Renewable Fuels Technology Development Company Torrefaction Thomas P. Causer President, COO Terra Green Energy, LLC tcauser@terragreenenergy.com 814.598.2350 January 13, 2015
Torrefaction Webinar Topics Introduction to Terra Green Energy, LLC What is Torrefaction? Characteristics of Torrefied Wood vs. other forms Issues solved by the use of Torrefied Wood Consortium of Advanced Wood-to-Energy Systems (CAWES) Different Supply Chain Models TGE’s Small Scale Commercial Torrefaction Facility International Energy Agency’s Conference on Co-firing Economics of Co-firing with Torrefied Biomass Environmental Benefits of Co-firing with TW Economic Beneficiaries of Co-firing with TW Final Remarks 2
Introduction of TGE Renewable Fuels Technology Development Company specifically focused on the development of a biomass pre-treatment technology called torrefaction Harry Halloran, Jr. Chairman Harvey Golubock, CEO Thomas P. Causer, President, COO ARB is the majority owner of Terra Green Energy, LLC (TGE). ARB is a private investment firm that invests in environmental opportunities including companies, funds and public-private partnerships in the renewable energy, water, sustainable agriculture and waste to value sectors. 3
Torrefaction is a biomass pre-treatment process where raw, green biomass is subjected to temperatures between 250 deg. C and 300 deg. C in a near oxygen free environment during which time the hemicellulose is volatilized. The resulting solids component has significantly different physical and chemical properties than the original green biomass. During the torrefaction process near 100% of the moisture is eliminated. Yet 90% of the energy content is preserved and 70% of its dry weight mass remains after torrefaction. 4
Wood Type Wood Wood Torrefied Steam Charcoal Coal Chips Pellets Pellets Exploded Parameter Pellets Moisture 30-55 7-10 1-3 0.5-1.5 1-5 10-15 Content, (% wt) Calorific Value 9-12 15-16 20-24 18-20 30-32 23-28 (MJ/kg) Volatiles 70-75 70-75 55-65 10-12 15-30 ?? (% db) Fixed Carbon 20-25 20-25 28-35 85-87 50-55 ?? (% db) Bulk Density 200-250 550-750 750-850 750-800 200 800-850 (kg/m3) Volumetric Energy 2.0-3.0 7.5-10.4 15.0-18.7 14.0-16.0 6.0-6.4 18.4-23.8 Density, (GJ/m3) “Torrefied Biomass is hydrophobic, brittle and easily grind-able ” 5
Wood Chips Torrefied Pellets Issues Inhibiting Use: The solution for these Issues: Low density & bulky volume Much Higher Bulk Density • • Wet, & highly wet-able Dry & Hydrophobic • • Very expensive to grind Easily grind-able • • Problems feeding Uniformity allows ease of feeding • • Low Energy Content, per lb High Energy Content, per lb • • Low Energy Density, per vol. High Energy Density, per volume • • Bio-reactive Non Bio-reactive • • “Torrefaction can be applied to all types of wood, grasses, and other types of biomass resulting in a uniform, commodity fuel ” 6
Consortium for Advanced Wood-to-Energy Solutions (CAWES) August, 2014 Announcement The Consortium for Advanced Wood-to- Energy Solutions (CAWES) will assess challenges and knowledge gaps relevant to the advancement of torrefaction technology. With an initial joint investment of $4 million, CAWES partners are embarking on a 24- month work plan aimed at validating torrefied wood as a promising renewable energy market solution. “Torrefied wood has significant market potential as a hydrophobic, densified energy carrier that stores, travels, and functions much like coal” 7
Consortium for Advanced Wood-to- Energy Solutions (CAWES) America’s forests are a vital natural resource. They cover one-third of the nation’s lands and yet more than one-half of our forests – both public and private – are in decline. These forest conditions are being driven by declining demand for traditional wood-based products, changing climactic conditions, endemic and exotic pests and diseases, and the need for policies that support both cost- effective and environmentally desirable market-based solutions. Loss of one-third of the nation’s solid wood products manufacturing facilities (sawmills) and more than forty percent of pulp and paper mills (since 1990) Deteriorating forest conditions have led to increasing size, intensity, and acreage of wild fires that are collectively consuming more than $3 billion in federal tax dollars annually in suppression costs And billions more in economic and environmental loss as well as loss of human life. “Coal-fired utilities in the U.S., which consume nearly 860 million tons per year of coal, could benefit greatly by the adoption of torrefied wood as a replacement or co-firing material” 8
Two Different Supply Chain Models Utilizing Torrefaction Distributive Model Lower economy of scale Lower Transportation Cost Centralized Model Higher Transportation Cost Economy of scale “ There will be situations where one model is better than the other BUT the Distributive Model offers the most benefit to rural communities by keeping jobs in the local community” 9
Construction of a Small Scale Commercial Torrefaction Process Decision was made in the fall of 2012 – 1) to demonstrate the technology, 2) to provide large size samples for testing, & 3) to provide a marketing platform System consists of three (3) thermally integrated subsystems including a rotary drum dryer, biomass combustion unit, and proprietary reactor The system includes all necessary material conveyance systems, multiple hot gas ductworks, dampers, airlocks, fans, and complete instrumentation to measure and manage the process Gases emitted from the torrefaction reactor are transferred to the combustion unit where they are oxidized resulting in thermal energy and low emissions. The combustor provides thermal heat of both the reactor and the pre-drying system " TGE’s Small Scale Plant can produce 12 tons/day in a continuous flow process” 10
TGE’s Torrefaction Process Dryer Torrefaction Reactor Raw, green biomass Torrefied biomass to densification Combustor Typical Operation: Wood chips moisture content, % wgt 40% - 55% • Torrefied chips moisture content, % wgt 1% - 3% • Torrefied chips yield, % wet basis 40% - 45% • Torrefied chips yield, % dry basis 70% - 75% • “ It is currently estimated that a torrefaction facility, including densification, will have a capital cost of approximately $255 times the tons of annual capacity” FutureMetrics, July, 2014 11
Feedstock sizing enables the processing of low value feedstocks 12
The first stage of the TGE torrefaction process is pre- drying the raw, green woody biomass to reduce whatever moisture content it arrives at to between 12% and 15% 13
This is the other end of the rotary drum dryer and shows the cyclone separator, ID fan, shaker/screener and metering bin 14
The TGE torrefaction process includes a Combustion unit plus heat exchangers, and ductwork 15
The heart of the TGE torrefaction system is the Torrefaction Reactor which is based on vertical hearth design. After exiting from the reactor the material is quenched and cooled. Torrefied and Densified Biomass 16
The entire torrefaction system is controlled by an operator in a Computerized Control Room as shown here. 17
IEA Clean Coal Centre IEA C LEAN C OAL C ENTRE 4 TH W ORKSHOP ON C OFIRING B IOMASS Park House WITH C OAL was held at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn 14 Northfields, State's campus from November 5-6, 2014 London, UK Countries Represented included: South Africa Belgium USA China Netherlands Chile Germany Canada Others France Finland 18
IEA Conference on Co-firing – TGE Torrefaction Facility Tour 19
IEA Conference on Co-firing – TGE Torrefaction Facility Tour 20
Piloted coal flame (LACER) The initial Market envisioned for Torrefied Biomass involved coal fired electrical generation facilities with Pulverized Coal (PC) boilers. 21
From the IEA Conference on Co-firing : From coal to biomass Conversion to wood pellets Conversion to biocoal pellets Atikokan GS Thunder Bay GS • Conversion September 2014 • Conversion Winter 2015 • 205 MW of capacity • 150 MW of capacity (one unit) • New silos, burners and controls, • Modified pulverizers modified pulverizers Why torrefaction ? <$5M conversion cost $170M conversion cost
Field Tests of Torrefied Wood at Gulf Power’s Plant Scholz Les Marshall Ontario Power Generation Successfully fired up to 100% TW in a • pulverized coal boiler at Plant Scholz Set Southern Company record for co-firing • renewable energy (26 MW) Adding TW reduced unburned carbon • losses. NOx, SO 2 , other emissions were greatly • Doug Boylan – Southern Co reduced with TW Keith Roberts – Southern Co TW is a relatively easy way to generate large • Bill Zemo – Alabama Power quantities of renewable energy using Jeff Wilson – Southern Co existing power plants Denym Burlock – Ontario Power From the IEA Conference on Co-firing Sybelle Fitzgerald – Gulf Power Dave O’Connor - EPRI
Today’s Scenario Coal Miners Electrical Power Generation Facility Coal 24
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