Project

A detailed Work Plan has been elaborated to achieve successfully the development of the PYROCHAR system and reach its scientific and technological objectives. This Work Plan has been structured into 8 Work Packages (WPs), each one, through several tasks and objectives, focusing on one scientific, technical or management aspect of the project.

These WPs will be supervised by a WP leader selected by the Consortium for its expertise, who will coordinate the different assigned tasks between all the involved RTD performers and SMEs, oversee their progress as well as the completion of the Deliverables with respect to the planning.

R&D-WP1

CHARACTERIZATION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND ITS PYROLYSIS BY-PRODUCTS

Led by TEESSIDE, this first package is devoted to the scientific analysis of the municipal sewage sludge samples – provided by BIBOAQUA and ENVIRO – to determine its chemical composition and physical properties. The pyrolysis by-products (gas and biochar) which are obtained at different pyrolysis conditions will also be analysed by TEESSIDE and a comparative analysis will be done by MESSAG, assisted by ETIA, to determine the optimum pyrolysis conditions. These are the conditions (temperature, pressure, sludge composition etc.) that produce the maximum quantity and quality of by-products with minimum environmental pollution and also effectively treating the sewage sludge. This will also be the base to the understanding and characterization of the sludge pyrolysis process and its optimization. The pyrolysis unit will be designed and operated, basing on these conditions.

R&D-WP2

DESIGN/DIMENSIONING OF THE CLEAN-UP & CHP UNITS

TEESSIDE will lead as well this 2nd Work Package over a 14-month-period. Research work will be done on gas clean up solutions taking into consideration their operating modes and environmental implications among other things. TEESSIDE will determine the pyrolysis syngas composition and they will use the results to dimension a new catalytic reactor for the syngas clean-up and reforming. MESSAG will work with TURGUC to understand the behaviour of the syngas in gas turbine combustion, so as to characterize and dimension the adapted Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit for the system.

R&D-WP3

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS

Based on the experimental data from WP1 and WP2, a thermodynamic simulation will be done by INSP for the main heat recovery system and the condenser to be used in the system. In order to optimize the system a full energy balance of the proposed system will be carried out. In addition, INSP will dedicate the last task to the implementation of measures that will improve the efficiency of the whole system.

R&D-WP4

DESIGN OF THE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR PROCESS ENHANCEMENT

With the technical assistance of the consortium members, INSP will lead this WP and study the process control strategy and then design the process control to monitor the energy balance and enhance the energy efficiency of the system. This WP will last until the 19th month.

R&D-WP5

MECHANICAL DESIGN AND SYSTEM ASSEMBLY STUDIES

After a fluid dynamics study carried out by RTD INSP to understand and improve the hot air circulation and recirculation within the drier, the RTD performer MESSAG will conduct mechanical studies and adaptations of the drier and the pyrolysis. Also, MESSAG will manufacture the biochar cooling storage, the catalytic reactor and study the assembly of the whole system.

DEMO-WP6

PROTOTYPING, INTEGRATION AND VALIDATION

The first part of this package will be dedicated to the assembly of the lab-prototype at MESSAG’s facility. Then, once the lab-prototype installed in its premises in France, The SME ETIA, with the supervision of the RTD performers, will carry out the integration, functional testing and, with all the SME partners, the validation of the system.

OTHER-WP7

DISSEMINATION, IPR AND EXPLOITATION MANAGEMENT

Early on, the Consortium will focus on developing an Exploitation plan to commercialize the PYROCHAR system. This WP, led by the SME HYDRO, will cover as well the development of a Dissemination strategy to communicate the results of the project within the Consortium, and exploit and popularize the results to scientific communities, municipalities and industrials (with the assistant of BIBO and its End Users’ network). In addition, it includes the protection of the intellectual property.

MNG-WP8

CONSORTIUM MANAGEMENT

This last package is devoted to the Consortium management, i.e. the communication within the Consortium and with the EU, the supervision of the different activities according to the Work plan (meetings, deliverables, and milestones) as well as all the legal, administration and contractual tasks. This work package covers the risk management and the contingencies to ensure that failure to achieve the objectives is minimized. These activities will be run and carried out during the lifetime of the project and will be led by SME ETIA.