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.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power generation
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels energy conversion
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
67040 L'AQUILA
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.