Investigation of Fuel Chemistry and Bed Performance in …whitty/utah_blg/reports/Utah SteamReforming... · Investigation of Fuel Chemistry and Bed Performance in a Fluidized Bed

Investigation of Fuel Chemistry and Bed Performance

in a Fluidized Bed Black Liquor Steam Reformer

DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-02NT41490

Quarterly Technical Progress Report, Year 2 Quarter 5

Reporting Period Start Date: 10/01/2004 Reporting Period End Date: 12/31/2004

Principal Author: Kevin Whitty

Prime (submitting) Organization: University of Utah 1471 East Federal Way Salt Lake City, UT 84102 PI: Kevin Whitty Project Subcontractors: Brigham Young University Reaction Engineering International A-261 ASB 77 West 200 South, Suite 210 Provo, UT 84602 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 PI: Larry Baxter PI: Adel Sarofim University of Maine Georgia Tech Research Corp 5717 Corbett Hall 505 Tenth Street, NW Orono, ME 04469 Atlanta, GA 30318 PI: Adriaan van Heiningen Contact: Robert de Carrera

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ i Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Background.................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of Work ......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Task 1: Construction of a fluidized bed black liquor gasification test system....................................................... 2 Task 2: Investigation of bed performance.............................................................................................................. 2 Task 3: Evaluation of product gas quality ............................................................................................................. 3 Task 4: Black liquor conversion analysis and modeling........................................................................................ 3 Task 5: Modeling of a fluidized bed steam reformer............................................................................................. 3

Summary of Technical Progress This Quarter ............................................................................................................... 4 Task 1: Construction of a black liquor gasification research system..................................................................... 4 Task 2: Investigation of bed performance.............................................................................................................. 4 Task 3: Evaluation of product gas quality ........................................................................................................... 12 Task 4: Black liquor conversion analysis and modeling...................................................................................... 13 Task 5: Modeling of a fluidized bed steam reformer........................................................................................... 13

Plans for Next Quarter ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Schedule and Project Status ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Budget Data ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................................................... 17

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INVESTIGATION OF FUEL CHEMISTRY AND BED PERFORMANCE IN A FLUIDIZED BED BLACK LIQUOR STEAM REFORMER

(DE-FC26-02NT41490)

Quarterly Report for Project Budget Period 2, Quarter 5

Principal Author: Kevin Whitty

University of Utah

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this project are to provide technical support for the DOE-supported commercial demonstration systems for black liquor gasification based on the MTCI steam reforming process and to address critical issues that threaten successful commercialization of low temperature black liquor gasification. The process of transforming black liquor to fuel gas and bed solids, development of the bed and performance of the system will be investigated through a combination of fundamental studies of black liquor conversion under relevant conditions, operation and analysis of a small-scale fluidized bed gasifier, and computational modeling of fluid dynamics, chemical reactions and heat transfer in a fluidized bed gasifier.

BACKGROUND

Black liquor gasification is a promising technology for the pulp and paper industry, and has the potential to increase energy efficiency and environmental performance of the black liquor recovery system. Recognizing this, the U.S. Department of Energy has committed itself to supporting demonstration of black liquor gasification, and a 200 ton/day DOE-supported demonstration of MTCI's steam reforming technology is under construction at Georgia-Pacific's mill in Big Island, Virginia. To improve the odds of successful demonstration, DOE issued a solicitation for projects to provide technical support for black liquor gasification.

One of the technical areas that has been identified as important to the ultimate success and economic sustainability of black liquor gasification is fuel conversion chemistry. Over the past two decades, several groups have performed fundamental laboratory studies on black liquor conversion under gasification conditions. This has improved the understanding of gasification behavior in general, but the available data are neither appropriate for conditions in the MTCI process, nor do they address important details such as physical characteristics of the char during conversion, minor gaseous species, tar component speciation and bed agglomeration propensity. This project aims to shed light on these issues.

Quarterly progress report for DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-02NT41490 Project Budget Period 2, Quarter 5

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STATEMENT OF WORK

This project is broken down into five technical tasks, described in the sections that follow.

Task 1: Construction of a fluidized bed black liquor gasification test system

The objective of this task is to construct a small-scale fluidized bed gasifier to enable detailed investigation of black liquor conversion behavior, bed development and fuel gas quality. The system will simulate conditions in the bottom of the full-scale MTCI system, and will be designed for continuous operation. The system will be designed around a 10-inch diameter reactor processing approximately 150 lb/day black liquor solids, and will include auxiliary equipment for reactant feeding and product gas handling. Completion of this task is necessary before many of the subsequent tasks can begin.

Deliverables from this task are a detailed report of the gasifier design, later reports on the performance of the system and recommended design changes for future such systems.

Task 2: Investigation of bed performance

The objectives of this task are to characterize bed performance and particle development in a fluidized bed steam reformer. The task is subdivided into three subtasks.

Subtask 2a. Mapping of bed properties and chemistry. The objective of this task is to map the temperatures, particle sizes, particle compositions and gaseous species throughout the fluidized bed in order to give a clear picture of what is going on inside the reactor. Samples of the solid bed material taken at different levels will be sized and analyzed to determine the degree of particle stratification in the bed. Particular attention will be paid to the region at the top of the bed, where finer particles are expected to exist.

Deliverables from this task include data on the composition and physical properties of solids at different regions in the bed under a variety of conditions, with particular attention paid to development of the bed as it reaches steady state from startup.

Subtask 2b. Evaluation of bed agglomeration propensity. This task aims to identify conditions and particle compositions that result in bed agglomeration. In addition to characterization of the bed in the gasifier, separate lab-scale studies will be conducted in a small fluidized bed to identify the influence of minor species, notably potassium and chlorine, on bed agglomeration.

Deliverables from this task include data on agglomeration behavior of the bed, as well as a matrix identifying conditions and compositions which pose a risk of agglomeration.

Subtask 2c. Evaluation of titanate addition. The objective of this task is to evaluate the potential of titanates to improve the performance of fluidized bed black liquor gasification systems. The presence of sodium titanate complexes should increase the melting temperature of the bed, allowing operation at higher temperatures and improving carbon conversion. This will be experimentally tested in the fluidized bed gasifier by adding titanates to the feed.

Deliverables for this task include data on bed melting temperatures and maximum operating temperatures, as well as recommendations on the best operating conditions for gasification with TiO2 addition.


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Task 3: Evaluation of product gas quality

The objectives of this task are to acquire detailed analysis of the product gas resulting from fluidized bed steam reforming of black liquor, and to investigate possibilities for improving gas quality.

Subtask 3a. Speciation of gaseous products. This task is quite straightforward, and involves identifying and quantifying chemical species in the product gas. Particular attention will be paid to minor species. The gas will be analyzed at different levels in the bed, and at different levels in the freeboard, under a variety of conditions during selected runs.

Deliverables from this task will be the raw data on gas species for different operating conditions.

Subtask 3b. Characterization and destruction of tars. The objectives of this task are to identify and quantify condensable aromatic hydrocarbon species ("tars") produced during steam gasification of black liquor, and to assess the technical feasibility of catalytic tar destruction for such a system. A variety of analytical techniques will be used to identify and quantify tars produced in the gasifier. Catalytic tar destruction efficiency and catalyst deactivation rates will be determined. Testing will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a slipstream of product gas will be run through a small external test reactor to screen promising catalysts. In the second phase, the best of these catalysts will be installed in the product gas line to handle the full load of product gas from the reactor.

Deliverables from this task include data on compositions and quantities of tars measured in the gasifier under a variety of conditions, as well as reports on results from the catalytic destruction studies.

Task 4: Black liquor conversion analysis and modeling

The objective of this task is to investigate the conversion of major and minor chemical species during gasification, and to develop models of this conversion that are suitable for inclusion in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models of low temperature gasifiers. The data generated in tasks 2a and 3a will be coupled with lab-scale single particle experiments to identify reaction rates, conversion pathways and reaction mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the fate of carbon, sulfur and sodium.

Deliverables from this task will be models that predict conversion rates and product species for carbon, sulfur and alkali under conditions relevant to the MTCI steam reforming system.

Task 5: Modeling of a fluidized bed steam reformer

The objective of this task is to develop computational models of a fluidized bed steam reformer that can be used for design, optimization, troubleshooting and to improve the understanding of processes that occur inside the reactor. The specific system to be modeled will be Georgia-Pacific's Big Island steam reformer.

Two modeling approaches will be pursued. The first is a "1½-D" model that takes into account vertical temperature and concentration gradients and downflow near the wall. A model for the entire Big Island reactor will be created that will describe the fluid dynamics, chemistry and heat transfer in the reactor. The model will initially use literature data for system chemistry, but will be improved over time by incorporating data on conversion in the gasifier as it becomes available. The second approach is to develop much more detailed 3-D models of specific parts of the gasifier.

Deliverables from this task include results from the 1½-D model, describing bed dynamics and fuel conversion in the Big Island gasifier, and results from the 3-D models, including the interaction between the bubbles and tube bundles.


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SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL PROGRESS THIS QUARTER

Accomplishments for the various technical tasks during this quarter are presented in the sections that follow.

Task 1: Construction of a black liquor gasification research system

Activity this quarter focused on finishing up details, "tying up loose ends," of the gasification research system. Piping for the steam line was heat traced and insulated. Electric heating and insulation for the black liquor feed tank were installed, as were heat tracing and insulation for the black liquor feed line. The black liquor feed injector was installed and plumbed to the feed line. The entire reactor vessel was insulated. Insulation was installed on the steam feed line from the superheater and on the product gas line running to the afterburner. The last of the pressure transducers, flow meters and thermocouples were plumbed and wired into the control system. The heater bundles were re-assembled and bolted into place, and the eighty in-bed heaters were installed and wired up.

Overall, the system is ready to go. Several of the sub-systems have undergone shakedown, and seem to perform well. The one thing remaining to be done is to install the rupture disk on the reactor and to plumb a line from this out of the building in case the reactor exceeds its pressure rating. The whole system will need to pass inspection, as well, before it can be operated under pressurized conditions.

Task 2: Investigation of bed performance

Activity on this task focused on subtasks 2a (mapping of bed properties and chemistry) and 2b (evaluation of agglomeration propensity). Details of the work are presented below.

Particle characterization studies

The University of Utah continued studies to identify particle growth and breakdown mechanisms using its 2-inch fluidized bed reactor. During preliminary experiments, the set-up needed some adjustments to the distributor plate and the black liquor injector. The distributor plate, a sintered metal disc, seemed to be plugged either by ash deposition or porous melting. It was replaced by two perforated stainless steel discs (42 holes of 1/16”) compressing a fine mesh. To avoid continual plugging, a concentric pipe was placed around the liquor injector to reduce the high temperature across it by flowing cold fluidizing gas. This modification along with a minimal liquor flow rate creates a drop-like injection at the bed-immersed tip promoting some bed agglomeration under it. As a solution, black liquor will be injected into the top of the reactor, allowing the operator to verify feeding performance without stopping the experiment.

Heating time is still a concern because it limits the operator’s available time for the actual experiments. Consequently, warming-up at nights would provide more time availability since the self-operation is safe. Cause-action analysis is being carried out to establish the best arrangement for this purpose.

Particle size analysis. An 8-hour run was performed using fresh limestone within the size of 180 - 351µm (dp= 265µm) as a bed material. 40%-solids black liquor was diluted down to 4% solids and injected at 1.2 ml/min. The resulting particle size distribution is shown in Figure 1. There appears to be a clear distribution shifting to the right indicating particle growing within the system. However, by the time of the sieve analysis, the very bottom of the bed was agglomerated possibly affecting the results shown in Figure 1. An experimental procedure error was identified as the cause of that situation.


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Particle size distribution of final bed material.

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21.5 65.5 134 265.5 526 1049 2098.5

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s fr

acti

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Pyrolysis time = 8hBlack Liquor flow rate = 1.2ml/minBlack Liquor dry solids = 4% Bed Temperature = 535 - 559C Fresh material = LimestoneInitial particle size = 180 - 351µm

Figure 1. Particle size distribution before and after 8 hours of operation.

Morphological changes. Samples at times 0, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours were taken to visualize particles’ physical evolution. By different means, bulk, particle and surfaces images were obtained. The first row of pictures in Figure 2 depicts the color evolution from yellow and light grey to black, and the non-uniform deposition of char on these surfaces. Particle shape was not affected as can be seen from the second row. Severe surface roughness is found for the last sample. A closer visualization is given by the third row of pictures. Fiber-like to molten transition is clear in the 1-hour sample. Surface cracking might be given by the devolatilization itself or sampling procedure.


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Visualization at different levels. Bed material: Limestone

0 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8 Time (h)

Figure 2. Optical and SEM images of particles sampled at various times.

Elemental distribution analysis. Cross-sectional areas were obtained by polishing mounted samples in epoxy discs. Back-scattered images allow visualization of the coating formation. Figure 3 shows coating evolution on limestone particles. EDAX analysis shows how sodium peaks arise as coating grows, but there is no difference when some carbon is deposited. Consecutive layers are formed from the initial sample up to 8-hour sample as seen in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows a sodium and calcium mapping for the upper-right corner of the 8-hour sample.


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Initial material 4 hours 8 hours

CO

Au Ca

C

O

Au CaNa

C

O

Au CaNa

Figure 3. EDAX analysis of material sampled at different times.

Initial Sample 4 hours 8 hours

Figure 4. Evolution of a coated layer on limestone particles when injecting black liquor.


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Ca

Na

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 5. Photo (a) shows a close-up of the 8-hour sample, in which layers of material can clearly be seen. Photos (b) and (c) show the same particle at lower magnification with corresponding calcium and sodium maps. The strong presence of sodium in the coated layers is evident.

Bed agglomeration studies

Brigham Young University continued investigation of bed agglomeration using their lab-scale fluidized bed having in-bed heaters. A new frit was constructed for the reactor in an attempt to eliminate stagnant regions in the reactor. The initial frit consisted of 15 layers of stainless steel wire mesh with an opening size of 100µm. The frit was held in place by a frame bolted to the bottom of the reactor. Figure 6 shows the stagnant regions created by this frit design.

StagnantRegions

Frit

Figure 6. Reactor base showing stagnant regions created by initial frit design

The new frit was built from 14 gauge stainless steel plating and was built to stand 0.25 inches off the base of reactor. 144 - 0.063 inch holes were drilled in the plate and then the plate was covered with 316 wire cloth with an opening size of 38 µm. The new frit covers the entire base of the reactor and eliminates many of the stagnant regions in reactor corners and along reactor walls. Figure 7 shows the initial and


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post-test particle size distributions for runs with the initial and redesigned frit. Note that even though some stagnant regions were visually observed to have been eliminated the particle sintering still occurred.

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Figure 7. Initial and post-test particle size distribution for test runs with pure Na2CO3 using the initial and redesigned frit.

Commercial Bed Material. Norampac supplied bed material for a test run. The reactor reached bed temperatures of 650ºC, at which point the heat losses were greater than what the electrical heaters could supply. After this test, insulation was added to the reactor. Figure 8 shows a particle size distribution that was conducted on both initial and post-test Norampac bed material. The average particle size both before and after was 190µm, indicating that little if any sintering occurred. Figure 9 shows a secondary electron image of the Norampac bed material. An EDAX ZAF quantification was performed on small, medium, and large particles at points labeled 1, 2, and 3, respectively.


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Figure 8. Particle size distribution for commercial bed material from Norampac

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Figure 9. Secondary electron SEM image of Norampac bed material


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TABLE 1: WEIGHT FRACTION OF ELEMENTS FROM POINTS LABELED 1, 2, AND 3 IN FIGURE 9

Element 1 2 3

Carbon 57.26 73.20 76.39

Oxygen 21.87 13.50 13.20

Sodium 13.27 5.97 3.94

Magnesium 0.44 0.74 0.70

Aluminum 0.11 0.34 0.33

Silicon 0.19 0.44 0.48

Phosphorus 0.08 0.28 0.27

Sulfur 0.26 0.31 0.33

Chlorine 0.94 0.65 0.47

Potassium 4.28 3.52 2.82

Calcium 1.30 1.03 1.06

Georgia-Pacific also supplied bed material for a test run. The Georgia-Pacific bed material contained agglomerates and particles larger than 2mm. These were sieved before the material was placed in the reactor.

Two tests were run on this material. Because of the large particle size the minimum fluidization velocity was calculated to be 0.244m/s (0.8ft/s). Therefore, as with other tests the operating fluidization velocity was 1.5 times greater than this minimum fluidization velocity at 0.366m/s (1.2ft/s). During the first run the temperature measurements were inconsistent with previous tests. Some heater surfaces measured higher temperatures than core temperatures measured on adjacent heaters. Bed temperatures showed variations of several hundreds degrees. Fluidization quality was poor with stagnant regions visible at reactor walls adjacent to heaters. Temperatures for this test reached 540ºC when temperature readings showed a jump in temperature measurements around certain heaters. The bed was removed but no agglomeration was detected. Figure 10 shows a particle size distribution that was performed on initial and post-test bed material. The average particle size increased from 475µm to 578µm.


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0

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Average Particle SizeGeorgia-Pacific (initial): 475 µmGeorgia-Pacific (after test): 578 µm

Figure 10. Particle size distribution for initial and post-test Georgia-Pacific bed material

A second test was performed on the Georgia-Pacific bed material. During the test, temperature anomalies, consistent with the previous test, continued until the fluidization velocity was increased above 0.43m/s (1.4ft/s) at which point heater core, heater surface, and reactor bed temperatures became consistent with those measured from previous tests where heater core temperatures showed temperatures ~60ºC higher than heater surface temperatures and heater surfaces were 10ºC to 20ºC greater than reactor bed temperatures. This would suggest that the larger particle sizes require an increase in fluidization velocity, greater than expected, to maintain even fluidization throughout the reactor bed.

Task 3: Evaluation of product gas quality

For this task, activity this quarter focused on development of a system and procedure for characterizing tar species formed during steam reforming. No information on tar species formed during fluidized bed black liquor steam reforming has ever been published. Consequently, it will be our task to not only measure the concentrations of tar species in such a system, but to identify what species are formed. The chosen method is gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC system separates components and allows one to determine their concentration. The mass spectrometer is used as the detector, and can be used to identify the mass and ultimately the identity of the individual components. The University of Utah has been working to reconfigure an existing GC-MS system to make it suitable for analysis of tars in the product gas. Initially, the ambition was to be feed a sample gas stream from an operating steam reformer, either the University of Utah's or a commercial system, directly into the GC-MS. During this quarter it was determined that this approach is not technically feasible. Condensation of the large amount of steam in the gas could create problems, and the concentration of tars would be low enough that only major species could be detected. Instead, tars will be characterized by extractive sampling and capture in an organic solvent. A modification of the IEA protocol for sampling of tars from biomass gasifiers will be


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used. Rather than using an impinger train of five or six bottles, the alternative "Petersen column" will be employed. This will allow for efficient sampling and collection of solvent bottles containing the extracted tar species that can later be analyzed by GC-MS.

Task 4: Black liquor conversion analysis and modeling

No activity this quarter.

Task 5: Modeling of a fluidized bed steam reformer

Activity for this task focused on two fronts: computational modeling of heater bundle tube temperatures in the Big Island steam reformer and compilation of data take in the Utah cold flow model.

Modeling of the heater bundle tube temperatures in the Big Island steam reformer

The heat transfer work that was reported in the previous quarterly report was extended this quarter to predict surface temperatures of the tubes in the heater bundles in the Big Island reformer. The predictions were made using a combination of heat transfer modeling for the hot gases on the inside of the heater tubes and heat transfer from the tubes estimated using results of the MFIX simulations performed by the modeling group at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory.

An example of the predicted tube surface temperature is presented in Figure 11, which shows a profile of the temperature for four of the heater tubes: one on the outside plus the center tube of the row halfway up each of the bottom and top tube bundles. The bottom bundle tube temperatures are slightly less than the top bundle temperatures. Generally, the temperatures of the outside and center tubes within a level are predicted to follow the same profile. It should be noted that these predictions did not take into consideration the shield tubes around the hot end of the heater tubes.


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Center of the lowest tube bundle

Center of the highest tube bundle

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Figure 11. Predicted tube surface temperatures across the vertical center of the bottom (B, left) and top (T, right) tube bundles.

Cold flow model studies

During this quarter, a few complementary heat transfer experiments were performed. But, most of the activity centered on writing a draft comprehensive report of all experiments performed in the cold flow model: fluid dynamics, bubble voidage measurements, bubble frequency measurements, particle segregation studies and heat transfer measurements. This draft is complete, and is currently being reviewed.

PLANS FOR NEXT QUARTER

For the period January-March 2005, efforts will focus on the issues outlined below:


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Construction of the Gasification Research Facility. Construction itself is complete, so activity during the next quarter will focus on starting up the system and acquiring data under conditions representative of those in the Big Island steam reformer. The startup, operating and shutdown procedures will be refined, and any modifications that are deemed necessary to ensure the reliability and safety of the system will be made. The ambition is that by the end of the quarter the system will be fully shaken down, the procedures will be established and a first set of data on bed particle characteristics and gas composition will be available. In addition to operation of the system, preparation of a special report describing the gasification research facility will begin.

Particle Characterization Studies. Work will continue to clarify the mechanism of particle growth in the fluidized bed. Experiments with different inert starting materials will be conducted for long durations with black liquor injection. Particle samples will be removed at different exposure times, cross-sectioned and examined both optically and under an electron microscope. Experiments under reacting conditions, with input of either steam or carbon dioxide, will be performed to identify how the particles react and how the core of the particle, which appears to have no carbon, develops. Samples may also be placed into the Utah steam reformer to look at particle growth under realistic conditions.

Bed Agglomeration Tests. With the reactor now more insulated, several test runs will be completed using the Norampac bed material with the addition of KCl and/or K2CO3 to study the effects of potassium and chlorine on the sintering temperatures of black liquor coated particles. Further SEM analyses will be performed on both Norampac bed material and Georgia-Pacific bed material. Test runs will also be performed to study the effect of CO addition to the fluidizing nitrogen gas.

Evaluation of Product Gas Quality. The steam reformer will come on line this quarter, so it will be possible to at least get an initial characterization of species produced. If operation goes well, efforts will be made to identify and quantify minor non-condensable species in the gas under standard operating conditions.

Tar Characterization. Development of the tar sampling and analysis procedure will continue, with the goal of finalizing the sampling and analysis procedures by the end of the quarter. Construction of the Petersen column for sampling will be completed and efforts to sample from the steam reforming operating under standard conditions will be performed. If all goes well, an initial characterization of tars present in the synthesis gas will be made.

Modeling of the Big Island Steam Reformer. Little activity is expected during the upcoming quarter for both the computational modeling and cold flow modeling work. As data from the steam reformer becomes available over the next few quarters, the computational models will be refined.

SCHEDULE AND PROJECT STATUS

The major milestones for the project and the planned actual dates of completion are listed in Table 2.


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TABLE 2. MILESTONE STATUS

ID No. Task/Milestone Description Planned

Completion Actual

Completion Notes

1 Construction of Fluidized Bed Black Liquor Gasification Test System

1.1 Complete basic system spec/design 11/02 07/03 Revisions to 10/03 1.2 Complete P&IDs 12/02 11/02 Revised 09/03 1.3 Complete gasifier reactor design 12/02 08/03 Minor revisions 11/03 1.4 Complete detailed design 08/03 10/03 1.5 Break ground, begin construction 09/03 01/ 04 1.6 Order all 5 main components 09/03 11/03 1.7 Install main components 12/03 05/04 1.8 Complete plumbing/wiring 03/04 12/04 1.9 Finalize construction 03/04 Expected 01/05 2 Investigation of Bed Performance

2.1.1 Map bed characteristics for BI liquor 08/04 In progress 2.1.2 Complete bed mapping for kraft liquor 09/05 2.2.1 Construct agglomeration test system 09/03 03/04 2.2.2 Perform model agglomeration studies 09/04 In progress 2.2.3 Perform BL agglomeration studies 06/05 In progress 2.2.4 Develop agglomeration risk matrix 09/05 2.3.1 Test titanates at Big Island conditions 03/05 2.3.2 Test titanates at high pressure/kraft 09/05 2.3.3 Evaluate titanate causticization 12/05

3 Evaluation of Product Gas Quality 3.1.1 Gas speciation at Big Island conditions 09/04 3.1.2 Gas speciation for kraft liquor 09/05 3.2.1 Quantify/characterize tars 12/04 In progress 3.2.2 Screen catalysts for tar destruction 06/05 3.2.3 Test best tar destruction catalyst 12/05

4 Conversion Analysis and Modeling 4.1 Prelim pyrolysis studies of BI liquor 03/04 In progress 4.2 Gasification studies of BI liquor – Åbo 03/04 4.3 Detailed pyrolysis studies of BI liquor 03/05 4.4 Develop submodels for BI liquor 12/04 4.5 Develop submodels for kraft liquor 12/05 5 Modeling of MTCI Steam Reformer

5.1 Develop 1½-D model 01/03 03/03 Model revisions ongoing 5.2 Improve 1½-D model with gasifier data 07/05 5.3 Develop 3-D models of specific areas 01/05 In progress 5.4 Optimize ("validate") models 12/05 6 Project Management

6.1 Draft final report to team members 05/06 6.3 Final project report to DOE 06/06

BUDGET DATA

As of the end of the quarter, approximately 65% of the overall project budget had been spent. Table 3 shows the estimated expenditures for the current quarter, as well projected expenditures for the next quarter. The current quarter's total spending was slightly higher than what was projected in the previous quarterly report.


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TABLE 3. BUDGET STATUS

21,754 Cost Share (20%) 21,438108,769 TOTAL 107,190

87,015 DOE (80%) 85,752

22,695 Indirect 24,204108,769 TOTAL 107,190

0 Other 086,074 TOTAL DIRECT 82,986

4,321 Supplies 8,1009,528 Subcontracts 25,972

0 Travel 1,38924,799 Equipment 4,002

35,6838,357 Fringe Benefits 7,839

Current Quarter Budget Category

Next QuarterExpenditures Projection

10/01/04 - 12/31/04 01/01/05 - 03/31/0539,069 Personnel

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is gratefully acknowledged for funding this project.

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Investigation of Fuel Chemistry and Bed Performance in …whitty/utah_blg/reports/Utah SteamReforming... · Investigation of Fuel Chemistry and Bed Performance in a Fluidized Bed