New technology promises reliable biomass feeding into high-pressure reactors
At the Global Syngas Technologies Conference, Dr. Jayant Khambekar of Jenike & Johanson, a world leader in bulk solids handling technology, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Feeding Challenges in Gasification of Feedstocks.” The talk addressed a critical issue facing the renewable energy and biofuels sector: the reliable feeding of low-bulk-density biomass into high-pressure reactors.
Dr. Khambekar opened by outlining the inherent difficulties of feeding materials such as forest residue, agricultural waste and municipal solid waste into gasifiers and other high-pressure reactors. Conventional systems, such as converging lock hoppers and plug-screw feeders, often struggle with these irregular, fibrous materials.
Plug-screw feeders, in particular, rely on precisely calibrated pressure to form seals between ambient and high-pressure environments. If insufficient pressure is applied, dangerous gas leaks can occur upstream. Excessive pressure, on the other hand, leads to blockages, equipment wear and costly downtime.
“These feed systems were never designed with biomass in mind,” Dr. Khambekar emphasized. “They work for some materials, but when it comes to heterogeneous, low-density biomass, they fail to deliver consistent, reliable performance. Many plants end up relying on manual intervention to keep their systems running, which is neither safe nor economical.”
Introducing Jen-ZeroTM. In response to these long-standing challenges, Jenike & Johanson has developed Jen-Zero, a patent-pending feeding technology that fundamentally reverses the conventional pressurization model.
Traditional systems rely on converging pressurization chambers, which force biomass through narrowing spaces. Jen-Zero, by contrast, pressurizes feedstock in a diverging chamber, using divergence and gravity to facilitate smooth, reliable flow.
“By flipping the geometry, we allow the feedstock to naturally expand and float as it’s pressurized,” Dr. Khambekar explained. “This eliminates the rat-holing and bridging issues that plague traditional systems.”
Scalable and cost-effective. The Jen-Zero system is designed to accept feedstock at atmospheric pressure, distribute it through multiple divergent pressurization chambers, and feed reactors continuously at slightly above reactor pressure. This enables reliable, plug-free operation—without the need for costly pre-processing such as milling or pelletizing.
Moreover, Jen-Zero is highly scalable, capable of feeding between 500 tpd and 1,000 tpd of biomass into high-pressure reactors. For operators, this means reduced operational costs, lower maintenance, and enhanced safety.
Feeding biomass into high-pressure reactors has historically been one of the most difficult and expensive aspects of biofuel and syngas production. Unreliable feeding systems have even forced some plants to shut down entirely.
With Jen-Zero, Jenike & Johanson aims to change that narrative. Backed by nearly 60 yrs of expertise in bulk solids handling, the company is bringing its proven engineering rigor to the rapidly evolving bioenergy sector.
“If your goal is reliable flow, continuous discharge, and minimal pressure losses—no matter the feedstock—Jen-Zero is the solution,” Dr. Khambekar concluded.
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