Mop fan and electrofilter: An innovative approach for cleaning product gases from biomass gasification

Lead Research Organisation: University of Nottingham
Department Name: Division of Architecture & Urbanism

Abstract

With the proposed project, three partners (University of Nottingham (UK), Berlin University of Technology (Germany) and AEROB-BETH Filtration GmbH (Germany)) and a subcontractor (ERK Eckrohrkessel GmbH (Germany)) will jointly investigate, develop and evaluate a modular and adaptable product gas cleaning concept which consists of innovative and proven gas cleaning technologies, namely the mop fan and the electrofilter. The major objectives are:(1) To investigate the performance of the mop fan with respect to the removal of particles, ammonia and additional water soluble gas contaminants by adapting the design of the mop fan to the application of cleaning of product gases from biomass fluidized bed gasifiers(2) To investigate the sensitivity of an electrofilter with respect to separation of different tar components from the product gas and to improve the design and possibly reduce investment costs of electrofilter.(3) To explore the combination of mop fan and electrofilter for better product gas cleaning.(4) To optimise the designs of mop fan and electrofilter so that they can be used to produce clean product gas suitable for direct application in internal combustion engines etc.(5) To design and test high-efficiency compact heat exchangers with structured surface tubes for gas cooling to increase the overall efficiency of the gas cleaning concept.The proposed project has the following innovative features:(1) For the first time the concept of the mop fan will be applied to the cleaning of gasification product gas.(2) For the first time characterisation of an electrofilter in terms of sensitivity of tar separation for different tar components is to be experimentally investigated.(3) The combination of mop fan and electrofilter is a totally new concept of product gas cleaning technology and has great potentials in removing fine particles, tars and chemical contaminants.(4) The high-efficiency compact heat exchangers with structured surface tubes are used for cooling of product gas for the first time.
 
Description The results of the ERA-NET Bioenergy project showed that proper gas cleaning and conditioning in small gasification plants can be achieved by combining innovative components. All of proposed components of the innovative gas cleaning and conditioning system including the gas cooler, the mop fan cleaning unit and the electric filter (ESP) have been tested individually and collectively with biomass fluidized bed gasifiers. The mop fan cleaning unit has been thoroughly characterised at University of Nottingham (UNOTT), whereas the gas cooler, the ESP and the integrated system of the gas cooler, the mop fan and the ESP have been tested at Technical University of Berlin (TUB).

The mop fan cleaning unit was successfully applied to the cleaning of the product gas from the laboratory-scale (2 ~ 3 kg biomass/hr) biomass fluidized bed gasifier at Nottingham. Different fan rotating speeds and different flow rates of spray water were tested to optimise the performance of the mop fan gas cleaning unit. The particle removal efficiency with the tested mop was in the order of 50% without spraying water and as high as 90% if a small amount of water was sprayed on the mop fibres. The mop fan also showed a promising potential in removing water soluble species, e.g. N-species (ammonia etc.) in the product gas, with the removal efficiency of more than 80% achievable.
Exploitation Route Further research is still needed to optimize the gas cleaning performance of the combined components in terms of size matching and integration etc.
Sectors Energy,Environment
 
Description The concept of the gas cleaning developed within this ERA-NET Bioenergy collaborative project with German partners has a positively impact on the research and development of biomass gasification technologies and gas cleaning strategies and hence has the potential to promote the adoption of biomass gasification in the energy industry, benefiting the energy users including those living rural areas. In addition, the findings of the project have been further used by the German academic partner (Berlin Institute of Technology) to develop an on-line tar measurement method which is a convenient and potentially cost-effective tar measurement method.
First Year Of Impact 2013
Sector Energy
Impact Types Economic
 
Description Kick-off meeting together with all ERA-NET Bioenergy funded project in Amsterdam in 2008 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Over 50 people from Europe attended the kick-off meeting organised by Joint ERA-NET Bioenergy research funding organisations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
 
Description Project final meeting organised for all ERA-NET Bioenegy funded project in Lyon, 2010 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Over 50 people attended the final project meeting for all ERA-NET Bioenergy funded projects which was organised by the ERA-NET Bioenergy funding organisations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010