Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies · Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies Dr. Michael A....
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Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies Dr. Michael A. Pacheco Director of the National Bioenergy Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, Colorado prepared for TAPPI International Renewable Energy Conference, 10-11 May 2007 - ABSTRACT - A wide array of biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies currently exist or are being developed for the production of liquid fuels from biomass. Each combination of a feedstock and conversion technology presents a different route for producing liquid fuel from biomass, and each of these routes is at a different stage of development. This presentation will provide an overview of the following conversion pathways: ligno-cellulose to ethanol, renewable diesel, bio-oil from pyrolysis, biomass-derived syngas to fuels, and triglyceride-derived fuels from aquatic species. What emerges is a continuum of options from the more mature near-term options, to less- mature longer-term technology options. The current status, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of each route will be discussed. The presentation will include information from the latest economic assessments of these strategic biomass-based opportunities, where data are available. Finally, some ideas for integrating of these biomass conversion technologies into existing infrastructure within the petroleum, agriculture and/or forestry industries will also be discussed.
Transcript of Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies · Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies Dr. Michael A....
Overview of Liquid Biofuel Technologies
Dr. Michael A. Pacheco Director of the National Bioenergy Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, Colorado
prepared for TAPPI International Renewable Energy Conference, 10-11 May 2007
- ABSTRACT - A wide array of biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies currently exist or are being developed for the production of liquid fuels from biomass. Each combination of a feedstock and conversion technology presents a different route for producing liquid fuel from biomass, and each of these routes is at a different stage of development. This presentation will provide an overview of the following conversion pathways: ligno-cellulose to ethanol, renewable diesel, bio-oil from pyrolysis, biomass-derived syngas to fuels, and triglyceride-derived fuels from aquatic species. What emerges is a continuum of options from the more mature near-term options, to less-mature longer-term technology options. The current status, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of each route will be discussed. The presentation will include information from the latest economic assessments of these strategic biomass-based opportunities, where data are available. Finally, some ideas for integrating of these biomass conversion technologies into existing infrastructure within the petroleum, agriculture and/or forestry industries will also be discussed.
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An Overview of Liquid Biofuels Technology
TAPPI 2007 International Conference on Renewable Energy
Dr. Michael A. PachecoDirector of The National Bioenergy Center
The National Bioenergy CenterSupports the mission and goals of DOE’s Biomass Program
Develops technology to produce fuels, chemicals, materials, and power from biomass.
Partners extensively with the emerging industry
Works as a multi-laboratory consortium of:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)Idaho National Laboratory (INL)National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Headquartered at NREL with about 100 researchers and an annual core R&D budget of about $30 million
U.S. Biomass Resource Assessment• Updated resource assessment - April 2005• Jointly developed by U.S. DOE and USDA• Referred to as the “Billion Ton Study”
Taken from ORNL & USDA Resource Assessment Study by Perlach et.al. (April 2005) http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/final_billionton_vision_report2.pdf
Based on ORNL & USDA Resource Assessment Study by Perlach et.al. (April 2005) http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/final_billionton_vision_report2.pdf
Significance of the “Billion Ton” ScenarioBillion Barrel of Oil Equivalents
ProductsProductsFuels
EthanolBiodiesel“Green” Gasoline & Diesel
PowerElectricityHeat
ChemicalsPlasticsSolventsChemical IntermediatesPhenolicsAdhesivesFurfuralFatty AcidsAcetic AcidCarbon BlackPaintsDyes, Pigments, and InkDetergentsEtc.
Food and Feed
Enzymatic FermentationGas/liquid FermentationAcid Hydrolysis/FermentationGasificationCombustionCo-firingTrans-esterification
Conversion ProcessesConversion Processes
Range of Possible Biorefinery Concepts
TreesGrassesAgricultural CropsResiduesAnimal WastesMunicipal Solid WasteAlgaeFood Oils
Biomass FeedstockBiomass Feedstock
Near-term Focus on EthanolEthanol – as a blending agent from either grain or cellulosic material from Ag and/or Forestry industry
Biodiesel – Transesterified vegetable oils blended with diesel
Green Diesel/Gasoline – fats, waste oils, or virgin oils blended with crude oil as a feedstock for making low-sulfur diesel/gasoline in petroleum refinery
Pyrolysis Liquids – as a boiler fuel or an alternative feedstock to petroleum refinery or gasification facility, also a future source of aromatics and/or phenols
Synthesis Gas – for conversion to Fischer Tropsch liquids, MeOH/DME, or mixed alcohols
Algae – as alternative source of triglycerides for biodiesel or green diesel
Hydrocarbons – from hydrogenation of carbohydrates or ligninLongTerm
Near Term
Integrated Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefinery
Focus of NationalBioenergy Center
Reducing the Cost of Cellulosic Ethanol
$0.00
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
$4.00
$5.00
$6.00
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Min
imum
Eth
anol
Sel
ling
Pric
e ($
/gal
)
State of Technology Estimates
Feed $53/ton
2005 Yield65 gal/ton
Feed $30/tonYield 90 gal/ton
Feed $30/tonYield 94 gal/ton
10,000 TPD
Costs in 2002 Dollars
EnzymeConversionFeedstockCurrent DOE Cost TargetsPresident's Initiative
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Cellulosic EthanolCorn EthanolGasoline
From BiomassFrom Coal and Natural GasFrom Petroleum
Btu
s R
equi
red
per B
tu o
f Fue
l
57% Efficiency
81% Efficiency
Fuel-to-Petroleum Ratio = 0.9
Energy Required to Produce EthanolTotal Btu spent for 1 Btu available at fuel pump
Based on “Well to Wheels Analysis of Advanced Fuel/Vehicle Systems” by Wang, et.al (2005).
45% Efficiency
Energy in the Fuel
Fuel-to-Petroleum Ratio = 10
Other Near-Term Biofuel TechnologiesEthanol – as a blending agent from either grain or cellulosic material from Ag and/or Forestry industry
Biodiesel – Transesterified vegetable oils blended with diesel
Green Diesel/Gasoline – fats, waste oils, or virgin oils blended with crude oil as a feedstock for making low-sulfur diesel/gasoline in petroleum refinery
LongTerm
Near Term
Oils, Fats & Greases as Bio-renewable Petroleum Refinery Feedstocks
• Co-processing of oils and greases with petroleum fractions
• Utilize existing process capacity
• Potential for lower conversion costs (than FAME)
• Higher quality diesel blending component
• G/D flexibility
CatalyticCracker
DistillateHydrotreater
Oils andGreases
Green Gasoline& Olefins
GreenDiesel
ISBL Petroleum Refinery
Based on Presentations at 1st International Biorefinery Workshop, Washington DC, July 20-21, 2005- Future Energy for Mobility, James Simnick, BP- From Bioblending to Biorefining, Veronique Hervouet, Total- Opportunities for Biorenewables in Petroleum Refineries, Jennifer Holmgren, UOP
Green Diesel
• Hydrotreating of biorenewable oils in existing refinery units
• Lower capital costs than biodiesel
• Excellent fuel properties
Source: U.O.P. Corp. 1st International Biorefinery Conference, August 2005
Published Economic Comparison(from UOP-NREL-PNNL study)
• Biodiesel is least competitive option in this UOP/PNNL/NREL study• All fuels from soy bean oil require fuel subsidy• “Green” fuels or olefins from greases in petroleum refinery may generate positive NPV even without subsidy
Net Present Value
Source: Arena, B. et.al., “Opportunities for Biorenewables in Petroleum Refineries”,presented at Rio Oil & Gas Conference, held Sept 11-14, 2006
Mid-Term Biofuel TechnologiesEthanol – as a blending agent from either grain or cellulosic material from Ag and/or Forestry industry
Biodiesel – Transesterified vegetable oils blended with diesel
Green Diesel/Gasoline – fats, waste oils, or virgin oils blended with crude oil as a feedstock for making low-sulfur diesel/gasoline in petroleum refinery
Pyrolysis Liquids – as a boiler fuel or an alternative feedstock to petroleum refinery or gasification facility, also a future source of aromatics and/or phenols
Synthesis Gas – for conversion to Fischer Tropsch liquids, MeOH/DME, or mixed alcohols
LongTerm
Near Term
Bio-oil is is comprised of many oxygenated organic chemicals, with water miscible and oil miscible fractions
Fast Pyrolysis and Bio-oil as Feed to Power Plant or Petroleum Refinery
Based on research at NREL (1990 - 2006)
Dark brown mobile liquid,Combustible,Not 100% miscible with hydrocarbons,Modest heating value ~ 17 MJ/kg,High density ~ 1.2 kg/l,Acidic, pH ~ 2.5,Pungent odour,“Ages” - viscosity increases with time
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Base Case Incr size to2000 tpd
Incr yield to70%
$/G
iga
Joul
eJ
01020304050607080
$/B
OE
Crude Pyrolysis Oil Cost Estimates
Source: V. Putsche, NREL report (2004)
Base Case:550 ton/d wood chips 59% oil yield2 MBPD oil product$ 44 million Capital
Decentralized Biomass Liquids ScenarioDecentralized Biomass Liquids Scenario
Alternate Feedstocks Petroleum Refinery
Mid-Term Biofuel TechnologiesEthanol – as a blending agent from either grain or cellulosic material from Ag and/or Forestry industry
Biodiesel – Transesterified vegetable oils blended with diesel
Green Diesel/Gasoline – fats, waste oils, or virgin oils blended with crude oil as a feedstock for making low-sulfur diesel/gasoline in petroleum refinery
Pyrolysis Liquids – as a boiler fuel or an alternative feedstock to petroleum refinery or gasification facility, also a future source of aromatics and/or phenols
Synthesis Gas – for conversion to Fischer Tropsch liquids, MeOH/DME, or mixed alcohols
LongTerm
Near Term
Gasification Offers Many Feed & Product OptionsPrimary Energy
Source Syngas Step Conversion Technology Products
Syngas(CO + H2)
Fischer Tropsch
(FT)Upgrading
Lubes
Naphtha
DieselSyngas to Liquids (GTL) Process
Mixed Alcohols (e.g. ethanol, propanol)
Syngas to Chemicals Technologies
Methanol
Acetic Acid
Others (e.g. Triptane, DME, etc)
Coal
Natural Gas
Biomass
Hydrogen
Extra Heavy
Oil
Slide courtesy of BP Corporation
Feed Handling andConditioning Gasification
PreliminarySeparation
DriedBiomass
C3 +
Alcohols
Biomass CrudeSyngas
Mixed AlcoholSynthesis
SyngasCompression
Tar ReformingAnd Scrubbing
Crude
ProductsH
igh PSyngas
ScrubbedSyngas
Ethanol
Mixed
Alcohols
Met
hano
l
ProductSeparation
2012 Targets for Tar Reforming:- Promoted metal/support catalyst - CH4 < 3 vol%- Benzene < 10 ppmv- Heavy tars < 1 g/nM3
Overall gas conditioning reactions
Reforming: CxHyOz + H2O(g) H2 + xCO
Water gas shift: H2O + CO CO2 + H2
Gasification: C + H2O(g) COx + H2
Thermochemical Route to Alcohols
Ethanol133,500 gpd
Example 2030 Target Case for a Large Cellulosic Biorefinery to Maximize Ethanol
Ethanol via Bioconversion
Ethanol1,035,000 gpd
Lignin-Rich Residue 1,500 dMT/day
Steam & Power Lignin
CHP Plant
GasificationAlcohol
Synthesis
Higher Alcohols
Syngas
Ethanol1,168,000 gpd409 MM gal/yr
Lignin-Rich Residue 1,432 dMT/day
Yield: 117 gal/ton
19,100 gpd n-Propanol7,300 gpd n-Butanol3,300 gpd n-Pentanol
Corn Stover 10,000 dMT/day
S. Phillips and J. Jechura
Thermochemical Ethanol Cost Targets
$0.00
$0.50
$1.00
$1.50
$2.00
$2.50
2002 2005 2008 2011
Min
imum
Eth
anol
Sel
ling
Pric
e ($
per
gal
lon)
ConversionFeedstockPrevious DOE Cost TargetsPresident's Initiative
State of Technology Estimates
Forest &Agricultural Resources67 gal/ton
Costs in 2002 DollarsForestResources56 gal/ton
D. Dayton
Longer Term Biofuel TechnologiesEthanol – as a blending agent from either grain or cellulosic material from Ag and/or Forestry industry
Biodiesel – Transesterified vegetable oils blended with diesel
Green Diesel/Gasoline – fats, waste oils, or virgin oils blended with crude oil as a feedstock for making low-sulfur diesel/gasoline in petroleum refinery
Pyrolysis Liquids – as a boiler fuel or an alternative feedstock to petroleum refinery or gasification facility, also a future source of aromatics and/or phenols
Synthesis Gas – for conversion to Fischer Tropsch liquids, MeOH/DME, or mixed alcohols
Algae – as alternative source of triglycerides for biodiesel or green diesel
Hydrocarbons – from hydrogenation of carbohydrates or ligninLongTerm
Near Term
Microalgae as a Source of Biofuels
DOE’s Aquatic Species Program at NREL (1978-96) provided the technical foundation for producing biodiesel from algae The concept involves produce biofuels from:
SunlightCO2 in fuel gases and/or vent gasesUnproductive landBrackish or saline water
• Productivity per acre potential (~10,000 gal/acre/yr) far exceeds terrestrial plants – R&D is needed to reach this potential!• NREL and industry exploring use of algal oils in existing refineries • Algal carbohydrates can be integrated into ethanol production
Diesel/Jet Fuel From Algae
Low Land Use Required for Algal Biofuels(Basis: algal oil needed for 5 Billion gal/yr Jet Fuel) Near Term: with current state of the art
Longer Term: with targeted research plan
4,000,000 acres (6,500 square miles)
530,000 acres (830 square miles)
Arizona:73 million acres114,000 sq. mi.
Summary & Conclusions
Biofuels are the only renewable option for liquid transportation fuels
Resource is sufficient to supply a large portion of demand today, with potential to expand in the future
Ethanol and biodiesel are the best near-term options for deployment –must transition to cellulosic biomass
On-going R&D may create other biofuel options in the future
Different biofuel options offer a mix of pro’s and con’s
Illustration by Oak Ridge National Lab
