Commercial-scale rapid thermal processing of biomass

✍ Scribed by R.G. Graham; B.A. Freel; D.R. Huffman; M.A. Bergougnou

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 112 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0961-9534
• DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(94)00066-3

✦ Synopsis

Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) utilizes proprietary reactor systems to convert both biomass and petroleum-based materials to high yields of chemical and liquid fuel products. The essential feature is the ability to transfer heat rapidly with precise control of short contact times. The process involves thermal or thermocatalytic refining of biomass, and is somewhat analogous to the refining of petroleum materials. Nevertheless, the chemical and fuel products from biomass are unique, and not similar to petroleum-derived products. Furthermore, RTP is not to be confused with conventional pyrolysis, from which it differs fundamentally with respect to product yield and quality, and process conditions and chemistry. Short-term applications include the production of specialty chemicals, fuel oil substitutes and engine fuels for both diesel and turbine applications. Research in support of these applications is in progress and is briefly reviewed. The paper focuses primarily on the status of RTP hardware, including the operation of a 2.5 tonne day-' plant and a 25 tonne day-' commercial plant.