In Germany, Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute Branch Sulzbach-Rosenberg, part of the Fraunhofer Research Group, has announced that it has delivered a laboratory system for the Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR) process to the University of Bologna, Italy. A process developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, it is the third successful commissioning of such a facility by Fraunhofer UMSICHT.
Developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, the TCR system was supplied to the University of Bologna as part of a long-term cooperation. The pilot plant has a capacity of 2 kg per hour and was put into operation at Fraunhofer UMSICHT to provide plant operation training of personnel from the University of Bologna.
With laboratory facilities already in operation at universities in Switzerland and the UK, this is the third successful commissioning of such a facility. Within the framework of research projects, with Canadian and Chilean partners, other plants are already in production.
The proprietary “thermo-catalytic reforming” (TCR process) converts residual biomass such as sewage sludge or organic waste into three high-quality energy and nutrient carriers – biogas, bio-oil and biochar – in a multi-stage, thermal process.
According to Fraunhofer UMSICHT, the TCR process can efficiently process a wide range of biomass and residues from a dry content of 70 percent or more to produce biofuels such as green diesel and green gasoline for EUR 0.6 per litre (excluding tax). Fraunhofer’s TCR unit in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Bavaria has a biomass processing capacity of 300 kg per hour that yields approximately 30 litres green fuel per hour.
