PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A18-016

Description

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to demonstrate and quantify the feasibility of producing high energy density bio-char by pyrolyzing biomass in a self-sustaining, small-scale reactor. The high energy density bio-char can be stored and then converted to electricity using a direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell developed by Nexceris LLC. PSI’s preliminary analysis and modeling have indicated that high energy density bio-char can be produced with high process energy efficiency. Additionally, batches of biomass containing moderate amounts of water can be pyrolyzed in this reactor at biomass feed rate of over 1kg/hr within the 30 L volume. During Phase I work, these estimations, which were established from theoretical calculations based on pyrolysis literature data, will be confirmed through experimentation and serve as a basis for prototype design and development in Phase II. Phase II will demonstrate the successful upgrading of biomass to bio-char in the self-sustaining pyrolysis reactor.