Fluidization and Spouting and Application to Biomass Processing and Hydrogen Production

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This Discovery Grant application is to continue the research program on the spouting and fluidization phenomena, and the application of these technologies for environmentally friendly processes, clean energy production, and process intensification. Two specific projects are proposed: (1) A continuous Slot-Rectangular Spouted Bed (SRSB) reactor for simultaneous drying, torrefaction and comminution of biomass for wood pellet production, and (2) Production of ultra-pure hydrogen in a fluidized bed membrane reactor (FBMR) by steam reforming of syngas from biomass gasification, with in-situ CO2 capture. Spouted beds have been developed for many thermal energy processes, such as drying, combustion, and gasification of coal, biomass, and black liquor. Biomass, a nearly carbon-neutral energy resource, is abundant in Canada, and its use can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decelerate fossil fuel consumption. However, it is characterized by heterogeneity, high moisture content, low calorific value, pliability and hygroscopic nature, all of which challenge its utilization. In 2017, Canada produced 2.8 million tonnes of wood pellets, mostly exported to Europe, USA and Japan for heating and power generation. However, deadly off-gassing (CO, CH4, CO2) and self-heating of wood pellets during storage pose serious health and fire hazards for long-distance transportation. Project (1) will develop a compact and energy efficient reactor for producing torrefied biomass, with strongly reduced biological activity, and increased net calorific value, for making wood pellets which are safe for ocean transportation. Hydrogen is foreseen as a major future energy carrier, whose implementation could help to mitigate global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions from use of fossil fuels. A fluidized bed membrane reactor (FBMR) reformer incorporates perm-selective Ru/Pd membrane for in-situ extracting of pure H2, improving the equilibrium conversion and H2 yield, resulting in process intensification by combining the reformer, shift converter and purifier in one reactor. When biomass is coupled with CO2 capture, the overall technology becomes carbon negative. Project (2) will develop an intensified process for producing ultra-pure hydrogen for fuel cells, as well as high purity stream of CO2 suitable for sequestration. Over the next 5 years, these two projects will train 2 PhD, 2 Master's and 5 undergraduate students to gain advanced research ability for careers in industrial or academic environments.