Collaborative Research in Energy with South Africa:Scale-up modelling to answer Pyrolysis Challenge
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering & the Environment
Abstract
The latest announcement from the Carbon Trust on Pyrolysis Challenge highlights the importance of pyrolysis-oil as the potential replacement for transport fuels with low system GHG (green house gases) emissions. The two main barriers are outlined in Pyrolysis Challenge : a) to develop fast pyrolysis process to produce a better quality oil at low cost and large scale; b) upgrading the oil preferably with existing refinery. Without the technology and capacity to provide pyrolysis oils in large quantity and low cost, the investment in developing bio-oil upgrading technology and refinery will not be forthcoming. Therefore the development of fast pyroloysis process suitable for scale-up is the most impending issue. This project will focus on the development of computational models which work as effective tools for process design, optimisation and scale-up for biomass fast pyrolysis systems. UK has the technology base to become the world leader in pyrolysis technology and South Africa has the potential to be a major pyrolysis oil manufacturer in the world. This proposal is to form a constructive collaboration with UK expertise in computational modelling and South Africa experience in chemical process engineering. The UK and SA institutes will act as hubs to integrate this project with on-going national research programmes to enable a much wider participation. The project is expected to have catalytic effects to stimulate more collaborative research and commercial exploitation between UK and South Africa.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Sai Gu (Principal Investigator) | |
| Kai Luo (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Armstrong L
(2011)
Parametric Study of Gasification Processes in a BFB Coal Gasifier
in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Armstrong L
(2010)
Study of wall-to-bed heat transfer in a bubbling fluidised bed using the kinetic theory of granular flow
in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Armstrong L
(2010)
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional computational studies of hydrodynamics in the transition from bubbling to circulating fluidised bed
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Armstrong L
(2011)
Effects of limestone calcination on the gasification processes in a BFB coal gasifier
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Armstrong L
(2010)
The influence of multiple tubes on the tube-to-bed heat transfer in a fluidised bed
in International Journal of Multiphase Flow
Armstrong L
(2013)
Multifluid Modeling of the Desulfurization Process within a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Coal Gasifier
in AIChE Journal
Bruchmüller J
(2012)
Modeling the thermochemical degradation of biomass inside a fast pyrolysis fluidized bed reactor
in AIChE Journal
BRUCHMÜLLER J
(2011)
DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD FOR MULTISCALE MODELING
in Journal of Multiscale Modelling
Bruchmüller J
(2011)
Modelling discrete fragmentation of brittle particles
in Powder Technology
Dong N
(2013)
Effect of tube shape on the hydrodynamics and tube-to-bed heat transfer in fluidized beds
in Applied Thermal Engineering
Duku M
(2011)
Biochar production potential in Ghana-A review
in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Kishore N
(2010)
Wall Effects on Flow and Drag Phenomena of Spheroid Particles at Moderate Reynolds Numbers
in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Kishore N
(2011)
Momentum and heat transfer phenomena of spheroid particles at moderate Reynolds and Prandtl numbers
in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Kishore N
(2011)
Effect of Blockage on Heat Transfer Phenomena of Spheroid Particles at Moderate Reynolds and Prandtl Numbers
in Chemical Engineering & Technology
Papadikis K
(2010)
Geometrical Optimization of a Fast Pyrolysis Bubbling Fluidized Bed Reactor Using Comutational Fluid Dynamics
in Energy & Fuels
Papadikis K
(2011)
Eulerian Model for the Condensation of Pyrolysis Vapors in a Water Condenser
in Energy & Fuels
Papadikis K
(2010)
Numerical Comparison of the Drag Models of Granular Flows Applied to the Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass
in Energy & Fuels
Papadikis K
(2010)
A CFD approach on the effect of particle size on char entrainment in bubbling fluidised bed reactors
in Biomass and Bioenergy
Papadikis K
(2010)
3D simulation of the effects of sphericity on char entrainment in fluidised beds
in Fuel Processing Technology
Shen D
(2010)
Study on the pyrolytic behaviour of xylan-based hemicellulose using TG-FTIR and Py-GC-FTIR
in Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
Shen D
(2010)
The thermal performance of the polysaccharides extracted from hardwood: Cellulose and hemicellulose
in Carbohydrate Polymers
Shen D
(2011)
The pyrolytic behavior of cellulose in lignocellulosic biomass: a review
in RSC Advances
Shen DK
(2011)
Thermal degradation mechanisms of wood under inert and oxidative environments using DAEM methods.
in Bioresource technology
Shen DK
(2010)
The pyrolytic degradation of wood-derived lignin from pulping process.
in Bioresource technology
Singh J
(2010)
Commercialization potential of microalgae for biofuels production
in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
| Description | A series of CFD based models have been successfully developed for fast pyrolysis of biomass. Each model has its unique advantage suitable for simulation at different scales. i) For fundamental study, a discrete element model (DEM) was developed for fluidized bed reactors, allowing tracking the thermochemical degradation of individual biomass particles with collisions, chemical reactions, shrinkage during the fluid and thermodynamic interactions. The 3-D simulations of a lab-scale reactor with about 1 million biomass and sand particles were able to reliably reproduce overall conditions encountered in experiments. It is found that biomass moisture content has hardly any effect on the pyrolysis process itself rather than the water content in the final oil. ii) For large fluidized reactors, an Eulerian model was used to reduce computational costs. A major development was achieved to have a third Lagrangian phase (biomass) into the two-fluid Eulerian flows with correct heat and momentum transport inside the reactor and biomass particle. The code is able to identify the regime of interest, depending on the local volume fraction of the two continuous phases, and calculate the correct drag, buoyancy and virtual mass forces according to the state, as well as the correct bed to surface heat transfer coefficient. Extensive studies have been carried out with this model to examine particle size and shape, char entrainment, shrinkage, heat transfer and drag forces. A 3-D simulation of scale-up reactor was also achieved with various cases of design optimization. A series of publications from this work led to 2011 Scopus Young Researcher Award in Engineering. iii) A condensation model was developed for pyrolysis vapour to simulate liquid collection process. The Eulerian model is able to represent the complexity of pyrolysis vapour using 11 components. A 3-D simulation was achieved for a double surface water condenser. The results clearly show that the condensation process takes place almost immediately after the entry of the hot vapors inside the condenser and induced recirculation of the hot vapors in the condenser increase their dew point temperature by increasing their partial pressure. The integration of the condensation and reactor models delivers a powerful modeling platform for the complete process of fast pyrolysis. |
| Exploitation Route | Power companies, such as our current collaboration with E.ON on clean energy technologies Oil companies, such as our international partners CNOOC, Indian Oil Waste treatment companies, such as Biffa Clean technology companies, such as Thermitech Government, such as our current partnership with Peterborough City Council on green technology and UK future city development In the UK, we have been working with Aston University to support the Carbon Trust Pyrolysis Challenge programme. The computational models were used for design validation of fast pyrolysis pilot plants. The research outcomes allowed us to helped Thermitech (a start-up) to develop commercially viable pyrolysis process for industrial waste treatment. In South Africa, our project partner, University of Stellenbosch was able to build a lab-scale pilot plant during the project. This led to further development with Sasol on demonstration projects of fast pyrolysis based technology for synthetic fuels production to complement Sasol's gasification expertise. Our exploitation routes have gone beyond South Africa via our Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award project: Development of the second generation of biofuel technologies in Ghana, which formed the Ghana Biofuel Association (Ghana Bio) with industry, academia and policy makers. In China, the research was exploited via our Innovative China UK (ICUK) project: Overcome the barriers of commercializing biomass fast pyroysis technology, with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to develop large demonstration plants in China. In India, we have established a collaboration with Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), who is developing fast pyrolysis based technologies for production of biofuels and chemicals. We had a number of visiting researchers from IIP to receive training in computational modeling, which is being used for their on-going activities with Indian oil companies. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy |
| URL | http://www.fast-pyrolysis.com/fastpyrolysis/home.html |
| Description | The research has made a major progress for developing advanced models for fast pyrolysis processes. For a new technology with limited pilot plants available, robust models to reveal the detailed underlying thermophysics are high valuable for academic researcher for fundamental study or industrial engineers for plant development and optimization. This research was a major boost to our initial modeling work in this field and was able to make a major impact in a relatively short period. Our series of publications in CFD modeling were cited over 100 times by external researchers. Many international groups have approached us to ask for help on modeling or collaboration. Our South African partner, University of Stellenbosch has applied the models to optimize their initial lab plant. With our project outcome, they were able to receive further funding to develop a large demonstration plant. In Ghana, Institute of Industrial Research in Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has built a fast pyrolysis pilot plant supported by our researcher, to carry out serious study for biomass thermal conversions. Indian Institute of Petroleum sent their researchers to our group to learn the simulation. Now they are developing fast pyrolysis processes for Indian national programmes and also apply CFD simulation to petroleum refining processes. Other Indian groups also showed strong interests in our research, which led to our joint EU projects on modeling of fluidized bed reactors with Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. There are a growing number of Chinese research groups to follow up our advance in modeling of fast pyrolysis. Zhejiang University approached us for a joint research project, which was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) international collaborative scheme. Our models are being used for the development of a large demonstration plant in Zhejiang. . Beneficiaries: University of Stellenbosch, Institute of Industrial Research in Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Contribution Method: This research project has become a catalyst to promote fast pyrolysis and advanced biofuel processing technologies in national and international levels. In the UK, this project directly leads to our successful winning of EPSRC Bioenergy Challenge project to continue this fast pyrolysis research. Internationally, our results, publication and engagement with international groups have played an important role to simulate fast pyrolysis research in a global scale. Our modeling research is unique, so we were in a privileged position to work with all the other groups with various expertise in feedstock preparation, plant development or downstream biofuel production. During the project period, our international partner has grown from one to over 30 groups in 16 countries. This has made impact to some extent on public view and policies on biofuels and new technologies. For instance, the Energy Commission of Ghana drafted a national policy white paper to encourage the growth of biofuel industry. The initial policy was only focused on 1st generation biofuels. Our collaborative research with Ghanaian research group has raised the awareness of advanced biofuel technologies. The Energy Commission added this in its revised recommendation: "The biofuel industry in Ghana is currently limited to first generation biofuels using feedstock such as Jatropha and sunflower. The trend needs to be changed towards the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels. The use of agricultural residues as feedstock will provide additional income to farmers and thus help to reduce poverty in rural areas." We supported Peterborough City Council's bid for the UK future City. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | ECOFUEL: EU-China Cooperation for Liquid Fuels from Biomass Pyrolysis |
| Amount | £359,200 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 246772 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 10/2011 |
| End | 10/2015 |
| Description | EPSRC project:Development of fast pyrolysis based advanced biofuel technologies ((EP/K036548/1) |
| Amount | £1,179,846 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/K036548/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | iComFluid: International Collaboration on Computational Modelling of Fluidised Bed Systems for Clean Energy Technologies |
| Amount | £378,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 312261 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 10/2012 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Title | DEM model for fluidised bed fast pyrolysis |
| Description | A DEM (discrete element method) model for fluidised bed fast pyrolysis was developed. The main advance includes parallel computing ability for fluidised bed simulation, full energy equation and chemical reactions for biomass fast pyrolysis. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2011 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The model has generated good interest from fast pyrolysis research community. Researchers from US, China, India and other EU countries contacted us about this model after our paper published. |
| Title | DPM and Eulerian coupled model for fluidised bed fast pyrolysis |
| Description | A DPM (discrete particle method) model was developed to couple with two-fluid Eulerian flow for fluidised bed. This allow biomass particle to be tracked discretely within the Eulerian flows of fluidised bed with heat, momentum and mass transfer and chemical reactions. The DPM model also allows the examination of particle morphology. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We have been regularly contacted by researchers around the world for this fast pyrolysis modelling work. The citation of our published papers has increased significantly. |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Stellenbosch |
| Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project is our first collaboration with the South African partner. The UK team worked on modelling while the South African partner did the experimental work with their fast pyrolysis rig. The collaboration has significantly raised the profile of the South African group. The modelling results allowed the South African group to improve the performance of their fast pyrolysis rig, which helped them to receive funding to build a larger rig. The research capacity of the South African partner has been improved greatly during the project period including facilities (a good range of analytical and chemical analysis equipment were acquired and installed) and staff (an European researcher, Marion Carrier, was recruited at the beginning of the project and further funding was secured for her long-term employment in South Africa). Experimental work on fast pyrolysis Analytical and kinetic study of pyrolysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | The South African partner provided us valuable experimental data and also to link up with industrial and other academic partners in South Africa. |
| Impact | Various reactor concepts were evaluated. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Internation collaboration with Ghana |
| Organisation | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Ghana |
| Department | Institute of Industrial Research |
| Country | Ghana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have expanded our collaboration on energy research to other countries in Africa. During the project period, we successfully received a Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award to develop fast pyrolysis based second generation biofuel technologies in Ghana. Biomass feedstock and preparation Researchers to work in the UK |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Ghanaian partner has extensive network in Ghana and other African countries to promote our international activities. |
| Impact | Two papers published with the Ghanaian partner; Established good contacts with government organisations in Ghana. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | International collaboration with China |
| Organisation | Zhejiang University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The outcomes of our research in particular the publications have generated strong interests for fast pyrolysis research in China. A number of collaborative projects have been developed including ICUK project "Overcome the barriers of commercializing biomass fast pyroysis technology", MoST international collaborative project "China-UK collaboration on transportation fuels from pyrolysis-oils" and EU project "ECOFUEL: EU-China Cooperation for Liquid Fuels from Biomass Pyrolysis". Experimental work for fast pyrolysis and kinetic study of biomass thermal conversions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Chinese partner provided us valuable experimental data for biomass pyrolysis. |
| Impact | Three joint journal papers were published. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | International collaboration with India |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Petroleum |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We received an award from Royal Academy of Engineering on The Research Exchange with China and India during the project. The project partner is Indian Institute of Petroleum and the project is "Development of computational models for biomass fast pyrolysis". Dr Jasvinder Singh was seconded to our group for 12 months. Review of biomass feedstock and processing method, fast pyrolysis modelling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Indian partner has considerable expertise in petroleum refining technologies which are highly valuable for upgrading of pyrolysis oils. |
| Impact | Two joint papers published with Dr Jasvinder Singh |
| Start Year | 2010 |