Work Packages

WP1 includes a detailed survey of the most promising agricultural residues and an economic analysis for the outcomes expected by the introduction of each final product of the processing plant into the energy market. Both studies specify the economic parameters and the commercialization prospects from the utilization of the proposed technologies in regional and national level, in both China and Greece. WP1 is divided into the following tasks:

• T1.1. Survey of the most promising agricultural residues (Greece: UP, SIRMET, UOWM – China: BUCT)
• T1.2. Market analysis for bio-char, bio-oil, biogas and hydrogen (Greece: UP, SIRMET – China: BUCT)

Deliverables:

• D1.1 Report on the most promising agricultural residues in China and Greece (M18)
• D1.2 Report on market analysis in the two countries (M18)

WP2 concerns the detailed experimental investigation and the theoretical modeling and optimization of the anaerobic digestion and solid/liquid separation processes. Experiments provide insights on the parameters of operation and control which influence the performance of the relative equipment depending on the selected feedstock and its properties. Results are used on the experimental optimization of the individual processes and validate the subsequent theoretical modeling. The theoretical models are formulated to rationally explain the observed processing phenomena as well as to widen the spectrum of the parametric analysis of the reactors and the auxiliary equipment.

• T2.1. Experimental investigation of the anaerobic digestion process using various biodegradable agricultural residues (Greece: UP, SIRMET – China: BUCT, BUPEE, BENRAN)
• T2.2. Theoretical modeling and optimization of the anaerobic digestion processes using various biodegradable agricultural residues (Greece: UP, UOWM – China: BUCT)

Deliverables:

• D2.1 Mid-term project report (M18) – will also include progress from WP2, WP3, WP4, below
• D2.2 Report on the experimental investigation of anaerobic digestion processes (M20)
• D2.3 Report on the theoretical modeling and optimization of the anaerobic digestion processes (M24)
• D2.4 Dissemination activities: 2 publications in International journals, 2 participations in Int. conferences (M24)

WP3 concerns the detailed experimental investigation, theoretical modeling and optimization of the catalytic pyrolysis process. Design and development of innovative catalytic systems are performed in order to improve the quality and/or the quantity of the produced bio-oil and chemicals. Efforts are directed towards exploring the prospects of various catalysts from zeolites, as alkali ion-exchange zeolites, alkali ion-loaded zeolites and supported alkali metals, as alkaline metals on alumina or silica, alkali metals and alkaline metal hydroxides on alumina. Experiments provide insights on the parameters of operation and control that influence the behavior of the respective equipment depending on the selected feedstock and its properties. Results are used on the experimental optimization of the specific process and will validate the subsequent theoretical model, which allow the rational explanation of the observed reaction mechanisms. Modeling results are validated by the accompanying experiments and optimization conditions are recognized depending on the feedstock type and user needs for biogas, bio-char, bio-oil or uncondensed gases.

• T3.1. Experimental investigation of the catalytic pyrolysis process using various non-biodegradable agricultural residues (Greece: UOWM, KUST – China: BUCT, BUPEE, BENRAN)
• T3.2. Theoretical modeling and optimization of the catalytic pyrolysis processes using various non-biodegradable agricultural residues (Greece: UOWM, UP)

Deliverables:

• D3.1 Report on the experimental investigation of the catalytic pyrolysis process (M20)
• D3.2 Report on the theoretical modeling and optimization of the catalytic pyrolysis processes (M24)
• D3.3 Dissemination activities: 2 publications in International journals, 2 participations in Int. conferences (M24)

WP4 concerns the detailed experimental investigation, theoretical modeling and optimization of the biogas and bio-oil catalytic reforming processes for hydrogen production. Design and development of innovative catalytic systems are performed in order to increase conversion, hydrogen yield, H₂/CO molar ratio and catalyst’s life time. Effort is focused in exploring the prospects of various catalysts that have active metals (transition metals like Ni or precious metals) incorporated into the lattice of perovskite type oxides. Experiments provide insights on the parameters of operation and control that influence the behavior of the specific equipment depending on the feedstock and its properties. Results are used on the experimental optimization of the specific processes and to validate the subsequent theoretical modeling of the reforming reactors.

• T4.1. Experimental investigation through catalyst development and evaluation for the biogas and bio-oil reforming reaction to hydrogen production (Greece: UOWM, KUST)
• T4.2. Theoretical modeling and optimization of the catalytic reforming processes for hydrogen production (Greece: UOWM, UP)

Deliverables:

• D4.1 Report on catalyst preparation (synthesis protocols) and characterization results (M20)
• D4.2 Report on catalytic performance evaluation (M28)
• D4.3 Report on the theoretical modeling and optimization of the catalytic reforming processes (M30)
• D4.4 Dissemination activities: 2 publications in International journals, 2 participations in Int. conferences (M30)

WP5 aims at the cost-effective maximization of the final products of the plant according to the user needs. This includes the design and optimization of the overall processing plant depending on the user needs for bio-products and/or energy and the investigation of the utilization of the biogas or syngas products for highly efficient generation of electricity in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC's).

• T5.1. Theoretical modeling and optimization of the overall plant performance using various non-biodegradable agricultural residues (Greece: UP, UOWM)
• T5.2. Theoretical modeling and optimization of the overall plant performance for generation of electricity in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (Greece: UP, UOWM)
• T5.3 Techno – Economical Study (Greece: SIRMET, UP – China: BUCT)
• T5.4 Environmental Assessment (Greece: UP, UOWM – China: BUCT)
• T5.5 Feasibility / demo project (Greece: SIRMET, UP – China: BUCT, BUPEE, BENRAN)

Deliverables:

• D5.1 Report on the theoretical model for the processing plant and SOFC integrated unit (M33)
• D5.2 Report on the techno-economic study (M33)
• D5.3 Environmental assessment (M33)
• D5.4 Feasibility / demo project (M36)
• D5.5 Dissemination activities: 2 publications in International journals, 2 participations in Int. conferences (M36)
• D5.6 Final project report (M36)