Ceramic Membranes for Oxy-Fired Gasification

The project will develop oxygen blown biomass gasification combined with oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) for efficient conversion of waste biomass to electrical energy. Oxygen blown biomass gasification has been identified as the technology that can produce the most electricity for a given amount of biomass. The technology is currently not economically feasible, as the energy requirement for producing oxygen is very high using conventional technologies. The OTM technology has the potential to significantly lower the energy penalty associated with oxygen production if the membranes are thermally, and to some extent chemically, integrated with the gasifier. The present project will upscale an existing first generation membrane to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept and develop a second generation with a targeted higher stability, than the first generation. Both the first and second generation component will be tested in integration schemes relevant for oxygen blown biomass gasification including a direct integration into a biomass gasifer. The direct integration in the gasifier represents the most economically rewarding route, but also the most challenging route.