$73 Million, 35 Projects, who won, for what and why: The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office 2019 Project Selections

Integration of IH2 with the Cool H2 Reformer for the Conversion of Cellulosic Biomass to Drop in Fuel 

Topic Area: Systems Research of Advanced Hydrocarbon Biofuel Technologies

Federal Share: $1,276,852

Principal Investigator: Terry Marker/ Michael Roberts/ Pedro Ortiz-Toral, GTI

Project Description: In this project we will integrate the Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH ) plot plant with the Cool Reforming pilot plant to show that the IH2 process is hydrogen self sufficient and that the systems can be integrated in a simple low cost way. The goal of the project is to: 

Make Drop-in fuels from cellulosic biomass for <$2.5/GGE, Show the integrated system is hydrogen self sufficient, Show the integrated system is simple and low cost, Run the integrated system for more than 1000 hours, and more than 100 continuous hours, and produce more than 100 gallons of drop in biofuel with less than 0.4% oxygen, Demonstrate the integrated system can convert more than 50% of the biogenic carbon from a wood fleed into biofuel. Develop a skid mounted modular design for IH2 based on the Cool Reformer integration along with innovative new technologies for the peripheral equipment and reduce the capital cost by more than 30% and the operating cost by more than 40%, Confirm the improved design reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% compared to petroleum fuels. 

Brief description of technology proposed methods to be employed: GTI will integrate the IH2 pilot plant with the Cool Reforming pilot plant to show the hydrogen required for the IH2 process can be produced by reforming the biogas from the IH2 process. The IH2 process uses hydropyrolysis followed by hydroconevrsion to convert cellulosic biomass directly to high quality drop in fuel. The IH2 process produces 86 GPT of high quality gasoline and diesel from wood. Cool Reforming can convert the biogas from the IH2 process to make all the hydrogen required in the IH2 process in a simple low cost process.

Potential impact of project benefits and outcomes: This project will lead to rapidc ommercialization of the  IH2 process in compact modular plants. These modular plants will be used to produce biorenewable drop in fuel for less tha $2.5/GGE