Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during co-gasification in an entrained flow reactor

Youjian Zhu; Philip J. van Eyk; Christoffer Boman; Markus Broström; Kawnish Kirtania; Patrycja Piotrowska; Dan Bostrom; Rocky de Nys; Sankar Bhattacharya; Francesco G. Gentili; Peter J. Ashman

doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028

Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during co-gasification in an entrained flow reactor

Youjian Zhu
, Philip J. van Eyk
, Christoffer Boman
, Markus Broström
, Kawnish Kirtania
, Patrycja Piotrowska
, Dan Bostrom
, Rocky de Nys
, Sankar Bhattacharya
, Francesco G. Gentili
, Peter J. Ashman^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Not published at VTT

Zhengzhoug University of Light Industry
University of Adelaide
Umeå University
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
James Cook University Queensland
Monash University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Algae are considered as a promising alternative fuel to produce energy due to its advantages such as high production yield, short growth cycle and flexible growing environment. Unfortunately, ash-related issues restrict its thermochemical utilization due to the high ash content and especially the high alkali metal concentration. In this paper, the gasification performance and ash behavior were experimentally analysed for three macro- and micro-algal species. Clear differences in the proximate and ultimate compositions were found between the cultivated algae used in this study and macroalgae (seaweed) harvested from the marine environments. Algal biomass generally contained higher Na and P contents than lignocellulosic biomass. Microalgae also had a relatively high mineral content due to the impurities in the harvesting process which included centrifugal pumping followed by sedimentation. Co-gasification of 20 wt% algae with softwood was investigated using an entrained flow reactor. The addition of both macroalgal species Derbersia tenuissima and Oedogonium to softwood had a limited influence on the gas yields and carbon conversion. On the other hand, the addition of the microalgal species Scenedesmus significantly decreased the main gas yields and carbon conversion. Moreover, the addition of algae clearly changed the residual ash composition of the base fuel. Finally, a preliminary understanding of the ash behavior of the tested algae blends was obtained through the analysis of the fuel ashes and the collected residual ashes. Fouling and corrosion were presumably occurred during the co-gasification of wood/macroalgae blends in view of the high alkali metal content. Microalga Scenedesmus had a high mineral content which could potentially capture the alkali metal in the ash and mitigate fouling when gasified with softwood. The growing environment and harvesting method were found to be significantly affecting the ash behavior implying the need for careful consideration regarding co-gasification process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	26-34
Number of pages	9
Journal	Fuel Processing Technology
Volume	175
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028
Publication status	Published - 15 Jun 2018
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China (51706210), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (13100368), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Umeå University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets. This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China ( 51706210 ), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097 ), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry ( 13100368 ), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council 's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616 ) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Umeå University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Algae
Ash behavior
Ash transformation
Co-gasification
Fouling

Access to Document

10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028

Cite this

@article{82da68616b78456388b97e892c829f9d,

title = "Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during co-gasification in an entrained flow reactor",

abstract = "Algae are considered as a promising alternative fuel to produce energy due to its advantages such as high production yield, short growth cycle and flexible growing environment. Unfortunately, ash-related issues restrict its thermochemical utilization due to the high ash content and especially the high alkali metal concentration. In this paper, the gasification performance and ash behavior were experimentally analysed for three macro- and micro-algal species. Clear differences in the proximate and ultimate compositions were found between the cultivated algae used in this study and macroalgae (seaweed) harvested from the marine environments. Algal biomass generally contained higher Na and P contents than lignocellulosic biomass. Microalgae also had a relatively high mineral content due to the impurities in the harvesting process which included centrifugal pumping followed by sedimentation. Co-gasification of 20 wt\% algae with softwood was investigated using an entrained flow reactor. The addition of both macroalgal species Derbersia tenuissima and Oedogonium to softwood had a limited influence on the gas yields and carbon conversion. On the other hand, the addition of the microalgal species Scenedesmus significantly decreased the main gas yields and carbon conversion. Moreover, the addition of algae clearly changed the residual ash composition of the base fuel. Finally, a preliminary understanding of the ash behavior of the tested algae blends was obtained through the analysis of the fuel ashes and the collected residual ashes. Fouling and corrosion were presumably occurred during the co-gasification of wood/macroalgae blends in view of the high alkali metal content. Microalga Scenedesmus had a high mineral content which could potentially capture the alkali metal in the ash and mitigate fouling when gasified with softwood. The growing environment and harvesting method were found to be significantly affecting the ash behavior implying the need for careful consideration regarding co-gasification process.",

keywords = "Algae, Ash behavior, Ash transformation, Co-gasification, Fouling",

author = "Youjian Zhu and \{van Eyk\}, \{Philip J.\} and Christoffer Boman and Markus Brostr{\"o}m and Kawnish Kirtania and Patrycja Piotrowska and Dan Bostrom and \{de Nys\}, Rocky and Sankar Bhattacharya and Gentili, \{Francesco G.\} and Ashman, \{Peter J.\}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China (51706210), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (13100368), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Ume{\aa} University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets. Funding Information: This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China ( 51706210 ), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097 ), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry ( 13100368 ), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council 's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616 ) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Ume{\aa} University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2018",

month = jun,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028",

language = "English",

volume = "175",

pages = "26--34",

journal = "Fuel Processing Technology",

issn = "0378-3820",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during co-gasification in an entrained flow reactor

AU - Zhu, Youjian

AU - van Eyk, Philip J.

AU - Boman, Christoffer

AU - Broström, Markus

AU - Kirtania, Kawnish

AU - Piotrowska, Patrycja

AU - Bostrom, Dan

AU - de Nys, Rocky

AU - Bhattacharya, Sankar

AU - Gentili, Francesco G.

AU - Ashman, Peter J.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China (51706210), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (13100368), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Umeå University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets. Funding Information: This research was supported by the Gasification of Algae: Swedish−Australian Research Platform (GASAR) Project funded through the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Natural Science Foundation of China ( 51706210 ), Provincial Key Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan (Project 15600097 ), Doctoral Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry ( 13100368 ), the Swedish Strategic Research Program Bio4Energy, Australian Research Council 's Linkage Projects Funding Scheme (Project LP100200616 ) with our industry partner SQC Pty Ltd., the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), funded through Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Scheme. The financial support of J. Gust. Richert stiftelse is also appreciated. Francesco G. Gentili greatly appreciates the financial support of the Swedish Energy Agency and SP Processum. The authors also acknowledge the support of Muradel Pty Ltd. and MBD Energy. Dr. Britt Andersson at Umeå University is acknowledged for help during SEM/EDX analyses. Dr. Marie Magnusson at James Cook University is acknowledged for the culture and supply of algal pellets. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2018/6/15

Y1 - 2018/6/15

N2 - Algae are considered as a promising alternative fuel to produce energy due to its advantages such as high production yield, short growth cycle and flexible growing environment. Unfortunately, ash-related issues restrict its thermochemical utilization due to the high ash content and especially the high alkali metal concentration. In this paper, the gasification performance and ash behavior were experimentally analysed for three macro- and micro-algal species. Clear differences in the proximate and ultimate compositions were found between the cultivated algae used in this study and macroalgae (seaweed) harvested from the marine environments. Algal biomass generally contained higher Na and P contents than lignocellulosic biomass. Microalgae also had a relatively high mineral content due to the impurities in the harvesting process which included centrifugal pumping followed by sedimentation. Co-gasification of 20 wt% algae with softwood was investigated using an entrained flow reactor. The addition of both macroalgal species Derbersia tenuissima and Oedogonium to softwood had a limited influence on the gas yields and carbon conversion. On the other hand, the addition of the microalgal species Scenedesmus significantly decreased the main gas yields and carbon conversion. Moreover, the addition of algae clearly changed the residual ash composition of the base fuel. Finally, a preliminary understanding of the ash behavior of the tested algae blends was obtained through the analysis of the fuel ashes and the collected residual ashes. Fouling and corrosion were presumably occurred during the co-gasification of wood/macroalgae blends in view of the high alkali metal content. Microalga Scenedesmus had a high mineral content which could potentially capture the alkali metal in the ash and mitigate fouling when gasified with softwood. The growing environment and harvesting method were found to be significantly affecting the ash behavior implying the need for careful consideration regarding co-gasification process.

AB - Algae are considered as a promising alternative fuel to produce energy due to its advantages such as high production yield, short growth cycle and flexible growing environment. Unfortunately, ash-related issues restrict its thermochemical utilization due to the high ash content and especially the high alkali metal concentration. In this paper, the gasification performance and ash behavior were experimentally analysed for three macro- and micro-algal species. Clear differences in the proximate and ultimate compositions were found between the cultivated algae used in this study and macroalgae (seaweed) harvested from the marine environments. Algal biomass generally contained higher Na and P contents than lignocellulosic biomass. Microalgae also had a relatively high mineral content due to the impurities in the harvesting process which included centrifugal pumping followed by sedimentation. Co-gasification of 20 wt% algae with softwood was investigated using an entrained flow reactor. The addition of both macroalgal species Derbersia tenuissima and Oedogonium to softwood had a limited influence on the gas yields and carbon conversion. On the other hand, the addition of the microalgal species Scenedesmus significantly decreased the main gas yields and carbon conversion. Moreover, the addition of algae clearly changed the residual ash composition of the base fuel. Finally, a preliminary understanding of the ash behavior of the tested algae blends was obtained through the analysis of the fuel ashes and the collected residual ashes. Fouling and corrosion were presumably occurred during the co-gasification of wood/macroalgae blends in view of the high alkali metal content. Microalga Scenedesmus had a high mineral content which could potentially capture the alkali metal in the ash and mitigate fouling when gasified with softwood. The growing environment and harvesting method were found to be significantly affecting the ash behavior implying the need for careful consideration regarding co-gasification process.

KW - Algae

KW - Ash behavior

KW - Ash transformation

KW - Co-gasification

KW - Fouling

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85042857511

U2 - 10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028

DO - 10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.02.028

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85042857511

SN - 0378-3820

VL - 175

SP - 26

EP - 34

JO - Fuel Processing Technology

JF - Fuel Processing Technology

ER -

Preliminary understanding on the ash behavior of algae during co-gasification in an entrained flow reactor

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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