Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The agnion Heatpipe-Reformer—operating experiences and evaluation of fuel conversion and syngas composition

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fluidized bed gasification of solid fuels is considered as one of the core technologies for future sustainable energy supply. Whereas autothermal oxygen-driven gasification is applied in large-scale substitute natural gas (SNG) and Fischer–Tropsch (FT) plants or small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plants, the allothermal steam-reforming process of the agnion Heatpipe-Reformer is designed for cost- and fuel-efficient syngas generation at small scales for distributed applications. The Heatpipe-Reformer's pressurized syngas generation provides a number of benefits for SNG, biomass to liquid (BTL) and CHP applications. A modified gas engine concept uses the pressurized and hydrogen-rich syngas for increased performance and tar tolerance at decreased capital expenses. Agnion has installed and operated a 500-kW thermal input pilot plant in Pfaffenhofen, Germany, over the last 2 years, showing stable operation over a variety of operating points. The syngas composition has been measured at values expected by thermodynamic models. An influence of the steam-to-fuel ratio and reformer temperature was observed. Tar and sulphur contents have been monitored and correlated to operation parameters, showing influences on stoichiometry and carbon conversion. The mass and energy streams of the plant were balanced. One of the main observations in the monitoring programme is the fact that syngas output, efficiency and syngas quality correlate to high values if the carbon conversion is high. Carbon conversion rates and cold gas efficiencies are comparably high in respect to today's processes, promising economic and fuel-efficient operation of the Heatpipe-Reformer applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harhammer M (2010) Umrüstung von Biomasse-Nahwärmeversorgungsanlagen auf Kraft- Wärme -Kopplung: Voraussetzungen und Effekte, EWI, Wien

  2. Herdin G et al (2011) Closed-loop control of syngas engines with multi point port injection. Proc. of the 7th Dessau Gas Engine Conference, Dessau

  3. Herdin G (2011) Experiences in realization of efficiency improvement actions for gas engines using alternative gases. OilDoc Conference & Exhibition, Rosenheim, 2011

  4. Karl J et al (2001) Allothermal gasification in fluidized bed gasifiers. Proc. of the 10th Eng. Found. Conf on Fluid., UEF, New York

  5. Metz T et al (2004) Experimental results of the biomass heatpipe reformer. 2nd World Conference and Technology Exhib. on Biomass Energy, Rome

  6. Brage C (1997) Use of amino phase adsorbent for biomass tar sampling and separation. Fuel 76(2):137–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gröbl T et al (2011) Biomass steam gasification—mathematical modeling and analysis of the thermo-chemical gasification process. International Conference on Polygeneration Strategies, Vienna/Austria

  8. Kienberger T (2010) Methanierung biogener Synthesegase mit Hinblick auf die direkte Umsetzung von höheren Kohlenwasserstoffen, VDI Fortschrittsberichte Reihe 6, Nr. 595

  9. Neubauer Y (2008) Online-Analyse von Teer aus Biomassevergasung mit Lasermassenspektroskopie, Dissertation TU Berlin

  10. Metz T (2007) Allotherme Vergasung von Biomasse in indirekt beheizten Wirbelschichten, VDI Fortschrittsberichte Reihe 6, Nr. 554

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Highterm Research GmbH, Sperl-Ring 4, 85276, Hettenshausen, Germany

    Georg Gallmetzer & Pascal Ackermann

  2. Highterm Research Ges.mbH, Conrad von Hötzendorfstraße 103, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Andreas Schweiger & Thomas Kienberger

  3. Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik, Technische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria

    Thomas Gröbl & Heimo Walter

  4. Agnion Technologies GmbH, Sperl-Ring 4, 85276, Hettenshausen, Germany

    Markus Zankl & Martin Kröner

Authors
  1. Georg Gallmetzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pascal Ackermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Schweiger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas Kienberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Thomas Gröbl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Heimo Walter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Markus Zankl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Martin Kröner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Schweiger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gallmetzer, G., Ackermann, P., Schweiger, A. et al. The agnion Heatpipe-Reformer—operating experiences and evaluation of fuel conversion and syngas composition. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 2, 207–215 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-012-0046-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-012-0046-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation