SBIR-STTR Award

Thermal processes for generating high quantities of hydrogen from solid fuels are typically inefficient due to their reliance on convective heat transfer, which also makes them relatively bulky. Vessels incorporating in-bed tubes for heat transfer also produce thermal gradients within the bed resulting in less than optimum heat transfer and reduced fuel gas output. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of combining a jetting fluidized-bed, water-gas generator using biomass (as well as other opportunity fuels) with a slowly moving-bed of sorbent to remove carbon dioxide and fines from the water-gas product. The goal is to produce the greatest hydrogen yields (at near 100%) per unit of vessel volume. A bench scale version of the water gas generator apparatus has already been successfully tested. During Phase I, fines carryover and carbon dioxide removal efficiency will be accurately measured under rigorously controlled conditions in order to verify carbon dioxide and fines removal efficiencies.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
By maximizing hydrogen production per mole of carbon dioxide, this continuous water-gas generator should have application in electric power generation where minimizing atmospheric carbon dioxide release is important. Also, refinery waste streams and municapal waste sludges (coke and heavy bottoms) could be converted into valuable feed stock streams (hydrogen, CO2, NaHS).