Title:
Activated Carbon's Adsorption Potential of Tar Compounds in Warm Conditions
Author(s):
Koytsoumpa, E.I., Michailof, C., Panopoulos, K.D., Dallas, F., Bour, P., Karellas, S., Lappas, A., Lemonidou, A.A.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Syngas from biomass gasification contains undesirable impurities including a high organic content, commonly named tars. These higher hydrocarbons are in vapor phase at the high temperature of gasification and can lead to serious clogging fouling problems when condensed on downstream equipment. Gas cleaning techniques for their removal have focused on high temperature or wet processes. Warm gas cleaning with activated carbon is a very promising alternative process and it is investigated in the present work. Two different types of commercial activated carbons provided by CECA were tested at various operating temperatures and against different tars concentrations. Synthetic organic tar component vapours were created to simulate the tar content of syngas. Each compound component was vaporized in heated saturators where inert gas was introduced. The tar vapor partial pressures were evaluated according to each components Antoine's equation. The gas flows were controlled with mass flow controllers while all tubing was equipped with heated lines up to the activated carbon fixed bed vessel. The fixed bed was conditioned in an oven where different temperatures of the gas cleaning system ranged from 100°C to 250°C were attempted. A Flame Ionization Detector was used in a semi¬continuous measuring method. The breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system were determined and adsorption capacity and regeneration capabilities have also been investigated and are presented here. The adsorption capability of activated carbon has shown excellent results at warm gas cleaning conditions. The use of activated carbon in warm gas cleaning processes has presented not several advantages not only because of the high adsorption potential and its regeneration capability but also due to its low provision and process cost and further use of saturated material. This is work in progress, and currently novel materials are being tested.
Keywords:
activated carbon, biomass, gasification, tars, warm gas cleaning
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for synthesis gas production
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2DO.5.4
Pages:
933 - 941
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2DO.5.4
Price:
FREE
