Biomass Coprocessing in Fluid Catalytic Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing processes for producing high-octane gasoline and biodiesel from lignocellulosic biomass in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) face a hydrogen deficiency in the renewable biomass load, which limits the performance and yield of biofuels, and does not effectively address greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A process that coprocesses liquid biomass from a lignocellulosic source with a gaseous stream of light, saturated hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen and a main fossil load in the FCC system, enhancing hydrogen transfer to improve yield and reduce coke formation on the catalyst.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid biomass from a lignocellulosic source is coprocessed in the FCC system, then the production of high-octane gasoline and biodiesel is enhanced, but hydrogen deficiency in the renewable biomass load limits the performance and yield of biofuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines liquid biomass from a lignocellulosic source with a gaseous stream of light saturated hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen and a main fossil load in the FCC system. This merging of multiple feedstock streams allows the hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to compensate for the hydrogen deficiency in the biomass load, thereby improving biofuel yield and performance without requiring costly system changes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite feedstock mixture comprising three distinct components: liquid biomass (lignocellulosic source), gaseous hydrocarbon stream (hydrogen-rich), and main fossil load. This composite approach allows synergistic interaction where the hydrogen-rich gaseous stream donates hydrogen to the biomass-derived components, resolving the hydrogen deficiency issue while maintaining process compatibility
2Productivity
If liquid biomass is coprocessed in the FCC system, then biofuel production is enhanced, but costly changes to the FCC system are required to address hydrogen deficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The gaseous stream of light saturated hydrocarbons serves multiple functions: it acts as a hydrogen donor to compensate for biomass hydrogen deficiency, serves as an additional carbon source for fuel production, and maintains compatibility with existing FCC system infrastructure. This multi-functionality allows the system to address hydrogen deficiency without requiring costly specialized modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The gaseous hydrocarbon stream acts as an intermediary medium that transfers hydrogen from the fossil load to the biomass-derived components during coprocessing. This intermediary approach enables hydrogen transfer without requiring direct modification of the FCC system, thereby improving biofuel performance while avoiding costly system changes
3Productivity
If biomass load is increased in FCC process, then renewable fuel production is improved, but coke formation on the catalyst increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the hydrogen deficiency of biomass (which would otherwise lead to excessive coke formation) into a benefit by introducing a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream. The hydrogen from this stream donates to biomass-derived radicals, preventing coke precursor formation and converting what would be a harmful effect into a beneficial hydrogen transfer process that increases renewable fuel yield while reducing catalyst deactivation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the octane rating of the hydrocarbon stream, improves yield, and reduces coke formation on the catalyst, thereby enhancing the performance profile of lignocellulosic fuels without requiring costly changes to the FCC system.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous stream of light, saturated hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen... enhancing hydrogen transfer to improve yield
Implementation Method 2
fluid catalytic cracking (FCC)... coprocesses liquid biomass from a lignocellulosic source with a gaseous stream of light, saturated hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen and a main fossil load in the FCC system
Implementation Method 3
reduces coke formation on the catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for obtaining fuel from biomass which comprises the introduction of the catalyst (3) in the base of an cracking section (4), wherein said catalyst (3) at high temperature comes in contact with a gas stream of light hydrocarbons rich in hydrogen (1), wherein the catalyst (3) and hydrocarbon (1) then come in contact with a lignocellulosic liquid stream (2) in the same cracking section (4), creating the reaction mixture (5) that, soon after, comes into contact with the main stream containing the traditional fossil load of a FCC (6) in a second cracking section (7).