Our research

About our research

Research regarding direct fluidized bed gasification and gas cleaning and conditioning is carried out at the node SFC-Cleansyngas. The host university is Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) with Linnaeus University and Gothenburg University as academic partners. The research institute RISE is also a member of the node.

Research on indirect fluidized bed gasification is performed in the node Centre for Indirect Biomass Gasification (CIGB). Chalmers is the host university with Mid Sweden University as academic partner.

Pressurized entrained flow biomass gasification is researched in the Bio4Gasification (B4G) node. The node is hosted by LTU and academic partners are Umeå University and Lund University. Also in this node, the research institute RISE Energy Technology Centre is a member.

Research themes

The research within SFC is also divided into thematic research areas that span across the node boundaries.

The purpose is to create a forum where industrial partners and researchers can highlight technical as well as other issues that not directly concerns the research activities. The aim is to discuss and incorporate industrial experiences to bridge the gap between R&D and industrial activities and highlight obstacles to industrial deployment of gasification technologies. The theme includes issues related to process economics, technology transfer, assessment and management of technical risks, IP issues, etc. The theme does not directly address research issues, but hopefully the work and discussions can generate industry-relevant issues that can be answered through research in other thematic areas.

The aim is to improve the technical and economic performance of gasification processes. Activities in the theme include exchanges of experience for example linked to an expanded raw material base. Within the theme, it is also meant to develop common definitions of efficiencies that can be used to compare different technologies in different systems. A database of verified data for heat and mass balances for different gasification technologies is created and will be available to non-SFC executives who do process studies. This is done in order to ensure that the technologies represented by the SFC are properly assessed.

Gas cleaning and conditioning are key technologies for efficient processes with high availability. The theme includes research aimed at downstream processes of various types, improving process efficiency, start-up process and increasing availabilities.

The fuel conversion rate is a primary factor for reaching high energy efficiency. Research in this area aims at characterizing and managing both chemical and physical heterogeneity for different feedstocks. Within the theme, research to increase the fuel conversion rate, by pre-treatment of fuel as well as technical measures in the reactor, are addressed.

The research within the theme aims at identifying measures for increased reactor availability and the opportunities to use less expensive feedstocks for gasification. The main purpose is to reduce operating costs in biofuel-based gasification plants.

The theme aims at increasing the understanding of gas and particulate flows inside gasification systems by development and application of tools and methods (CFD) to support and optimize the design and operation of the gasification processes.

The research aims at increasing the understanding of the transformation process of biomass particles, the alkaline influence of biomass gasification, as well as improved diagnostics of tar and soot using optical measuring techniques and sensors. Examples of activities are comparing and combining different optical measurement methods, performing measurements and providing data to validate different types of process models as well as for different types of calibrations.

Ongoing research projects

Bio4Gasification

Development of laser diagnostics for gasification environments. Project leader: Per-Erik Bengtsson, Lund University

Application of Laser Diagnostics in Pilot Gasifiers. Project leader: Florian Schmidt, Umeå University

Process control and optimization of gasifiers. Project leader: Henrik Wiinikka, RISE ETC

Ash formation and transport. Project leader: Markus Broström, Umeå University

Slag properties and material interactions. Project leader: Dan Boström, Umeå University

Slag build-up and containment protection. Project leader: Rainer Backman, Umeå University

CFD modeling of entrained flow gasifiers. Project leader: Gunnar Hellström, Luleå University of Technology

CFD modeling of raw syngas conversion. Project leader: Rikard Gebart, Luleå University of Technology

Fuel conversion in entrained flow gasifiers. Project leader: Kentaro Umeki, Luleå University of Technology

Verification and optimization of industrial and pilot scale gasification systems. Project leader: Fredrik Weiland, RISE ETC

Cleansyngas

Pressurized fluidized bed gasification. Project leader: Klas Engvall, Royal Institute of Technology KTH

Char conversion. Project leader: Weihong Wang, Royal Institute of Technology KTH

Catalytic conversion processes. Project leader: Efthymios Kantarelis, Royal Institute of Technology KTH

Removal of impurities. Project leader: Matthäus Bäbler, Royal Institute of Technology KTH

Centre for Indirect Biomass Gasification (CIGB)

Process optimization, large scale experiments and development of analytical methods. Project leader: Martin Seemann, Chalmers

Mass transfer phenomena connected to fuel conversion and gas cleaning. Project leader: Henrik Ström, Chalmers

Fluid dynamics and fuel conversion. Project leader: David Pallarès, Chalmers

Organic chemistry and fuel conversion. Project leader: Teresa Berdugo Vilches, Chalmers

Inorganic chemistry and fuel conversion. Project leader: Pavleta Knutsson, Chalmers