CIRCULATING FLUIDISED

BED GASIFIER “BIVKIN”

INTRODUCTION
BIVKIN is an atmospheric circulating fluidised bed gasifier (CFB) of 500 kWth (max. 100
kg wood/hr). Tests with a specific fuel (moisture content, morphology, size, composition)
give answers on questions like:
· what is the tar content in the gas?
· what is the distribution of impurities (S, N, Cl, K) over gas and ash?
· is the reactivity of the fuel high enough or in other words is the fuel conversion high
enough? ECN
· can the fuel be fed without problems? P.O. Box 1
· can the ash be used as filler in construction material or as fertiliser? 1755 ZG Petten
The Netherlands
· what is the effect of additives on the tar emission or ash agglomeration?
Phone: +31 224 564594
Fax: +31 224 563487
Supportive knowledge has been developed and a calculation model has been made to E-mail: biomass@ecn.nl
extrapolate the measured gasification parameters to full-scale size plants. WWW: http://www.ecn.nl/
 2nd cyclone
flare
1st cyclone

gas cleaning
section
gasifier
riser
fuel bunkers

gas engine
sec. air 60 kW e

rotary valves seal

ø 20 cm
h=6m electricity
ash
feeding screw
50-100 kg/h
air and/or oxygen N2 or air
and/or steam 10-20 m3n/h

SPECIFICATIONS
Main parameters (average values and standard
The CFB gasifier consists of:
deviation as fraction of average) of the BIVKIN
• several feeding systems with the possibility
operated at 820- 870°C with dry biomass fuel
to mix fuels
• reactor (height 6 m, Ø 0.2 m) with air and/or
fuel input (LHV) kW 380 ± 10%
oxygen and/or steam supply
heat loss % of LHV fuel 8% ± 6%
• circulation loop with cyclone and loop-seal
ER - 0.27 ± 10%
• second cyclone for dust removal
carbon conversion wt% 90% ± 2%
• gas cleaning units and connection with gas
cold gas efficiency % 63% ± 3%
engine
tar concentration g/m n dry
3
7.3 ± 20%
CH4-yield wt% of C in fuel 8.2% ± 6%
The following components in the fuel gas are
NH3-yield wt% of N in fuel 52% ± 9%
measured: H2, CO, CH4, CO2, H2O, ethene, et-
LHV fuel gas MJ/mn3 wet 5.2 ± 7%
hane, benzene, toluene, xylene, HCl, NH 3, H2S,
tar, dust and soot.
Energy balance demolition wood gasification

RESULTS 100%

CO
vol% dry gas
14.2

Tests have been performed with wood (willow,

82% H2 11.9
80% CO2 16.4
CH4 4.0

beech, meranti, demolition wood, bark, com- 65% C2H4 + C2H6

BTX
1.5
0.4
energy [%]

60% NH3 0.2

posted wood, park waste wood, preserved N2

light tars [mg/nm3]
50.9
7000
heavy tars [mg/nm3] 1300

wood, particle board) and other types of bio- 40%

26%
HHV [MJ/nm3 dry] 6.5

mass (grass, straw, chicken litter, sewage slud-

22% 23%
20% 14%
10%
ge, paper residue sludge, sunflower husks). 4%
0%
The figures show some of the test results.
hot gas

cold gas

tar
H2
demolition

CO

CH4

C2

C6
wood

energy contribution in fuel gas

REFERENCES
- A.van der Drift and J.W.Vermeulen: Ten residual biomass fuels for circulating fluidized bed
gasification. Biomass and Bioenergy 20 (1) 45-56 (2001).
- A.van der Drift and J.van Doorn: Effect of type of fuel, moisture content and particle size on
the carbon conversion and fuel gas quality for circulating fluidized bed gasification of
biomass. In: First World Conference and Exhibition on Biomass for Energy and Industry, 5-9
June 2000, Sevilla, Spain (2000).
- A.van der Drift and J.van Doorn: Effect of fuel size and process temperature on fuel gas qua-
lity from CFB gasification of biomass. In: Progress in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion,
17-22 September 2000, Tyrol, Austria (2000).
- www.ecn.nl/biomass/bivkin
- www.ecn.nl/biomass/report/new
- www.vergassing.nl

ECN-B-99-024