Download Bio-Char - Agri-Tech Producers, LLC

Using Torrefied Wood
as a Coal Replacement, for
Superior Pellets and Cellulosic
Ethanol Production
By
Joe James, President
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Torrefaction: A Technology to
Densify & Enhance Biomass
– Untreated biomass may be 50% water, it’s
bulky and it’s not the most efficient or useable
fuel or bio-feedstock. Torrefaction:
• Drives off most of the water
• Reduces the bulk
• Makes a better co-fire fuel to burn with coal
• Makes superior briquettes and pellets
– Torrefaction, applied at or near the point of
harvest:
• Reduces transportation costs of biomass, per BTU
• Produces a more valuable biomass shipment
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Torrefaction: Adding Value and
Reducing Transportation Cost/BTU
• Untreated Biomass: • Torrefied Biomass:
– Bulky
– Dense, If Pelletized, Etc.
– Moist
– Dry & Water Resistant
– Fibrous
– Easily Crushed
– Perishable
– Does Not Rot
– Waste
– Valuable Fuel
– Expensive to
– Energy Dense
transport
:
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
The Process of Torrefaction
• Heating (300-400º C) wood, in a low-oxygen environment,
liberates water, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and
hemicellulose (HC) from the cellulose and lignin.
• The VOC’s and HC are combusted to generate 80% of the
torrefaction process heat.
• The remaining and warm lignin acts as a binder when the
torrefied wood is pelletized.
• Torrefied wood can easily replace coal in combustion or be a
feedstock for further pyrolysis or gasification for combined
heat and power or Fischer-Tropsch liquids.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Schematic of Torrefaction Machine
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Higher Heating Value of Torrefied Wood,
Charcoal and Coal:
Higher Heating Value of Torrefied Wood, Charcoal and Coal:
Color
Approximately
Indicates Heating Value
Color Approximately Indicates Heating Value
16,000
13,471
14,000
11,633
12,000
9,248
8,458
9,060
9,502
8,805
Lightest
Lighter
Light
Dark
Darker
BTU/lb.
10,000
12,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
Darkest Charcoal
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Coal
Chemistry of Torrefaction
• At torrefaction temperatures, hemicellulose is the
primary wood polymer that is degraded into:
– Permanent gases include H2, CH4, aromatics, CO, CO2,
CxHy
– Condensable liquids include acids, ketones, furans,
alcohols, terpenes, phenols, waxes, tanins, water
– Solids include char, new and existing sugar structures
and new polymers and ash.
• All of the wood polymers undergo dehydration
reactions that destroy –OH groups that are responsible
for hydrogen bonding with water: this severely reduces
the tendency of densified torrefied wood to absorb
water.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Mass and Energy Balance of Torrefaction
• Published results indicate mass and energy balance of .8 and
.9 respectively (for dry wood).
• This is consistent with the loss of the lower energy VOC and
hemicellulose and retention of higher energy lignin and
cellulose.
• Assuming
–
–
–
–
–
50% MC wood,
HHV of 8700 Btu/lb for dry wood,
1000 Btu/lb latent heat of water,
.4 Btu specific heat for wood and 1 Btu specific heat for water,
Starting temperature of 75 F and exit temperatures of 500° F.
• ~800 Btu used in processing, this energy is approximately
equal to that of the VOC’s and hemicellulose.
• ~3575 Btu left in remaining torrefied product, which weighs
~.33 lbs, for a HHV of 10,800 Btu/lb.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Making Electricity With Torrefied Wood
• Torrefied wood is a much better fuel for co-firing
with coal than untreated wood.
• Torrefied wood can be ground to a particle size,
similar to that of pulverized coal, with the same or
less energy use.
• Untreated wood requires many times the energy use,
in grinding (by a factor of 7.5 to 15), to achieve a
similar particle size.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Pelletizing & Briquetting
Torrefied Wood
• At torrefaction temperatures, the lignin in wood
becomes plastic and can actually become a binder of
individual wood particles.
• Pellets made from torrefied wood may withstand 1.5
to 2 times the crushing force of normal wood pellets.
• Torrefied pellets show little water uptake on
immersion (7-20% of mass), unlike normal pellets.
• University research in the 1930’s and 1940’s details
benefits of torrefied wood pellets.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Density of Various Biomass Fuels
Fuel
Green Wood Chips
BTU/lb
4,500
Density
3
lbs/ft
Specific
Gravity
3
BTU/ft
21.29
0.341
95,804
7,300
40.00
0.641
292,000
Torrefied Wood
11,000
12.57
0.202
138,314
Pulverized Torrefied Wood
11,000
23.69
0.380
260,545
Pelletized Torrefied Wood (sample)
11,000
28.41
0.455
312,456
Pelletized Torrefied Wood (Bergman)
8,545
46.82
0.750
400,085
Baled Corn Stover (25% MC)
6,076
9.38
0.150
56,961
Baled Switchgrass (15% MC)
6,722
7.43
0.119
49,940
Wood Pellets
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
DeliveredFuel
Cost
MMElectricity
Btu Electricity
Cost per
per MMBtu
by Distance
Plant
by Distance
totoCustomer
$17.00
$/MMBtu E
$15.00
$13.00
$11.00
$9.00
$7.00
$5.00
0
20
40
60
80
Miles
Coal ($90/ton)
Green Wood
Coal ($75/ton)
Torrefied Wood
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Coal ($60/ton)
100
Delivered Cost Chart Assumptions
 Coal is valued at $60 to $90 per ton delivered price
 That torrefied wood (11,000 BTU/lb.) has a heating value
nearly that of coal (12,000 BTU/lb.) and
 That torrefied wood generates electricity with a similar
efficiency to coal (35% fuel to electricity)
 Untreated wood has a lower efficiency of conversion (23%
fuel to electricity)
 And wood can be processed into chips at a cost of about
$15/green ton
 $4.00/torrefied ton processing cost
 Transportation costs for chips and torrefied wood are about
$0.23 per ton per mile.
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
ATP’s Partner: Kusters Zima Corporation
101 Zima Park Drive / I-85 Business
Spartanburg, S.C. 29301
Tel: (864) 576-0660
8.74 Acres (35,362 Sq. Meters)
Building Constructed in 1969
80,128 Total Manufacturing Sq. Ft.
(7,444 Sq. Meters)
Kusters Zima has over 40 years
experience in engineering and
manufacturing machinery for many
various industries.
• Complete Metal Fabrication including
Welding, Cutting, Forming and Piping.
• Machining Capabilities that include
CNC Turning and Vertical Milling
Centers.
• Complete Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering with the latest Software
Versions of SolidWorks and AutoCad.
• Complete Mechanical and Electrical
Assembly and F.A.T. for Production
Machines and Prototypes.
• Installation and Start-up Supervision.
Complete Manufacturing
• Water & Waste Water Equipment
Grit Removal & Washing
Course & Fine Screenings
Classifiers
CSO Screens
Dewatering
• Carpet & Textile Equipment
Continuous Preparation
Dye Washers & Scour Ranges
Steamers
Liquid Dispensing
Water & Dry Lint Removal Systems
• Contract Sales
Piece Parts & Components
Customer Specific Design & Build
Build to Print
ATP Resource: Mid-South Engineering
Complete Engineering Services
Production Process Development
Process Conceptual Design
Process Control Drawings
Energy Conservation & Conversion Systems
Helping manufacturers of pellets,
briquettes, and other biomass
products improve existing facilities or
design and construct new facilities to
meet the growing demand for
renewable energy products.
Hot Springs, Arkansas - USA
1658 Malvern Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
PH: 501-321-2276
Civil Engineering Services
Site Evaluation
Grading & Drainage Plans
Road & Railway Layouts
Structural Engineering Services
Equipment Foundations
Building Foundations and Structures
Machinery/Equipment Supports
Fall Protection Systems
Mechanical Engineering Services
Custom Equipment Design
Process Heating & Cooling Systems Design
Piping Systems
Equipment Specifications
Electrical Engineering Services
Power Distribution System Design
Control System Design
Lighting & Grounding Systems
Communication Systems
Electrical Power System Studies
Arc Flash Studies
Cary, North Carolina - USA
1149 Executive Circle, Suite A
Cary, NC 27511
PH: 919-481-1084
Visit us at www.mseco.com
Project Management Services
Project Management
Project Scheduling
Contract and Invoice Administration
We have over 40 years of experience in
designing structural, mechanical, and
electrical systems for major industrial
facilities throughout North America and
other locations around the world.
Construction Services
Turnkey Construction
Construction Management
Start-up Services
Safety Coordination
Using Torrefied Wood
as a Coal Replacement, for
Superior Pellets and Cellulosic
Ethanol Production
Joe James, President
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC
(803) 462-0153
[email protected]
Agri-Tech Producers, LLC