The Bionic Fuel Technology Brief
We call the initial Bionic Fuel technology bionicfuel (originally microfuel) and the underlying conversion process MWDP or Microwave Catalyric Depolymerization. Lately we started using the terms µBTL or µWTL depending on the feedstock type. Bionic has for the first time succeeded in combining two proven superior technologies: thermo-catalytic depolymerization and microwave pyrolysis have been merged in one hybrid reaction process. The advantages of both technologies combined stand for even higher process accuracy and efficiency delivering unmatched product quality and yields.
A wide range of carbonaceous feedstock can be converted efficiently into liquid fuels and char using MWDP. Possible feedstock includes all kinds of biomass, waste materials, sewer sludge, animal manure, used tires, residues and waste from the oil industry, as well as oil sands and shale just to name a few.
Quality parameters and energy density of both products, oil and char, compare favorably with competing technologies as much as energy and cost efficiency. However, it is obvious, that feedstock quality, namely the contained fractions of organic material and their respective energy content determines the output of this process.
Over the past ten years a lot of basic research has been conducted, first using a garage built lab reactor, but soon followed by a series of more and more sophisticated test equipment. A first continuous reactor has been developed and successfully tested in a pilot plant. From there the current commercial reactor, a so called molecule disintegrator, was developed and a complete operational plant lay out has been designed. A complete plant design includes not only the core conversion unit, but also a material preparation and a final product upgrading phase. The latter's complexity depends on the chosen feedstock and the individual fuel specifications of the customer.
Usually no upgrading is required for the char output to use it either as a soil supplement or for typical coal combustion applications. It should be noted, that the heating value is much more comparable to that of high quality coal than that of typical charcoal. The energy content exceeds anything we have seen from other pyrolysis technologies.
Many commercial projects for MWDP are currently in various stages of feasibility studies, but one stands out as the most advanced with an exciting announcement in the first days of the year 2011: The Aina Koa Pono Project on the Big Island of Hawaii. Bionic expects more break through announcements over the coming months.
In October 2012 Bionic has disclosed yet another Bionic Fuel Technology: microwave assisted coal liquefaction. This ground breaking µCTL (coal-to-liquid) conversion technology is making the direct liquefaction Bergius process clean and efficient. We see major implementation potential in the primary coal countries of this world: China, South Africa, the US and Russia.
In October 2012 Bionic has disclosed yet another Bionic Fuel Technology: microwave assisted coal liquefaction. This ground breaking µCTL (coal-to-liquid) conversion technology is making the direct liquefaction Bergius process clean and efficient. We see major implementation potential in the primary coal countries of this world: China, South Africa, the US and Russia.
