Development of a porous burner unit for glycerine utilization from biodiesel production by Supercritical Water Reforming

In the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils, glycerine is produced as a by-product, yielding an amount of about 10 percent of the quantity of biodiesel produced. The glycerine-market is saturated by the growing biodiesel production, so that an alternative use of glycerine is sought. An alternative is the conversion of glycerine into a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas through the procedure of Supercritical Water Reforming (SCWR), from which other energy conversion processes can be made. In the present project, inter alia a porous burner is meant to be used as a heat source for the reforming. This burner technology allows an effective and low-emission combustion of different fuels in a high performance modulation. By individual adjustment, the burner is meant to burn the generated hydrogen-rich synthesis gas and glycerine.