tests

Dynamotive received a grant from NRCAN to experiment with and develop a burner nozzle suitable for combustion of BioOil in collaboration with CANMET. This test was based on CANMET’s previous experience with the coal liquid mixture (CLM) nozzle test. Dynamotive forwarded to CANMET BioOil from whitewood and whitewood/bark feed stock for this test. The test was completed successfully November 1st 2000 at CANMET’s facilities in Ottawa when it was established that BioOil firing can burn to completion and with a controllable flame configuration using standard burner nozzle and registered technology.

Ontario Greenhouse Tests BioOil in Boilers

Top Gro Greenhouse, Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada

This test was a simple demonstration of substituting heating oil #2 with BioOil fired in a standard industrial type 100 psig Cleverbrook hot water fire tube boiler. The existing fuel train was used with changes made to the electronic flame safety system, the mechanical fuel air ratio and the burner management. One tonne of BioOil was fired as a single fuel, maintaining the heating requirements for several hours. Substantial reductions in flue gas NOx emission were noted.  The existing automatic instrumentation followed the load demand and no smoke or lingering BioOil odour was noticed clearly indicating complete and successful combustion.

Lime Kiln, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Burner tests with BioOil fuel showed it to be a viable alternative to Natural Gas (NG) because it atomizes and burns well with a similar flame. The axial temperature and calcinations profiles were similar and the lime reactivity was not affected by firing BioOil.

Lumber Kiln, Canfor Lumber Mill, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

A combustion test of whitewood and whitewood/bark BioOil was carried out in Prince George on a lumber kiln dryer. Two loads of lumber (each 168,000 fbm) were dried in two separate runs. The initial and final moisture of lumber was 42% and 12.8% for the first load and 56% and 15.4% for the second load respectively (46.9 hrs drying time for each load). 9,987 kg of whitewood / bark and 8,501 kg of whitewood BioOil were used for drying the two loads of lumber.   The testing results showed that BioOil exhibited good ignition characteristics and was an effective substitute for natural gas in the lumber kiln dryer. 

Aluminum Smelter, ALCOA Baie-Comeau, Québec, Canada

A total of 19 tonnes of BioOil from hardwoods was combusted.  The BioOil came from Dynamotive’s pyrolysis plant at Erie Flooring in West Lorne, Ontario The test comprised two phases; both of which were successfully completed. The first and most important phase involved increasing the temperature of an aluminium furnace to the required operational parameters within a specific timeframe. The second phase required the maintenance of temperature in the furnace at operational parameters. The strict Alcoa test conditions and temperature requirements were met fully, indicating that BioOil can be used as a viable fuel alternative.

Further, the tests indicated that firing BioOil may be able to meet even more stringent conditions than those met by heating oil #2 (the fuel currently used by Alcoa) because it can offer an improvement in heat transfer and provide energy savings from an overall reduction in heat input.

Green House Gas credits

Replacing fossil fuel use with BioOil will also generate Green House Gas emissions reduction credits.  These credits could then be traded through domestic trading systems or through the established international mechanisms set out under the Kyoto Protocol.  The quantity and value of these credits will depend on what type of fossil fuel BioOil is displacing and where the credits are traded. 

Technical Requirements for BioOil Handling

Material of container for shipment & storage

All BioOil wetted surfaces should be in Stainless 304, 316, HDPE, EPDM, PVC or Teflon because of BioOil’s acidity (pH of 2.2 - 3.0).

Temperature

During storage and transportation BioOil should be kept above 15 OC to maintain good fluidity, but should not be stored at temperatures higher than 40 OC for long to avoid polymerization.

Mixing

During storage BioOil should be agitated or circulated to maintain good homogeneity.

Pumping

For pumping large quantities of BioOil(more than 10 tons), all piping must be generous and not less than 3" on suction (keep as short as possible with generous NPSH) and 2" diameter on discharge-use reinforced PVC hose if practical. 

Pressure

BioOil does not exert pressures at temperature much different from water. Carriers designed to handle diesel fuels or equal will suffice for BioOil.

Cleaning BioOil out of tanker

Cleaning is best done with denatured ethanol. It will depend on end user requirements of the BioOil but it may be possible to add the collected wash spill to the BioOil, in particular if the end use is as a fuel. Do not wash with water as it will cause separation. Ethanol is preferable to methanol. Carrier is advised to carry a small amount of denatured ethanol with him to clean tools and valves.

Cleaning of spills in water

Contrary to oil spills, BioOil being heavier, in water it will quickly sink to the bottom where much of it will dissolve with time (up to 65%),  because parts of it are water-soluble (J.Blin, G. Volle, P. Girard, “Biodegradability of Fast Pyrolysis Oil”, CIRAD Forestry Department, International Research Centre for Agricultural and Development, France).

BioOil is a natural product and therefore a spill is believed not to cause nearly the catastrophic damage of fossil oil. However, work is ongoing to determine its exact effect on marine life (C. Peacocke, “Transport, Handling and Storage of Fast Pyrolysis Liquids”, Conversion and Resource Evaluation Ltd., Ireland). Since BioOil has a density greater than 1, marine transport may have to follow similar regulations as higher density chemicals.

Initial report of toxicology tests by CIRAD, France on EU funded project advises that BioOil (defined as hydrolyzed wood) is not explosive and non-toxic, further testing is ongoing.

BioOil data sheet for tanker shipment

TDG information

UN Number: UN1993
TDG Shipping Name: Flammable Liquid N.O.S. (lignin Solution)
TDG Classification: Class 3, Packing Group III

Cleaning agents

To clean BioOil from equipment, denatured ethanol (recommended) and methanol are both good cleaning agents for BioOil. Obtain their MSDS information and observe that they have their own dangers (poisonous and flammable).

Shipment of BioOil

BioOil Tanker

Note:

1. BioOil made from bark usually contains some wax (floating on top) and needs to be heated15 °C more than wax free BioOil.
2. Heated container truck may be needed in cold weather to transport BioOil but is not an absolute requirement.
3. To empty Whitewood BioOil from the truck, a temperature above 15/20 °C is recommended and for Whitewood/bark BioOil >30 °C is required.

BioOil properties

BioOil properties and how they compare with conventional fuels

Table 1: Comparison of fuel properties – wood based pyrolysis fuel

Parameter	Unit	Analytical methods	BioOil Plus	BioOil	Heating oil #2	Heavy fuel oil
High Heating Value	MJ/kg	DIN51900	18-20	16-19	45.5	42.5
High Heating Value	MJ/L	DIN51900	23-25	19-23	39.4	41.7
Flash Point	oC	ASTM D93	50-60	48-55	38	60
Pour Point	oC	ASTM D97	-11	-15	-6	-
Density (15oC)	Kg/liter	ASTM D4052	1.22-1.3	1.2	0.865	0.986
Acidity	pH	pH meter	2-3	2-3	-	-
Solids (char)	wt %	Insolubles in Ethanol	20-23	0.01-0.2	-	-
Moisture	wt%	Karl Fisher	20-25	20-25	-	< 0.5
Ash	wt %	ASTM D482	<1	<0.02	Trace	0.08
Kinematic Viscosity	cSt	ASTM D445	-	-	-	-
20°C	-	-	1500-3700	70	3-6	2000-9000
40°C	-	-	300-500	19	1.8-3.5	500-1000
60°C	-	-	140-250	8	1.4-2.5	100-200
80°C	-	-	70-90	4	1.1-1.8	40-70

Table 2: Ultimate Analysis of different fuels (% by wt)

	BioOil	BioOil Plus	Char	Heating oil #2	Heavy fuel oil
Ash	< 0.02	<1	< 8	< 0.01	0.02-0.08
Carbon	42-47	45-51	75-78	86.4	85.7
Hydrogen	6-8	5-6	3-4	12.7	10.5
Nitrogen	< 0.1	< 0.3	< 0.3	0.006	0.18
Sulfur	< 0.02	< 0.06	-	0.2-0.7	< 2.8
Oxygen (by difference)	46-51	43-49	7-14	0.04	0.38

What is BioOil

BioOil is an alternative fuel made using Dynamotive’s pyrolysis process of biomass. It is a dark brown, free flowing liquid fuel with a smoky odour reminiscent of the plant from which it was derived.   BioOil is formed in a process called pyrolysis wherein plant material (biomass), such as sawdust or bagasse from sugar cane, is exposed to 400-500 degrees Celsius in an oxygen free environment.

BioOil contains up to 25% water. The water component in BioOil is not a separate phase and is important because it lowers the viscosity of the fuel.  BioOil is not a hydrocarbon-water mix like Orimulsion.  Another feature of BioOil is its propensity to change slowly over time. This is not to be considered an instability because it can take months.

BioOil is a fossil fuel substitute.  It pumps well, ignites, and burns readily when atomized.

BioOil has EcoLogo certification, having met stringent environmental criteria for industrial fuels as measured by Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice Program. The EcoLogo signifies that the manufacturing process of the product has been audited by a credible third party, and supported by empirical data on combustion tests conducted by both the company and authorized third parties.

BioOil should be handled in a similar manner as conventional fuels. Direct contact with skin, as well as inhalation of its vapours should be avoided. Although not as readily flammable as conventional fuels, pyrolysis fuels should always be kept away from open flame or other heat sources

Converting Biomass to Energy

The process is summerized lik this

People lighting a stove using a biogas plant at the Kaloor

The biogas plants of the Kochi Corporation are facing a crisis, as there are not many takers for the gas generated by these units.

The Corporation’s call to the residents to set up units at household level has also failed to evoke a positive response.

Not many people were interested in using the gas generated by the unit at Ernakulam market even when the gas was offered free of cost. The Corporation had to burn out the gas in open to keep the plant going, said Mini Antony, secretary of the Corporation.

The functioning of the plant has been hit for some time, as the gas produced by the unit could not be removed. Now the Corporation is working on a proposal to generate power from the unit. Permission has been issued for the installation of a conversion unit at the plant which will convert the gas from the unit to power. The power that will be generated from the unit will be used for lighting street lamps in the Ernakulam market, said Ms. Antony. The plant that was installed at the abattoir at Kaloor was stopped some time back following the renovation of the abattoir. The abattoir has been renovated as per the guidelines of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Corporation has applied for permission for running the unit. Once the abattoir starts functioning, the biogas plant will also be made functional, Ms. Antony said.

At the same time, the absence of facilities to supply gas from the unit to those who are willing to use it is the issue faced by the unit at Ravipuram.

The delay on the part of the Corporation authorities to clear the bills of the agency that was entrusted with the task of setting up and running the units has also affected the functioning of some units.

The Corporation owes the agency a considerable amount, which will be cleared soon, said E.M. Sunilkumar, chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee of the Corporation.

The Corporation embarked on a project to promote the setting up of biogas plants at household levels and also by associations like that of hoteliers during the last garbage crisis.

The Corporation had also announced cash incentives to those households which came forward for setting up the units. The Corporation’s call has failed to enthuse city dwellers. Most of the city residents didn’t respond positively to the call, said Mr. Sunilkumar.

Following the call, a zero garbage scheme was launched at Pachalam division represented by Mr. Sunilkumar at the council and the project was to set up at least 1,000 such units in the division. However, only 50 biogas units could be set up there.

It is the shortage of skilled workers to make biogas units that has hit the project.

The shortage of workforce was the main hurdle in implementing the project, Mr. Sunilkumar said.

نیروگاه برق بیو گازسوز شیراز، طرحی برای فردا

استفاده از زباله برای تولید برق و راه اندازی نیروگاه‌هایی موسوم به بیوگاز به عنوان طرحی نو و حرکتی نو اندیشانه در شیراز در حال شکل‌گیری و اجرا است. به گزارش خبرگزاری جمهوری اسلامی، پیشرفت روز افزون تکنولوژی ، توسعه زندگی شهری ، تولید ویرانگر زباله‌های شهری در کلان شهرها و نیاز بیشتر به انرژی پاک برای زیستن از جمله مولفه‌هایی است که استفاده از این نوع نیروگاه‌ها را اجتناب ناپذیر می‌کند. در حقیقت راه اندازی نیروگاه‌های بیو گاز با یک تیر دو هدف زدن است به طوری که از یک سو فرایند امحای زباله‌های شهری انجام می‌شودو از سوی دیگر از این نوع زباله‌ها در تولید انرژی پاک بهره‌گیری می‌شود. طرح احداث نیروگاه‌بیوگاز درشیراز و استفاده از زباله‌های شهری در تولید انرژی در این کلان شهر از سال‌ها پیش در حال مطالعه بود و اکنون به مرحله اجرا و سرانجام رسیده است. مدیر عامل سازمان تنظیف و بازیافت مواد شهرداری شیراز در این‌باره گفت: برای اولین بار در کشور نیروگاه برق بیوگاز در شیراز احداث می‌شود. به گزارش خبرگزاری جمهوری اسلامی رمضان امینی سه شنبه در جمع خبرنگاران افزود: استان فارس به‌عنوان اولین استان پیگیر در تاسیس این نیروگاه از سال ‪ ۷۸‬در این زمینه فعال بوده است و طرح آن را به اجرا گذاشته است. وی افزود: اولین نیروگاه بیوگاز کشور هفته جاری با حضور وزیر کشور و مسوولان استانی در شیراز راه اندازی می‌شود. وی گفت: نیروگاه برق بیوگاز با ظرفیت یک هزارو ‪ ۶۵‬کیلو وات ساعت توسط سازمان تنظیف و بازیافت مواد شهرداری شیراز و با مشارکت بخش خصوصی در محل سایت پسمانده‌های شیراز واقع در برم شور احداث شده است. امینی افزود:تاقبل ازسال ‪ ۷۶‬تمام پس مانده‌هادر محل کیان آباد پایین تر از شهرک میانرود در جنوب شیراز دفن می‌شد که به علت همجواری این سایت با شهر و جلوگیری از آلودگی‌های زیست محیطی و بهداشتی از سال ‪ ۷۶‬محل دفن پسمانده هابه محل فعلی انتقال داده شد و این محل در زمینی به مساحت دو هزارو ‪ ۱۷۹‬هکتار است. وی گفت:‪ ۴۰‬هکتار از این زمین مختص سایت دفن زباله‌ها و ‪ ۳۰‬هکتار هم مختص مجتمع صنعتی بازیافت و مابقی حریم جانبی و فضای سبز شهرداری شیراز است و از این مساحت تا به حال بیش از هزار و‪۲۰۰‬ه کتار زیتون کاری شده و نزدیک به ‪ ۳۰‬تن زیتون امسال از این محل برداشت می‌شود. مدیر عامل سازمان تنظیف و بازیافت مواد شهرداری شیراز گفت: در اثر دفن زباله‌ها به خصوص موادآلی تجدید پذیر و فعل و انفعالات بی‌هوازی مواد گازهای متان، اکسیژن، دی اکسید کربن و نیتروژن تولید می‌شود که نزدیک به ‪ ۶۰‬درصد گاز متصاعد از آن متان و ‪ ۳۰‬درصد دی اکسید کربن و مابقی گازهای دیگر است. امینی افزود: این گازها هم برای آلوده کردن آب‌های زیرزمینی و انفجارات درون زمین و هم برای افزایش گازهای گلخانه‌ای و ایجاد اشتعال و آتش سوزی و آثار زیانبار آن برای محیط زیست فوق‌العاده زیانبار است بنابراین برای اولین بار در سال ‪ ۷۸‬در کشور شهرداری شیراز چاهکی به ابعاد ‪ ۲/۵‬در ‪ ۲/۵‬و به عمق شش متراحداث کرد ودر همان سال بحث جمع آوری، هدایت و سوزاندن این گازها به صورت آزمایشی انجام گرفت. وی بیان کرد: به دنبال آن شهرداری شیراز و سازمان تنظیف مواد جمع آوری و سوزاندن گازهای حاصل از دفن بی‌هوازی زباله‌های شیراز را در دستور کار خود قرار داد که از سال ‪ ۸۰‬اقدام به لوله‌گذاری و هدایت گازهای حاصل از دفن پسمانده‌های زباله‌های شیراز کرد و امسال هم نزدیک به پنج هزارو ‪۴۰۰‬ متر طول لوله‌گذاری در محل سایت دفن برای استحصال گاز انجام شده است. امینی ادامه داد: بدنبال این اقدام خیلی از کلان شهرها کارشناسان خود را به شیراز اعزام نمودندو از کارشناسان سازمان تنظیف و مواد شهر شیراز این طرح‌ها را اخذ و پس از شیراز در برخی از شهرها پروژه‌احداث نیروگاه بیو گاز آغاز شد. مدیرعامل سازمان تنظیف مواد شهرداری شیراز گفت: اثرات جمع آوری و هدایت این گازها قابل بررسی است، اینک درهر ساعت ‪ ۷۰۰‬متر مکعب گاز در سایت دفن زباله شیراز تولید می‌شود، سازمان تنظیف و مواد شهرداری شیراز از طریق سازمان انرژی‌های نو احداث نیروگاه برق را در دستور کار خود قرار داده است. امینی‌افزود:احداث‌این نیروگاه‌دارای تاثیرات زیست محیطی وجمع‌آوری و هدایت این گازها که به عنوان سوخت نیروگاه مورد استفاده قرار می‌گیرد و جریان الکتریسیته و برق هم تولید می‌کند،برق تولیدی به شبکه برق سراسری به طور متوسط هر کیلو وات ساعت ‪ ۵۵‬هزار تومان فروخته می‌شود که قرارداد آن منعقد شده و سازمان انرژی نو متعهد شده به مدت ‪ ۱۳‬سال برق تولیدی این نیروگاه را خریداری کند. وی گفت:زباله‌هایی که دفن می‌شود از بین دوتاشش ماه این زباله‌ها تولید گاز می‌کنند و عواملی که بر تولید گاز این زباله‌ها موثراست می‌توان به خود موادآلی تجدیدپذیر در زباله‌ها،رطوبت آنها و نحوه توزیع و دفن آنها و میزان آبی که به سایت دفن نفوذ می‌کند اشاره کرد. امینی گفت: با توجه به اینکه روزانه به طور متوسط ‪ ۹۰۰‬تن زباله در سایت دفن می‌شود یقینا با افزایش گازهای استحصالی این امکان وجود دارد که به فکر توسعه نیروگاه باشیم. امینی اعتبار نیروگاه را ‪ ۱۴‬میلیارد ریال و مدت اجرایی آن را شش ماه ذکر کرد و افزود: ‪ ۴۰‬درصد این پروژه متعلق به یک شرکت چینی است منبع:ایرنا ۱۳۸۶/۰۷/۰۳