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Title: Biomass Torrefaction Process Review and Moving Bed Torrefaction System Model Development

Abstract

Torrefaction is currently developing as an important preprocessing step to improve the quality of biomass in terms of physical properties, and proximate and ultimate composition. Torrefaction is a slow heating of biomass in an inert or reduced environment to a maximum temperature of 300 C. Torrefaction can also be defined as a group of products resulting from the partially controlled and isothermal pyrolysis of biomass occurring in a temperature range of 200-230 C and 270-280 C. Thus, the process can also be called a mild pyrolysis as it occurs at the lower temperature range of the pyrolysis process. At the end of the torrefaction process, a solid uniform product with lower moisture content and higher energy content than raw biomass is produced. Most of the smoke-producing compounds and other volatiles are removed during torrefaction, producing a final product that will have a lower mass but a higher heating value. An important aspect of research is to establish a degree of torrefaction where gains in heating value offset the loss of mass. There is a lack of literature on torrefaction reactor designs and a design sheet for estimating the dimensions of the torrefier based on capacity. This study includes (a) conductingmore » a detailed review on the torrefaction of biomass in terms of understanding the process, product properties, off-gas compositions, and methods used, and (b) to design a moving bed torrefier, taking into account the basic fundamental heat and mass transfer calculations. Specific objectives include calculating the dimensions like diameter and height of the moving packed bed for different capacities, designing the heat loads and gas flow rates, and developing an interactive excel sheet where the user can define design specifications. In this report, 25-1000 kg/hr are used in equations for the design of the torrefier, examples of calculations, and specifications for the torrefier.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE - EE
OSTI Identifier:
1042391
Report Number(s):
INL/EXT-10-19569
TRN: US201212%%980
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC07-05ID14517
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; BIOMASS; CAPACITY; DESIGN; DIMENSIONS; GAS FLOW; HEATING; MASS TRANSFER; MOISTURE; PACKED BEDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PYROLYSIS; SPECIFICATIONS; biomass; densification; feedstock preprocessing; mild pyrolysis; reactor design

Citation Formats

Tumuluru, Jaya Shakar, Sokhansanj, Shahab, Wright, Christopher T, and Boardman, Richard D. Biomass Torrefaction Process Review and Moving Bed Torrefaction System Model Development. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.2172/1042391.
Tumuluru, Jaya Shakar, Sokhansanj, Shahab, Wright, Christopher T, & Boardman, Richard D. Biomass Torrefaction Process Review and Moving Bed Torrefaction System Model Development. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1042391
Tumuluru, Jaya Shakar, Sokhansanj, Shahab, Wright, Christopher T, and Boardman, Richard D. 2010. "Biomass Torrefaction Process Review and Moving Bed Torrefaction System Model Development". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1042391. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1042391.
@article{osti_1042391,
title = {Biomass Torrefaction Process Review and Moving Bed Torrefaction System Model Development},
author = {Tumuluru, Jaya Shakar and Sokhansanj, Shahab and Wright, Christopher T and Boardman, Richard D},
abstractNote = {Torrefaction is currently developing as an important preprocessing step to improve the quality of biomass in terms of physical properties, and proximate and ultimate composition. Torrefaction is a slow heating of biomass in an inert or reduced environment to a maximum temperature of 300 C. Torrefaction can also be defined as a group of products resulting from the partially controlled and isothermal pyrolysis of biomass occurring in a temperature range of 200-230 C and 270-280 C. Thus, the process can also be called a mild pyrolysis as it occurs at the lower temperature range of the pyrolysis process. At the end of the torrefaction process, a solid uniform product with lower moisture content and higher energy content than raw biomass is produced. Most of the smoke-producing compounds and other volatiles are removed during torrefaction, producing a final product that will have a lower mass but a higher heating value. An important aspect of research is to establish a degree of torrefaction where gains in heating value offset the loss of mass. There is a lack of literature on torrefaction reactor designs and a design sheet for estimating the dimensions of the torrefier based on capacity. This study includes (a) conducting a detailed review on the torrefaction of biomass in terms of understanding the process, product properties, off-gas compositions, and methods used, and (b) to design a moving bed torrefier, taking into account the basic fundamental heat and mass transfer calculations. Specific objectives include calculating the dimensions like diameter and height of the moving packed bed for different capacities, designing the heat loads and gas flow rates, and developing an interactive excel sheet where the user can define design specifications. In this report, 25-1000 kg/hr are used in equations for the design of the torrefier, examples of calculations, and specifications for the torrefier.},
doi = {10.2172/1042391},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1042391}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}