Nexterra biomass gasification test is a success. Nexterra Energy Corporation has been developing a biomass gasification process and has tested the operation of the process and equipment. The feedstock for the test was barkwood fuel (hog fuel). Bark, scraps, shavings and sawdust often are combined into “hog fuel,” waste wood burned for energy by saw, pulp and paper mills (the name reflects the machine that once shredded it). The syngas produced from hog fuel was analyzed by a third party consulting laboratory.

The third party analysis confirmed that the syngas heating value was 300 btu/ft3 when converting barkwood fuel with a moisture content of 45%. The syngas was composed mainly of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrogen and pyrolytic tars (4%) and some ash. The test results confirm that the syngas can be used a direct substitute for natural gas in boilers and kilns.

Nexterra also performed stack emissions tests and confirmed that the syngas emissions are well under the regulatory standards. No emissions reduction equipment is necessary. Nexterra is jubiliant with the results of the testing, because it demonstrates that the syngas produced by gasifiying hog fuel produces a low temperature syngas that can be used as a direct substitute for natural gas.