Biomass conversion: Torrefaction/Pelletization UDT …...UDT Experience Workshop: Semi-Mobile...

Biomass conversion: Torrefaction/PelletizationUDT Experience

Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017

1. Short Overview of Bioenergy research at UDT2. Labscale facilities for torrefaction3. Torrefaction within SeMoBio project: Eucalyptus as case study4. Effect of operation parameters on process yields and product poperties5. Pelletization assays6. Final remarks7. Future work

Agenda


Project team-UDTBioenergy Area

Ø Head: Dra. Cristina SeguraØ Researchers: Dr. Luis Arteaga

Dr. Mauricio FloresDra. Romina Romero

Ø Project Engineers: Eng. Héctor GrandónEng. Niels MuellerEng. Oscar Pinto

Ø Chemists: Lic. Patricia HerreraLic. Patricia OliveraLic. Lilian Ruiz

Ø Technical Staff: Robert IribarraManuel Morales


Biochar Gas

Pretreatment

GasificationTorrefaction Pyrolysis

Temperature

Combustion

IntroductionOur ideas!


BosqueForest

ResiduosResidues

ProductoscomercialesComercial products

40% Sawmills

IntroductionWhat have been done in Bioenergy-UDT until now?

Lab-scale Pilot-Plants

1. Energy densification

1.1 Pelletization

1.2 Torrefaction (HTC and Dry)

2. Fuels and chemicals

2.1 Pyrolysis

3. Heat and Power

3.1 Combustion (co-firing)

3.2 Gasification


TorrefactionBasics and BIG NUMBERS

Volatiles30% Mass

10% EnergyIncondensables (CO2,CO)

Organics (Water, Acetic acid, formic acid, methanol, etc.)

Crude Biomass

TorrefactionP = 1 atm

200 ºC<T<300 ºCΔT/ Δt = 50 ºC/minMoisture: 40 – 10%HHV: 17 – 18 MJ/kg

Torrefied Biomass

70% Mass 90% Energy

<3% Moisture


1. UDT is the first center in Chile working on torrefaction at both lab and pilot scales

2. Initial research started in 2010 revealing:

• Quantitative relation between reaction conditions (residence time and temperature), product properties (HHV, elemental composition, density) and process performance (mass and energy yields)

• Experiments were conducted for main wood species in Chilean plantations (E.globulus, Pinus radiata)

3. Based on the lab-scale research a process concept was developed, aiming at:

• Installation of a pilot plant (100 kg/h capacity)

• Low environmental impact

• Heat integration is needed for process scale-up

Torrefaction at UDTUntil now!


1. Research Objectives1.1. Improvement of fuel quality of Woody biomass including forest residues1.2. Mechanisms, kinetics and volatile characterization from wood torrefaction1.3. Plant design and scale-up

Dry Torrefaction

Lab-scale Facilities

Facility• Temperature control• Two-stage condensation system• In-lie gas measurementInitial results • Torrefaction of woody biomass• Correlation of fuel properties with torrefaction treatment• Combustion assays of torrefied biomass/coal blendsContribution to HR formation• Several bachelor students• MSc students• Co-tutoring phD students (México)• Collaboration with Belgium and México

Torrefaction at UDTOur lab facilities!


Wet TorrefactionLab-scale Facilities

Facility• Volume 0.15-1.2L• Temperature 350°C• Pressure 200 bar• Gas sampling points

Hydrothermal carbonization• Correlation of fuel properties with torrefaction treatment• Evaluation of operation parameters for treating wood and solid

wastes

Torrefaction at UDTOur lab facilities!



SEMINARIO-WORKSHOP

“Semi-Mobile Bioenergyfrom Agricultural and Forest Residues

in Chile and Beyond”Auditorio Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico-UDT

Marzo 9 2017, 10:00 hrs.

INNOVA CHILE 14IDL4-30438Project SeMoBioEnergy

Operation mode: ContinuousMax. Capacity: 100 kg/hBiomass: Chips/SawdustTemperature: 250 – 270 ºCPressure: 1 atmHeating media: Vapor (400 ºC)Reactor design: Multiple hearth (custom design)

Vista ActualModifications-Cyclones-Blower-Insulation-Liquids sampling-Temperature controls

Torrefaction at UDTPilot plant

Commercially available wood chips (exclusively Eucalyptus globulus) wereprovided by ¨Forestal Rio Calle-Calle¨ (Chile). All samples were taken fromtrees with similar morphological characteristics (age, height and diameter).The bark-free wood chips were screened to produce a uniform feedstockbetween 20 - 30 mm and dried to c.a. 20-25%wt./wt. moisture content, in apilot rotary drier, and then stored in 1m3 bags.

Elmental analysisHHVInorganic content

ElementalAnalysis

[ASTME870] (b.s)[p.%]

Inorganic content

[ASTMD5865-13](b.s.)[mg/kg]

C 49.3 Si 63

H 5.45 Fe 34.2

N 0.14 Mg 149

S <0.05 Na 117

Cl 0.018 Ca 537

O* 45.09 K 629

Cenizas 0.32

Higher heating value [ASTMD5865-13]

HHV(d.b.)

MJ/kg

19.56 19.19

*.By difference


Torrefaction at UDTFeedstock characterization

Feedstock

Chips

E.globulus

UM

Hooper charge 200 kg

Avg.Moisture content 24-30% %

Particles sizes 2-5cm mm

Feeding flow 68-70 kg/h

Assays time(total) 6:30:00 h

Reaction time 2:40:00 h

Avg.Residence time ≈12 min

Reaction temperatures 245-265 °C

Steam flow 100-160 Kg/h

Steam temperature 250-320 °C

Steady state measurements- 60-70% nominal capacity- 4 hrs until steady state was established


Torrefaction at UDTReaction conditions and steady state measurements

Parameter A (245°C) B (250°C) C (255°C) D (265°C)

Mass yield (MY) 83.9% 75.4% 74.9% 66.3%

Liquid Yield 11.1% 15.3% 14.9% 22.05%

Gas Yield1 5.0% 9.3% 10.2% 11.65%

Energy yield (EY) 89.3% 80.6% 81.3% 73.4%

Avg. Plant efficiency (ηtorr) 69.0% 62.6% 67.9% 66.0%

kW/kgb.s 0.37 0.49 0.41 0.42

1. Gasyieldwascalculatedas:100%- [Solidyield+Liquidyield]


Torrefaction at UDTProduct distribution and properties

Parameter A (245°C) B (250°C) C (255°C) D (265°C)Mass yield (MY) 83.9% 75.4% 74.9% 66.3%Liquid Yield 11.1% 15.3% 14.9% 22.05%Gas Yield1 5.0% 9.3% 10.2% 11.65%Energy yield (EY) 89.3% 80.6% 81.3% 73.4%Avg. Plant efficiency (ηtorr) 69.0% 62.6% 67.9% 66.0%

kW/kgb.s 0.37 0.49 0.41 0.42

1. Gasyieldwascalculatedas:100%- [Solidyield+Liquidyield]



Volatiles

94% steam



Parameters Untreated A

(245°C)

B

(250°C)

C

(255°C)

D

(265°C)

Tsh (ºC) 292 - - - -

Ti (ºC) 255.1 260.4 257.9 259.9 267.2

Tp(ºC) 320 317 312 312 317

Tb(ºC) 517 515 515 515 515

DTGmax (mg/min) 2.96 2.98 2.95 3.02 3.78

DTGm (mg/min) 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.30

Di*105 (mg/min°C2) 3.63 3.61 3.67 3.73 4.46

Ea (kJ/mol)1 77.9 82.6 91.2 94.7 113.6

Tsh

Ti

Tp

Tb


Torrefaction at UDTProduct combustion behavior

KHAL• Capacity 300 kg/h• 7 m3 storage capacity• Power consumption: 43 kW• Area 20 ft• Additive (1%wt./wt.)

Parameter Unit Untreat D

(265°C)

Pellet Coal

Moisture %wt. 47 11.9 - 11.05

Ashcontent %wt. 0.4 4.2 0– 5% 11.0

Mechanicaldurability %wt./wt - 98.5 94-96 -

BulkDensity kg/m3 211 715 550-800 800-850

Energydensity GJ/m3 3.95 14.8 12-19 18-24

Diameter mm - 598 N/A N/A

Length mm - 16.9 N/A N/A


Torrefaction at UDTTorrefied pellets

General Remarks

1. Succesfull torrefaction assays2. Pelletization requires the use of additive (starch)3. Cofiring assays (under development)4. Grinding tests (under development)


Bioenergy area-Technological Development Unit. 9 March, 2017

Thanks for your attention

Biomass conversion: Torrefaction/Pelletization UDT …...UDT Experience Workshop: Semi-Mobile...

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