Experimental Study on a Continuous HTL Product Separation and Demineralisation System
Translated title
Eksperimentielt studie af et kontinuertlig HTL-produktseparerings- og demineraliseringssystem
Author
Ravn, Esben
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-31
Pages
78
Abstract
This thesis investigates and develops a continuous process for phase separation of HTL products and demineralisation of HTL oil using CO2 as an acidification agent in a system based on Steeper Energy’s Hydrofaction™ technology. The work comprises experimental campaigns on a continuous separation and demineralisation setup with three-phase separators, complemented by batch tests that quantify CO2 solubility in the oil and aqueous phases (including determination of Henry’s constants). In continuous operation, a demineralised oil with an ash content of 0.06 wt.% was achieved, a level not previously reached in comparable lab-scale batch experiments. However, results were not consistent due to operational instabilities, notably phase positions shifting within the separator vessels. Batch experiments showed CO2 to be 2.4–3.5 times more soluble in the oil phase than in RO water; since liquid densities presumably increase with CO2 concentration, this may contribute to the observed phase shifts. The report also outlines trends in ash reduction with acidification, temperature, pressure, flow rates, and MEK concentration, and highlights the need for further development to stabilise operation and reproduce the best performance.
Dette speciale undersøger og udvikler en kontinuerlig proces til faseseparation af HTL-produkter og demineralisering af HTL-olie ved at anvende CO2 som forsuringsmiddel i et anlæg baseret på Steeper Energy’s Hydrofaction™-teknologi. Arbejdet omfatter eksperimentelle kampagner på et kontinuerligt separations- og demineraliseringssystem med tre-fase-separatorer samt supplerende batchforsøg, der kvantificerer CO2’s opløselighed i olie- og vandfase (bl.a. via Henry-konstanter). I de kontinuerlige forsøg blev der opnået en demineraliseret olie med et askeindhold på 0,06 wt.%, hvilket ikke tidligere er opnået i tilsvarende laboratorie-batchforsøg. Resultaterne var dog ikke konsistente, primært på grund af driftsmæssig ustabilitet, hvor faserne skiftede position i separatorbeholderne. Batchforsøgene viste, at CO2 er 2,4–3,5 gange mere opløselig i oliefasen end i RO-vand, og da væskernes densitet formodentlig stiger med CO2-koncentrationen, kan dette bidrage til observeret faseskift. Rapporten beskriver desuden tendenser i aske-reduktion som funktion af forsuring, temperatur, tryk, gennemstrømninger og MEK-koncentration, og peger på behovet for yderligere udvikling for at stabilisere driften og reproducere de bedste resultater.
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