Assessment of liquefaction and pyrolysis systems

This report summarizes the results of the IEA Biomass Agreement Pyrolysis/Liquefaction activity from 1989 to 1991. A summary of the developments of state of the art of direct biomass pyrolysis and liquefaction technology is presented. Results are presented of a technoeconomic analysis of a wood pyrolysis to gasoline process based on experimental work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA, and of a straw liquefaction to fuel oil process based on experimental work at Manchester University, UK. The potential for chemicals from biomass is also considered. A standard technoeconomic procedure was used for the analysis, with a plant size of 1 000 dry t/d biomass feed. Sensitivity cases covering feedstock costs, capital cost variation and plant capacity are also presented.