【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Successful experimentation of China’s first pilot-scale unit for the key technologies of pressurized gasification of biomass using a fluidized bed, with a capacity of 40 tons per day, between 2024 and 2025
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Let’s give praise and encouragement to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment; your participation in discussions is the greatest encouragement. **********************【Ten Years of Great Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Regular updates and summaries are available – feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** On June 4, 2025, the pilot-scale installation for the key technology of fluidized-bed pressurized gasification with a capacity of 40 tons per day, developed jointly by Dongfang Electric (Chengdu) Innovation Research Co., Ltd. and Jiangxi Changyu Industrial Co., Ltd., underwent its feed-testing operation in Chengdu, and the test was successful on the first attempt. This milestone achievement marks China’s attainment of self-sufficiency in core technologies for the efficient conversion of biomass energy, providing essential technical support for clean energy supply chains such as green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Technical breakthrough: A \"green revolution\" from straw to syngas. This pilot plant utilizes a globally pioneering \"one-step\" technology that combines biomass grinding with pressurized gasification, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional biomass gasification methods. Zheng Xiyou, the project’s chief commander, explained that the system uses an efficient grinding mechanism to reduce raw materials such as straw and wood chips to powder at the micron level. Then, pressurized dense-phase pneumatic conveying technology is employed to transport this biomass powder safely into the gasification furnace. At temperatures above 1200°C in a mixed atmosphere of pure oxygen and water vapor, biomass powder undergoes three reactions: pyrolysis, oxidation, and reduction, to produce high-quality syngas containing over 70% carbon monoxide and hydrogen; the carbon conversion rate exceeds 99%, with no impurities such as tar or methane formed throughout the process. Compared to traditional fluidized bed gasification technology, the pneumatic bed process offers three key advantages: improved efficiency – the gasification rate increases by 3 times, with each unit capable of handling 40 tons per day; and reduced energy consumption per unit of gas produced, by 25% ； Breakthrough in raw material compatibility: capable of processing various types of biomass waste with a moisture content of 30% or less, addressing the challenges associated with utilizing agricultural residues and forestry by-products ； High-end product development: The syngas produced can be used to manufacture high-value products such as green methanol and biojet fuel, resulting in an economic value that is 4-5 times higher compared to its use in traditional power generation.
Collaborative innovation: State-owned and private enterprises work together to build technical advantages. Behind this breakthrough lies the technical collaboration between Dongfang Electric and Jiangxi Changyu. Relying on its **-level enterprise technology center, Dongfang Electric took the lead in developing a hot-test bench for research on key common technologies related to fluidized-bed gasification. This platform can simulate pressures of up to 4 MPa and temperatures of 1600°C; it also includes a database of gasification characteristics for 7 types of biomass feedstocks, ranging from rice husks to bamboo chips, providing essential parameters for the design of industrial facilities. Jiangxi Changyu leverages its engineering expertise in the field of small and medium-sized gasification equipment to overcome the global challenge of pressurized transportation of biomass powder. Its independently developed dense-phase pneumatic conveying system achieves a transportation efficiency of 98% at a pressure of 5.35 MPa, with a pipe blockage rate of less than 0.1%, thereby exceeding the performance of similar equipment in Europe and the United States. The cooperation model between the two parties sets a precedent in the industry: Dongfang Electric is responsible for the development of process packages, the design of core equipment, and system integration, while Jiangxi Changyu handles scale-up of the projects and equipment manufacturing, thus creating an innovative cycle of \"basic research – pilot testing – industrial application\". This model reduces the technology iteration cycle by 50% and achieves a 100% localization rate for equipment. Industrial empowerment: Unblocking the entire value chain of green chemicals. The success of this experiment paves the way for the commercialization of biomass energy. Based on a project with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of green methanol, the use of this technology can reduce raw material costs by 30%, resulting in significant carbon emission reductions. The Oriental Research Institute has begun working on the design of a 10,000-ton industrial demonstration facility, with commissioning expected in 2026. By then, the annual processing capacity of this facility for biomass will exceed 150,000 tons, which is equivalent to processing the residues from 300,000 mu of forest land or 500,000 mu of farmland. The more profound impact lies in the restructuring of the industrial chain. As a platform compound, syngas can be used to produce over 30 different products, including green ammonia, ethanol, and olefins. In the aviation sector, the biojet fuel produced using this technology results in carbon emissions reductions of over 80% across its entire life cycle compared to traditional fossil-based jet fuel, and it has received approval expressions from several airlines. Dongfang Electric is working together with companies such as Shanghai Electric to advance integrated projects that combine wind power with biomass utilization for the production of green methanol, thereby creating a zero-carbon cycle system of \"green electricity – green hydrogen – green liquid\".
Give a thumbs up and encouragement to the achievements of China’s chemical technology and equipment industry!
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Key technologies for the first 40-ton/day fluidized-bed biomass pressurized gasification unit
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