Plasma Energy Innovation — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.1

Description

We propose a solution to greatly reduce the cost of biomass-to-power. This would improve thesustainability of forest resources by reducing the carbon footprint of decaying biomass and the costof wildfire prevention through forest fuel load reduction. It would also develop a value-addedproduct from woody resources (electricity) increasing the productivity of forest lands.Currently more than half the cost of biomass gasification to power is in synthesis gas pretreatmentto remove organic contaminants (tars). We propose using the internal combustion engine itself asthe synthesis gas clean-up hardware as well as the power generation achieving significant costsavings of more than 50% while also enabling a small portable system that can be moved close tobiomass sources significantly reducing feedstock transportation costs.The concept is based on extremely fuel rich hot intake gases engine operation. By keeping thesynthesis gas air mixture above the tar dew point (~350 C) condensation of organic contaminantsfrom the gasifier is prevented. By burning fuel rich heat release is limited to prevent enginedamage due to autoignition while ensuring tar destruction. Subsequently more air can be mixed intothe exhaust to burn to completion. The only syngas pretreatment needed is therefore a cyclone toremove inorganic particulates and the cost of the facility is greatly reduced.The concept was invented and proven at MIT. Plasma Energy Innovation an MIT-based spin-offwill collaborate with Yanmar R&D. Yanmar is a multinational engine OEM with proven expertisein biomass gasification to power.