DistributedSNG – Dezentrale Konversion von Biomasse in Substitute Natural Gas

The production of Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) and the methanation of biogenic synthesis gas is a key technology in order to increase the contribution of renewable energies to the energy economy and, at the same time, to decrease the dependency from fossil natural gas sources. The decentralization of gas production and utilization enable new possibilities of energy and heat production from biomass. Goal of the project is the research and development of asolid biomass conversion system (wood, lignin biomass) into SNG for decentralized plants in a power range of O.5+2MW wh ich allow a high efficiency and flexibility in term of energy and heat production. In few words there are 4 central problems to solve: 1. The efficient and convenient thermal integration of the overall process and the specific process step 2. The particle (including alkali) deposition at temperatures> 400°C 3. Sulfur deposition (H2S and organic sulfuric components) at temperatures> 400°C 4. Catalytic methanation of the clean syngas Project progress The planned goal of overall process modeling as weil as the parameters variation is achieved. The heat of methanation will be used for vapor generation. Different filter materials, on the base of their ability of particle deposit, will be tested. About selective conversion of tar and higher hydrocarbons using catalytic reforming, 3 catalysts will be tested and selected after lab measurement. Positive results have been obtained on the reduction of thiophene on the tar reforming catalyst as weil as for the HDS catalyzer for the conversion of organic sulfur bounds. The impact of the tar and sulfurs on the degradation behavior as weil as the necessary time of residence of the used catalyzer will be studied. The methanation reactor in pilot-scale has been built up. The process control has been set up. At the moment possible locations are evaluated. The discussion whether the level of 6 bar for storage could be used, will be managed.