Breakout Session II
Thermochemical technologies in support of biorefineries
Moderator: Robert C. Brown, Director of the Office of Biorenewables ProgramsThermochemical technologies are expected to play an important role in the commercial viability of integrated biorefineries. Gasification can provide process heat to substitute for natural gas. With further development, the syngas from gasification can be converted to synthetic motor fuel. Fast pyrolysis converts solid biomass into a liquid known as bio-oil. This liquid product has immediate application as boiler fuel but can also be reformed to hydrogen or refined to motor fuel. This panel addressed these emerging opportunities
John Reardon
John Reardon works on the development and commercialization of technology for fuel and chemical production from biomass with the objective to becost competitive with fossil energy resources. His specialization is biomass gas cleanup and syngas conversion. Reardon graduated with distinction from the University of New Mexico with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 and went on to gain a master's degree in Chemical Engineering from this same university in 1996, after receiving an AWU fellowship to conduct catalyst research at the Sandia National Laboratories, Fuel Sciences Division.
Jon Erickson
Jon Erickson is the Manager of the Engineering, Industrial Energy Group at Black & Veatch. He will speak about the biomass gasification technologies for producing ethanol and other products. He is actively involved in reviewing and commercializing the most advanced biomass gasification/catalytic conversion to higher valued products. Erickson has been involved with engineering, procurement, and construction of energy projects for 20 years.
According to Black & Veatch, he has extensive experience in conceptual and detail design, plant operations and startup, Pro Forma development and evaluation, energy audits, coal fired power plants, ethanol plants, cogeneration (CHP) projects, combined cycle plants, and various EPC turnkey projects.
Erickson is a licensed professional engineer and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University. He also has an MBA from the University of Kansas.
David Boulard
David Boulard is the executive vice president of Ensyn Technologies, Inc., a private company based in Delaware with a commercial focus on refining biomass, and producing natural chemicals and renewable energy from carbon-based agricultural and forest residues using its proprietary Rapid Thermal Processing™ technology. The RTP™ technology is a very fast thermal conversion process that provides a 70-75% bio-oil liquid yield from traditional wood feedstocks. Through a Biomass Refinery Configuration multiple natural chemicals and energy products are isolated and marketed. Ensyn plans to open its seventh and largest bio-oil refinery this summer. Boulard will give a presentation about fast pyrolysis.