History
The ClearFuels technology is much more than theory; it has proven results. Since the mid-1990’s, ClearFuels founders were evaluating viable cellulosic ethanol conversion technologies to support a competitive business model that would deliver commercial-scale production of cellulosic biofuels with minimal commodity risk and an efficient modular facility design.The basis for the ClearFuels technology was developed by Pearson Technology Inc. The PTI technology was tested and validated at PTI’s pilot scale facility in Mississippi between 1987 and 2002.
The performance of the PTI basic technology was further corroborated using bagasse as a feedstock during extensive testing funded by ClearFuels at the PTI’ facility between 2004 and 2007 These successful results at the pilot plant, have been independently validated by multiple third parties, including Idaho National Laboratory and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute. These results minimize the uncertainty and technology risk associated with scaling up the size of the facility from PTI pilot scale to the ClearFuels demonstration facilities, and ultimately to full scale commercial production. A picture of the pilot facility is shown below.
The time spent testing the technology at the pilot facility yielded a comprehensive understanding of the biomass-to-syngas conversion process. ClearFuels, along with our fabrication partners at Hydro-Chem Linde and our EPC contractors at URS have further developed and modified the basic technology for commercial application to meet the performance requirements for ClearFuels’ projected commercial biorefineries. The process and key components of the ClearFuels’ system have been optimized to reduce capital and operating costs while maximizing product yields.