Analysis of process conditions and product/feedstock qualities for pyrolysis/gasification/combustion

4 extraordinary testing facilities:
A) The drop-tube furnace is a test rig, that allows the simulation of large-scale combustion systems (e.g. biomass CHP plant) in the technical lab under continuous operation conditions. Application possibilities of the drop-tube furnace are the determination of the combustion behaviour of feedstocks, the release behaviour of inorganic elements as well as the evaluation of particle, aerosol, and deposit formation in combustion systems.
B) The fixed-bed lab-scale reactor is a unique device that allows a batch-wise thermochemical conversion of feedstocks with a detailed characterisation of the process. Reaction media can be air, N2 or mixtures of O2 and N2. This allows the conversion under pyrolysis, gasification or combustion conditions. A typical application of the reactor is the determination of the conversion behaviour of new feedstocks. Another possibility is the determination of different operating conditions such as temperature or the composition of the gaseous conversion media on the conversion process.
C) The single particle reactor is a new lab-scale reactor that is used for the thermochemical conversion of single particles, e.g. a pellet. Application possibilities are:
- release behaviour of inorganics during conversion
- change of the structure of particles during conversion
- influence of additives on conversion behaviour
D) Multi-atmosphere thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) In comparison to other TGA-systems the one at BEST is equipped with a water vapour generator and a mass flow controller suitable for corrosive gases, that allows to examine processes under a broad range of atmospheres. This allows to characterize and compare different feedstocks and / or products (biomass, biochar, liquids, …) on their reaction rates, the activation energy and optimal operating conditions for pyrolysis, gasification and combustion.