CEA Biomass Infrastructure
CEA Biomass Infrastructure

France: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Overview

R and D at the platform focuses on analysis and modelling of physical phenomena; experimentation at the lab and demonstrator scales; process evaluation; and demonstrator development—with the goal of devising economically-viable solutions by 2020. The platform works with around fifteen industrial partners, including GDF Suez and Air Liquide.

The biomass platform is unique in France in terms of the sheer scope of its R&D activities, which cover biomass grinding, torrefaction, pyrolisis and gasification processes from an analytical scale up to 100 kg per hour—with results that can be extrapolated to industrial processes. The platform’s overriding purpose is to produce high-yield energy while eliminating waste and controlling emissions of substances like heavy metals and sulfur. The platform’s equipment includes several reactors, a grinding unit, and torrefaction and gasification furnaces. Beyond the traditional sources of biomass, like wood and farm and forest byproducts, researchers at the platform are… Equipment for biomass grinding, torrefaction (roasting), pyrolysis and gasification processes from an analytical scale up to 100 kg per hour

The platform’s equipment includes several reactors, a grinding unit, and torrefaction and gasification furnaces (an 11-meter-high, 3.5-meter diameter torrefaction furnace; a high-pressure, high-temperature gasification furnace)  in an overall area of 800 sq m.
. - Scientific & technological
- Study / initial design / Simulation
- Proof of concept / Lab testing of basic experimental set-up/ Characterisation
- Component/ breadboard / process development & testing
- Prototyping (integrated system/ sub-system) development & testing
- Pilot line / demonstration line / preseries
- Product validation / certification
 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Chemicals - Energy - Environment - Agro-food - Measurement - Machinery
Technology
Process industry (processing of novel materials, structures, etc.) - Monitoring and control - High performance computing / cloud-based simulation services - Additive manufacturing - Intelligent/ sensor-based equipment - Environmental materials (e.g. recycling, recourse efficiency, less impact, CO2 capture/ utilisation) - Industrial materials (incl. catalysts, membranes, adhesives, filters) - High performance materials (strong, light weight, resistant) - Materials for energy storage and generation - Polymers, bioplastics - Biobased chemicals - Biofuels