CCSE | DEVELTAR: Innovative Technology for Tar Cracking in Pyrolysis and Gasification Processes
The DEVELTAR project was launched with the aim of overcoming one of the main limitations of biomass pyrolysis and gasification: the presence of tar, complex heavy hydrocarbons that hinder the use of the produced gas in engines and turbines and significantly reduce the overall energy efficiency of the process. The proposed technology uses high-power, low-energy electrical systems, specifically pulsed corona and microwaves, to concentrate energy directly on the molecules to be broken down, avoiding indiscriminate temperature increases in the entire gas stream.
DEVELTAR was developed by a consortium led by Sea Marconi Technologies, with technical contributions from Spike Renewables and Xynertech, in collaboration with specialized suppliers such as FID GmbH and the experimental support of ENEA’s Trisaia Research Center. The project, organized into work packages including preliminary analysis, process engineering, mechanical and electronic design, reactor construction, and experimental campaigns, enabled the advancement of a concept known at the basic research level to an initial stage of industrial validation.
Spike Renewables played a central role in the system design, handling the definition of technical requirements, the configuration of gas lines, the integration of pulsed corona and microwave reactors, and the preparation of testing activities in collaboration with ENEA. Spike’s work contributed to the development of the plant layout, the analysis of operating parameters, and the evaluation of gas behavior under innovative cracking treatments.
The expected outcomes of the project include the production of cleaner gas with significantly reduced tar content, improving the electrical efficiency of small- and medium-scale biomass-powered systems and enabling the use of more reliable and cost-effective technologies for energy production. According to the project summary, industrial application of the technology would increase the share of renewable energy generated by thermochemical processes, thanks to higher engine efficiency and a reduced need for downstream filtration and treatment systems, leading to a substantial improvement in overall energy balance.
DEVELTAR also lays the groundwork for the development of gas treatment modules that can be integrated into existing plants or new pyro-gasification lines, with concrete industrialization prospects and the potential for patent protection, as outlined in the project documentation. Spike Renewables’ participation strengthened its expertise in innovative biomass gas treatment and extended its know-how toward emerging solutions in the renewable energy sector, enhancing the company’s ability to offer advanced technologies and high-innovation engineering services.
DEVELTAR: Tar Separation and Conversion using Microwaves [TSC-MW] to improve conversion efficiency into electric energy from pyro-gasification
EUBCE 2015 23rd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition 2 June 2015, Vienna