The gasification of biomass wastes represents a major thermochemical route to produce a high energy value syngas from a source which is renewable and CO2-neutral. However, one of the major issues in the gasification process is contamination of the product syngas with tar. Tar is the key problem for biomass gasification and is a complex mixture of condensable hydrocarbons. The formation of tar causes major process and syngas end-use problems, including tar blockages, plugging and corrosion in downstream fuel lines, filters, engine nozzles and turbines.
This proposal seeks to develop a novel gas cleaning process based on low temperature plasma/catalytic technology to produce a clean, high quality syngas from the gasification of waste biomass. Gasification of the biomass will be investigated in an existing small-pilot scale fluidised bed gasifier, modified to include a downstream plasma/catalytic syngas cleaning process. Experimental and detailed analytical work developing the coupled biomass gasification-gas cleaning process will enable a mechanistic understanding of the tar reduction process and will be extended by CFD modelling of model tar compounds. Process modelling and simulation of the combined biomass gasification-plasma/catalytic gas clean-up sytem will build a foundation for process analysis, optimal design and operation to facilitate exploitation of this innovative technology development.

Potential Impact:
[1] National Importance: The UK Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) Report "2050 Pathways Analysis" highlighted biomass as a key renewable feedstock to respond to the vital societal need for a step change in the sustainability of energy production required to combat climate change. Gasification of biomass represents a major sustainable route to produce syngas from a source which is renewable and CO2-neutral. Additionally, the recent "UK Bioenergy Strategy" (DECC, 2012) reported that the development of advanced conversion technologies, in particular reliable gasification and clean-up processing at scale, is crucial in allowing the UK to achieve the development of flexible bioenergy technologies.
The gasification of biomass wastes therefore has the potential to make a significant contribution to the future energy supply of the UK if the key problem of the high tar content of the product syngas can be overcome. Therefore, this proposal has the potential to impact at the National level by delivering a high CV syngas with ~zero-level tar content, thereby the gas becomes suitable for use in internal combustion engines and turbines for power generation thereby dramatically increasing the energy efficiency of the biomass gasification process.
[2] Impact on Industry: The UK gasification industry and bioenergy industries will also benefit from this research through our development of a gas clean-up system that can minimise tar formation in the product syngas so that it can then be used in higher efficiency gas engines, gas turbines and in the future fuel cells. The development of the technology would aid the gasification system manufacturers in marketing a higher efficiency system.
The application of plasma technology for tar removal from gasification syngas would provide a showcase for the development of plasma technology in the UK.
Catalyst companies would also benefit from the knowledge gained which would aid in the promotion and development of plasma treated catalysts.
[3] Training People: There is a recognized shortage of high quality scientists and engineers with energy-related training to support the UK's future energy research & development and innovation performance ("Jobs and Growth: Importance of Engineering Skills to the UK Economy; Royal Academy of Engineering, Final Report, September 2012). In addition, it has been estimated (NNFCC Briefing, "Bioenergy report on UK jobs in the Bioenergy sector by 2020" (2012)) that between 11,000-18,400 new jobs could be created in the Bioenergy power sector alone by 2020.
This proposal will impact on the training and career development of the Post-doctoral research fellows, but also through the involvement of PhD students and MSc project students associated with the research.