Optimal microstructures and thermomechanical properties of ceramic heat carrier balls for waste to energy conversion

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Recently a research initiation has been developed by the University of Waterloo, InnoTech Alberta and Lockheed Martin Canada (LMC), which aims to develop a new and unique renewable based energy solution to the remote communities of Canada. Its major objectives are, to collect and analyze data of biomass feedstock available in designated remote regions in Alberta and Ontario and to develop critical process and material properties allowing an efficient conversion of these feedstocks to bioenergy. Quantitative assessments on energy, economic and environmental benefits to the remote communities will be performed. Serving for this purpose, this CRD project aims to maximize the energy conversion efficiency and minimize the operating cost, both being critical to achieve a meaningful assessment on the proposed technology's performance, through identification of a cutting edge material for heat carrier balls which play a central role in biomass to syngas conversion. The proposed research activities target at the new technology development in these two areas: 1) increasing the energy storage capacity and energy exchanging efficiency of heat carrier balls, through investigating the micro-structures of the material, surface mechanical and thermal properties and associated heat transfer mechanisms; and 2) optimizing the thermomechanical stability and subsequently the lifetime of these heat carrier ball by means of characterizing the thermal cycling and aging behaviors. This CRD project addresses a critical R&D challenge that must be met before the commercialization of the LMC Waste to Energy (WtE) technology in these remoted regions. The development and commercialization of WtE technology will help the remote communities reduce their energy cost and achieve Canada's pledged GHG reduction goals, through biomass utilization, technology advancement and HQP training.