Dynamotive Products

Products

Dynamotive’s Fast Pyrolysis process produces three products, with yields in the range of (by weight):
  • BioOil (65 – 72%)
  • Char (15 – 20%)
  • Non-condensable gases (12 – 18%).
The yields vary with feedstock types and composition. Dynamotive has tested more than 100 types of feedstock.

BioOil is a dark brown, free flowing liquid with a smell of burnt wood consisting of over 100 compounds from the pyrolytic decomposition of the biomass. As a fuel, BioOil is considered to be CO2 neutral, and emits no SOx and low NOx when combusted. BioOil density is high at 1.2 kg/litre, which is higher than the other liquid fuels. On a volume basis the heating value compared to diesel is 55%.

Char is an important, useful by-product of the pyrolysis process. It is a granular solid with very low ash content and a high heating value at 23–32 gigajoules (GJ) per tonne. Like BioOil, it is a “ green” fuel that is CO2 neutral.

Non-condensable gases (NCG) are recycled and supply a major part of the energy required by the pyrolysis process. NCG is not a commercial product.

A fourth product, BioOil Plus, can be produced by adding back the separated char into the BioOil, in a finely ground form of about 8 microns in size.

Yields Rate of Various Feedstocks

Feedstock
BioOil yield (Wt% mf)
Char yield (Wt% mf)
NCG yield (Wt% mf)
Corn Hulls
80.4
12.1
6.8
Spruce
73.8
8.1
16.3
Larch
72.9
12.7
10.3
Sugarcane bagasse
72.7
14.8
8.2
Pine/Spruce Mix
70.3
14.3
13.4
Western Cedar
68.8
14.1
7.1
Switch Grass
58.7
13.8
13.4
Wheat Straw
58.7
13.8
13.4

Comparison of Dynamotive's Biofuels and Fossil Fuels

Fuels
Specific Gravity
Energy
High Heating Values
Light fuel oil
0.82
46 MJ/kg
19,800 BTU/lb
Heavy fuel oil
0.99
42 MJ/kg
18,050 BTU/lb
Diesel
0.84
46 MJ/kg
19,800 BTU/lb
Natural gas
N/A
38.1 MJ/m3
1,020 BTU/ft3
Coal
N/A
34.8 MJ/kg
15,000 BTU/lb
BioOil
1.2
15 – 20 MJ/kg
6,500 – 8,500 BTU/lb
Char
N/A
23 – 32 MJ/kg
10,000 – 13,800 BTU/lb
BioOil Plus
1.22 – 1.3
18 – 20MJ/kg
7,750 – 8500 BTU/lb
Non-condensable gas
N/A
7.7 – 10.2 MJ/kg
3,300 – 4,400 BTU/lb

 

Parameter
Unit
Analytical Methods
BioOil Plus
BioOil
Heating Oil #2
Heavy Fuel Oil
High Heating Value
MJ/kg
DIN51900
18-20
16-19
45.5
42.5
Flash Point
°C
ASTM D93
50-60
48-55
38
60
Pour Point
°C
ASTM D97
-11
-15
-6
-
Density (15oC)
Kg/liter
ASTM D4052
1.22-1.3
1.2
0.865
0.986
Acidity
pH
pH meter
2-3
2-3
-
-
Solids (char)
wt %
Insolubles in Ethanol
20-23
0.01-0.2
-
-
Moisture
wt%
Karl Fisher
20-25
20-25
-
< 0.5
Ash
wt %
ASTM D482
<1
<0.02
Trace
0.08
Kinematic Viscosity
cSt
ASTM D445
-
-
-
-
   20 °C
-
-
1500-3700
70
3-6
2000-9000
   40 °C
-
-
300-500
19
1.8-3.5
500-1000
   60 °C
-
-
140-250
8
1.4-2.5
100-200
   80 °C
-
-
70-90
4
1.1-1.8
40-70