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Production of hydrogen rich gas by biomass gasification: application to small scale, fuel cell electricity generation in rural areas

Objective



Objectives

This is a feasibility study of the coupling of a biomass
gasification process, converting the energy of biomass
directly to hydrogen, with fuel cells for electricity and heat generation. Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC) are considered, in small modular units of a few MWe capacity as they represent an industrial reality, readily available in appropriate
commercial size for field operation. The proposed coupling of biomass gasification and fuel cell is characterized by high
energy conversion efficiency and very low environmental
impact: this provides for easy integration into small-to-medium size agricultural concerns. Electricity could be
either sold or consumed internally; heat would be used for
heating or other internal processes.

The activities are directed towards the study of such systems, both technically and in terms of the technical and economic
constraints on siting in the rural context.

Technical Approach

The research study will start from an exchange of information concerning the characteristics and requirements of the various sub-processes (fluidized bed and entrained bed gasification, phosphoric acid fuel cell electricity generation), through
laboratory investigations in well-defined key areas (biomass pretreatment, catalytic conversion, and cleaning of the
gasification product), to conceptual design of the integrated systems and estimation of system investment costs.

Biotec is investigating the most important aspects related to general plant siting and to the biomass pretreatments which are needed to transform the harvested crops into suitable feedstock for gasification plant. University College London and Noell Energy are performing the process design of the fluidised bed system and the entrained flow gasification process
respectively. The Universities of L'Aquila and Strasbourg are operating on the catalytic aspects of the system (residual tar, methane and CO conversion, catalytic combustion of fuel cell anode exhaust to provide heat for the fluidized bed) both at a conceptual level and with laboratory activities.

Expected Achievements and Exploitation

The cost of energy generated from biomass is generally
considered too high with the present technology, mainly due to the investment cost. The application of a PAFC hydrogen module to power generation from biomass is focused on expanding the market potential, thereby drastically reducing unit costs: low environmental impact and easy operation would rapidly make the present system very attractive for small agricultural
industries, thus opening the market to the relatively large
volumes necessary for the reduction of production costs.
All the partners see the programme as a means of implementing EC Common Agricultural Policy with regard to the rational
exploitation of non-food agricultural applications and clean energy production.

Call for proposal

Data not available

Coordinator

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI - L'AQUILA
EU contribution
No data
Address
Monteluco di Roio
67040 L'AQUILA
Italy

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Total cost
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Participants (5)