Biofuels from Regional Waste Sources Advanced Energy onference November 9, 2010 New York ity
Project Participants T. Butcher,. Brown, A. Vairavamurthy, G. Wei, and D. Mahajan: Brookhaven National Laboratory J. Freiss, R. Simon, B. Appel, R. Appel, J. Saxton, and S. Bofinger: hanging World Technologies G. Miller, Society for Energy and Environmental Research Legislator Wayne orsley, J. Schroeder and B. Wright Suffolk ounty Sponsors: U.S. Department of Energy and hanging World Technologies
The Process - TP Produces uniform feedstock for downstream conversion / use Two stages of separation & conversion ydrolysis of fats/proteins into carboxylic acids onditions to 250 / 50 bar Product is nominally water-free, 100% FFA Process optimized under this project specifically for trap grease /waste oil feedstocks
The Process (ont) Using water, high temperature and pressure to break complex molecules break into smaller, simpler chains. O O O O O O Glycerol backbone w/ 3 fatty acids
Feedstock & Properties Trap and Waste Greases Basic haracterization of the As-Received Trap Grease Feedstock % Loss on drying (water) ( 1 hour @ 105 ) 28.43 % ash by weight 1.53 % FFA (free fatty acid) 52.12 % total fat 57.09
Ash onstituents
Fatty Acid Melting Points Fatty Acid Melting Point ( ) oleic 13-14 linolic -5 palmitic 63-64 stearic 69.6 myristic 58.8 gadoleic 20
Process onditions Map Pressure / temperature chart illustrating basic process conditions 250 ritical Point Pressure (atm) 200 150 100 50 WT Stage II RDO production - Similar to olgate Emery Fat Splitting Process Water Saturation urve WT Stage III 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Temperature ()
Routes to a Fuel Product Esterification to produce biodiesel Synthetic diesel WT product as a unique fuel WT product used as a fuel blend
Route I: Biodiesel Biodiesel are mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM 6751; Viscosity is close to No. 2 oil and can be used in pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage; onventional conversion processes require low fatty acid content; ~100% FFA feedstock from WT process allows consideration of a simple acid esterification route
Biodiesel (ont.) Properties that were out of Spec Test Method Desciption/Property Test Units Test Results 90% Deg 364 D2500 loud Point Deg could not determine loud Point sample too dark. D5453 Sulfur by UV ppm 105.8 D6584 Free & Total Glycerin Total Glycerin wt% 0.415 D6751_A1 old Soak Filterability Seconds s >720 Volume ml 45 Pass or Fail fail D7111 Mod. Metal Analysis alcium ppm >5 Note: The sulfur limit only exceeds Ultra Low Sulfur fuel oil requirements (15ppm)
Route 2 Synthetic Diesel Decarboxylation of fatty acids over catalyst Pd on carbon an example catalyst onsiderable literature on the reaction Attractive in part because chain length of WT product close to diesel onditions 650 psi, 350 and catalyst durability considered to be a significant barrier for this option Tests to date have not produced an acceptable fuel product
Route 3 WT Product as Boiler Fuel Minimal post-wt processing required igh potential as economical option Non-ASTM standard No.2 fuel Local, coupled users seen as path to displace petroleum consumption eated storage / use required
WT Renewable Diesel ombustion
Straight ombustion of WT Product Successful, stable combustion of 100% stage II product No filter clogging issues Waxed fuels Particulate contaminants Ignition capability on cold boiler starts with 100% WT fuel (with preheated nozzle) Nozzle temps in range of 230~250 F O emissions similar to those from No. 2 oil, & NOx emissions show a reduction (up to 10%) Longer term tests planned at BNL
orrosion oncerns The WT conversion product has very high acid numbers leading to obvious concerns about corrosion; It is, however, a mild acid; ASTM opper corrosion tests indicate a #1A rating; Long term coupon tests are seen as necessary for acceptance, in progress; No obvious corrosion or water/gum deposition to date Three month corrosion coupons, 40.
Engineering & Design Material and Energy Balances Process Flow Diagrams Piping and Instruments Diagrams Equipment Sizing and Specification General Arrangement Drawings ost Estimates apital Operations and Maintenance Techno-Economic Assessments
Regional Support Suffolk ounty Using waste greases and sludges from Suffolk ounty sewer districts as a baseline feedstock for the process Typical sludge ~25% solids - ~8,000 BTU/lbs/solid basis elp mitigate cost for collection and disposal while providing a green fuel for local municipalities. Provide beneficial reuse of waste material Avoidance/delay of capital investment needed to increase sewer district processing capacity. Next Step determine % of sludge (primary and/or secondary) that can be utilized with waste greases including FOG and DAF