Generating cellulosic-renewable identification numbers in a refinery
View Patent ↗The present application generally relates to methods of generating cellulosic-renewable identification numbers by thermally processing a cellulosic biomass to form a renewable fuel oil, and then co-processing the renewable fuel oil with a petroleum fraction in a refinery to form a cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.
1. A method of generating one or more cellulosic-renewable identification numbers, comprising:
converting a cellulosic biomass into an unenriched renewable fuel oil by mechanical and thermal processing, comprising:
i) grinding the cellulosic biomass to form a ground cellulosic biomass, and
ii) non-catalytic rapid thermal processing of the ground cellulosic biomass to convert at least 60 wt. % of the ground cellulosic biomass to the unenriched renewable fuel oil;
co-processing a feedstock in a fluidized catalytic cracker to form a cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel,
wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil comprises:
a carbon content of at least 40 wt. % on a moisture-free basis, an oxygen content in the range of between 20-50 wt. % on a moisture-free basis, and a water content in the range of between 10-40 wt. %, and
wherein the feedstock comprises:
i) 93-99.95 wt. % of the petroleum fraction; and
ii) 0.059-7 wt. % of the unenriched renewable fuel oil.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a transportation fuel.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a diesel fuel.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the non-catalytic rapid thermal processing and the co-processing are performed in a single refinery.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a gasoline.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a heating oil.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the petroleum fraction comprises VGO.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein cellulosic biomass is compliant with the biomass materials specified in the pathways for a D-code 3-compliant fuel.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a D-code 3-compliant fuel.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic biomass is compliant with the biomass materials specified in the pathways for a D-code 7-compliant fuel.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a D-code 7-compliant fuel.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a unit of the unenriched renewable fuel oil generates between 0.5-1.5 units of the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood, wood residues, or sawdust.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises wood residues.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic biomass comprises bagasse, palm fronds, or empty fruit bunches.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel is a D-code 3-compliant fuel or a D-code 7-compliant fuel; and
a unit of the unenriched renewable fuel oil generates between 0.5-1.5 units of the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the unenriched renewable fuel oil has a solids content of less than 0.5 wt. % and an ash content of less than 0.1 wt. %.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the non-catalytic rapid thermal processing and the co-processing are performed in a single refinery.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein a unit of the unenriched renewable fuel oil generates between 0.7-1.2 units of the cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.