22
During the experiment, the solid fraction (char) remains in the post-reformer and is
only extracted intermittently throughout the process. To guarantee an efficient separation between the organic liquid component and the gas fraction, TCR has a cooling system working with temperatures from −3 to +10 °C to cool down the vapours
from the post-reformer. Before being routed to an exhaust system, the gas phase
goes directly to a gas analyser and calorimeter to quantify its composition and the
HHV [136]. To avoid the contamination of the gas analyser from aerosols and other
impurities, the plant is installed with active carbon bag filter and with gas wash
bottles containing biodiesel, isopropanol, acetone and wool [72].
In addition to agricultural, organic and industrial wastes with a high water and
ash contents (low ash melting points as well), the TCR process is also able to convert plastic residues [137]. Technically, TCR can convert feedstocks with moisture
content up to 20%, which is beneficial in terms of energy consumption as it can be
used for avoiding the drying step [138].
TCR products can be used in diverse applications from different areas. The gas
fraction can generate heat and power through CHP, bio-oil can be blended with
diesel and gasoline to be applied in engines, and char can be involved in combustion
or gasification processes and as fertilizer or soil conditioner [138]. TCR is a safe
technology operating without the utilization of externally sourced solvents, catalysts or any chemical product, and it works at atmospheric pressure [139]. Its flexibility in terms of plant control provides a large variety of value-added products such
as an improved quality bio-oil that is simple to transport and store, stable and
energy-dense biochar with similar features to anthracitic coal and syngas rich in H 2
[72, 140]. Another advantage of this process is the efficient design, which can convert most of the introduced energy from the original biomass [139].
6.2.1 Comparison Between TCR and Other Technologies
Table 3 shows the characteristics of the bio-oil produced from a woody biomass fast
pyrolysis and TCR. The bio-oil of fast pyrolysis has many disadvantages, which are
as follows [82, 141, 142]:
• A high oxygen content with a complicated mixture of compounds.
• A high acid number.
• It is strongly corrosive.
• It has low higher heating value.
• It has poor chemical stability, and its phase can be changed with time.
Therefore, fast pyrolysis bio-oil should be upgraded in different ways such as
catalytic cracking and hydrotreatment to produce valued chemicals and transport
fuels. The role of catalysis and different methods for bio-oil upgrading will be illustrated in detail in the next section (Sect. 7).
TCR technology can produce TCR oil with superior physicochemical fuel properties in comparison with the bio-oil of fast pyrolysis. TCR oil is low in acidity
H. Jahangiri et al.
During the experiment, the solid fraction (char) remains in the post-reformer and is
only extracted intermittently throughout the process. To guarantee an efficient separation between the organic liquid component and the gas fraction, TCR has a cooling system working with temperatures from −3 to +10 °C to cool down the vapours
from the post-reformer. Before being routed to an exhaust system, the gas phase
goes directly to a gas analyser and calorimeter to quantify its composition and the
HHV [136]. To avoid the contamination of the gas analyser from aerosols and other
impurities, the plant is installed with active carbon bag filter and with gas wash
bottles containing biodiesel, isopropanol, acetone and wool [72].
In addition to agricultural, organic and industrial wastes with a high water and
ash contents (low ash melting points as well), the TCR process is also able to convert plastic residues [137]. Technically, TCR can convert feedstocks with moisture
content up to 20%, which is beneficial in terms of energy consumption as it can be
used for avoiding the drying step [138].
TCR products can be used in diverse applications from different areas. The gas
fraction can generate heat and power through CHP, bio-oil can be blended with
diesel and gasoline to be applied in engines, and char can be involved in combustion
or gasification processes and as fertilizer or soil conditioner [138]. TCR is a safe
technology operating without the utilization of externally sourced solvents, catalysts or any chemical product, and it works at atmospheric pressure [139]. Its flexibility in terms of plant control provides a large variety of value-added products such
as an improved quality bio-oil that is simple to transport and store, stable and
energy-dense biochar with similar features to anthracitic coal and syngas rich in H 2
[72, 140]. Another advantage of this process is the efficient design, which can convert most of the introduced energy from the original biomass [139].
6.2.1 Comparison Between TCR and Other Technologies
Table 3 shows the characteristics of the bio-oil produced from a woody biomass fast
pyrolysis and TCR. The bio-oil of fast pyrolysis has many disadvantages, which are
as follows [82, 141, 142]:
• A high oxygen content with a complicated mixture of compounds.
• A high acid number.
• It is strongly corrosive.
• It has low higher heating value.
• It has poor chemical stability, and its phase can be changed with time.
Therefore, fast pyrolysis bio-oil should be upgraded in different ways such as
catalytic cracking and hydrotreatment to produce valued chemicals and transport
fuels. The role of catalysis and different methods for bio-oil upgrading will be illustrated in detail in the next section (Sect. 7).
TCR technology can produce TCR oil with superior physicochemical fuel properties in comparison with the bio-oil of fast pyrolysis. TCR oil is low in acidity
H. Jahangiri et al.