1. Aston University Bioenergy Research Group (BERG) Dr Daniel J
Aston University Bioenergy Research Group (BERG) Dr Daniel J. Nowakowski pp. Prof. Anthony V. Bridgwater NEPIC Innovation Day Ramside Hall Hotel – Carrville, County Durham,

2. Objective of BERG
To apply chemical engineering science and technology to help provide sufficient energy, fuels and chemicals from renewable and sustainable resources for the needs of today and tomorrow.

3. Achievements
International leader in thermal biomass conversion research
Funding of more than £22 million
Operational since 1979
Collaborators in 33 countries
Partners in 14 countries * *

4. BERG scope and activities
Electricity, Heat
Chemicals
Synthesis Refine
Biofuels
Biomass production & processing
Thermal conversion
Processing
Integrated bioenergy system
Prepare and pretreat
Biorefinery
Products
& Markets
Wood, Energy crops, Residues, Wastes
Pyrolyse
System
Upgrade
Refine
Biological conversion
Hydrolyse Ferment
Gasify

5. Focus The main focus of our research is fast pyrolysis
This is an advanced thermal process that produces up to 75% wt. liquid (bio-oil) from biomass with some byproduct char and gas
The liquid can be used for:
Power generation in engines and turbines
Heat in boilers and co-firing
Chemicals directly or via upgrading and separation
Energy carrier to reduce handling & storage of biomass
Biofuels by upgrading

6. 5-7 kg/h fast pyrolysis fluid bed
Continuous bubbling fluid bed with full computer control
Liquid collection by quench and ESP
Gas recycle for fluidisation

7. 1 kg/h fast pyrolysis fluid bed

8. 100 and 300 g/h fluid bed
4 continuous fluid beds : 100 g/h to 5-7 kg/h
2 continuous ablative reactors : 4kg/h and ~20kg/h,
Hot vapour filter
Microwave micro-reactor,
Synthesis micro-reactor
TGA and Py-GC-MS/FID

9. 20 kg/h ablative pyrolysis reactor
Biomass in
Vapours out
Char out
Heat

10. Bio-oil blends with bio-diesel
Results
Three phase chart for blends with bio-butanol
Initial Newtonian behaviour
Long term stability pending

11. Other facilities Micro-reactors
CDS high pressure and catalyst reactor system
Microwave
Pressurised synthesis and upgrading reactor
Autoclave
Analysis and characterisation
Extensive facilities for analysis and characterisation of:
feedstocks
intermediates
products

12. Our contributions to fast pyrolysis
Biomass pretreatment and preparation
Fast pyrolysis in fluid beds (4 units) and ablative (2 units)
Reactor design and modelling
Analytical pyrolysis
Catalytic pyrolysis
Liquid collection and upgrading
Extensive liquid analysis and characterisation facilities
Chemicals recovery and refining
Nitrogenolysis for fertiliser production
Biofuel production by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, zeolites and hydrotreating upgrading of fast pyrolysis products
Technical and economic assessment of bioenergy chains for electricity, biofuels, chemicals, biorefineries

13. Bioenergy chain Biofuel chain
Power & heat
generation
Power
Heat
Biofuels
Chemicals
Thermal conversion
Combustion, Gasification,
Pyrolysis
Biomass
Preparation & Pretreatment
Products
Biofuel chain
Biofuel production & refining
Chemicals production

14. Gasoline, diesel, kerosene, SNG
Biofuel chains
Biomass
Liquid
bio-oil
Fast pyrolysis
Utilities
Gasification
Zeolite
cracking
Syngas
Fischer
Tropsch
synthesis
Methanol
synthesis
Bio-oil
MTG , MOGD, Tigas
Mt-Synfuels
Hydro-
treating
Refining
Gasoline, diesel, kerosene, SNG

15. Fertilisers Biomass as energy crops or residues Pyrolysis
Nitrogenolysis to Slow Release Fertiliser
Bio-oil
Gasification
Nitrogen source
Ammonia synthesis
External fertiliser applications
Fertiliser production
Ammonia based hydrogen storage
Fuel cell

16. Esters from bio-oil
Distillation product after esterification with WD catalyst
Raw bio-oil

17. 5 Biofuels & Biorefinery
SUPERGEN Bioenergy II 8
Newsletter
Website
Bioenergy
Research
Forum
Showcase
2 Characterisation
& Pretreatment
1 Resources
Nitrogen
3 Thermal
conversion
Marine biomass
5 Biofuels & Biorefinery
4 Power & Heat
Ammonia
6 Systems analysis
7 Innovation

18. Process modelling Processes are being modelled in terms of:
Performance
Capital cost; Product cost
Environment; Socio-economics
Variability is considered in terms of:
Scale
Uncertainty; Learning
Process design; System design
Objectives include:
Impact of pyrolysis as pretreatment method
Process route to hydrocarbons
Integration with refineries
Fertiliser production as Ammonia and Slow release fertiliser

19. Process model – 3252 processes

20. European Bioenergy Research Institute
BERG is a founder member of EBRI – the European Bioenergy Research Institute
EBRI will create a unique platform for the development and implementation of bioenergy systems in local, national and European contexts as well as reaching for International community