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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
Biochar Gas
Pretreatment
GasificationTorrefaction Pyrolysis
Temperature
Combustion
IntroductionOur ideas!
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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!
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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!
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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!
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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]
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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]
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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]
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
Torrefaction at UDTProduct distribution and properties
Volatiles
94% steam
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
Torrefaction at UDTProduct distribution and properties
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
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)
Workshop: Semi-Mobile bioenergy from agricultural and forest residues in Chile and Beyond, 9 March, 2017
Bioenergy area-Technological Development Unit. 9 March, 2017
Thanks for your attention