Thermal processing technologies for biomass conversion to energy

Abstract

Bio-energy is now accepted as having the potential to provide a major part of the projected renewable energy provisions of the future. There are three main routes to providing these bio-fuels, such as biological conversion, physical conversion, and thermal conversion. A number of primary and secondary products can be derived as gas, liquid and solid fuels, and electricity as well as a considerable number of chemicals. In this paper, we will be discussing existing techniques and recent progress in combustion, pyrolysis and gasification techniques for the conversion of bioenergy into a viable source of energy, fuel and chemicals. Topics of discussion will include biomass combustion for heat, biomass gasification to produce syngas and process concerns, as well as various ways to address these issues, biomass pyrolysis for production of bio-oil and, co-firing of biomass and coal and the use of co-gasification and co-pyrolysis, the combination of pyrolysis and gasification to process pyrolysis products to syngas through gasification and liquefaction of syngas and its conversion to fuels.