Ultrasonic-Vibration Assisted Pelleting for Cellulosic Ethanol Manufacturing: Effects of Particle Size and Moisture Content on Power Consumption

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Graham Pritchett ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Meng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Higher Power ◽  
Input Variables

Ethanol produced from cellulosic materials is an alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, its manufacturing costs are too high to be competitive at present. Raw cellulosic biomass materials have low density, causing their transportation and handling expensive, contributing to high manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol. Pelleting can increase the density of cellulosic biomass and reduce their transportation and handling costs. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting is a new pelleting method. Earlier studies show that moisture content and particle size have significant effects on pellet quality and sugar yield. However, their effects on power consumption in UV-A pelleting have not been studied. Since power consumption directly affects ethanol manufacturing costs, it is desirable to understand how input variables affect power consumption. The objective of this paper is to study effects of moisture content and particle size on power consumption in UV-A pelleting of wheat straw. Results show that higher moisture content and larger particle size result in higher power consumption.

Ultrasonic-Vibration Assisted Pelleting for Cellulosic Ethanol Manufacturing: An Experimental Investigation of Power Consumption

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Jonathan Wilson ◽  
Leland McKinney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Ultrasonic Power ◽  
Material Particle ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Lower Power ◽  
And Storage

Ethanol produced from cellulosic biomass is an alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, its manufacturing costs are too high for cellulosic ethanol to be competitive. Cellulosic feedstocks have low density, causing their transportation and storage expensive, contributing to high manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol. Pelleting can increase the density of cellulosic feedstocks and reduce their transportation and storage costs. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting is a new pelleting method. Effects of input pelleting parameters (ultrasonic power, pelleting pressure, and particle size) on pellet quality and sugar yield have been studied. However, the effects of these parameters on power consumption in UV-A pelleting have not been studied. Since power consumption directly affects ethanol manufacturing costs, lower power consumption is desirable. The objective of this paper is to study effects of different input parameters (biomass material, particle size, ultrasonic power, and pelleting pressure) of UV-A pelleting on power consumption. Four types of biomass materials (big bluestem, corn stover, sorghum stalk, and wheat straw) were studied. Sorghum stalk consumed the least power. Pelleting pressure, particle size and ultrasonic power significantly affected power consumption of all four materials. Higher ultrasonic power and pelleting pressure resulted in lower power consumption. In addition, this paper also compares power consumption between UV-A pelleting and ring-die pelleting (a traditional pelleting method).

Ultrasonic-Vibration Assisted Pelleting for Cellulosic Biofuel Manufacturing: Investigation on Power Consumption With Design of Experiment

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Graham Pritchett ◽  
Meng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Ultrasonic Power ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Input Parameters ◽  
Two Parameters

Cellulosic biomass is abundantly available in the nature. It is an attractive feedstock to make alternative fuels to petroleum-based transportation fuels. Because of low bulk density and irregular shape, raw biomass materials are difficult to handle, transport, and store. Pelleting can increase the density of cellulosic biomass. Pellets can be easily handled, resulting in reducing their transportation and storage costs. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting is a new pelleting method. Moisture content, particle size, pelleting pressure, and ultrasonic power are four important input parameters affecting pellet quality and sugar yield (proportional to biofuel yield). However, their effects on power consumption in UV-A pelleting have not been adequately investigated. Since power consumption directly affects ethanol manufacturing costs, it is desirable to understand how input parameters affect power consumption. This paper reports an experimental investigation of power consumption in UV-A pelleting. A 24 factorial design is employed to evaluate the effects of four input parameters (moisture content, particle size, pelleting pressure, and ultrasonic power) on power consumption in UV-A pelleting. Results show that three input parameters (moisture content, particle size, and ultrasonic power) significantly affect power consumption. Higher moisture content, lower ultrasonic power, and larger particle size result in higher power consumption. Only one interaction of two parameters is significant, i.e. with the increase of pelleting pressure, power consumption will increase at the high level of particle size while decrease at the low level of particle size.

Optimization of Input Variables in Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass Using Multiple Response Surface Methodology

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Shing Chang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Donghai Wang
Keyword(s):  
Response Surface Methodology ◽  
Response Surface ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Multiple Response ◽  
Ultrasonic Power ◽  
Pellet Density ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Multiple Response Surface Methodology

Cellulosic ethanol is an attractive alternative to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels. However, low density of cellulosic biomass (the feedstock for cellulosic ethanol) causes high costs in biomass logistics and hinders large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic ethanol. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting can significantly increase the density of cellulosic biomass by compressing raw cellulosic biomass into pellets. Pellet density and durability are two important physical properties of a pellet. In this study, a multiple response surface methodology was employed to optimize the input variables (pelleting time, pressure, and ultrasonic power) in UV-A pelleting of sorghum stalks for simultaneously maximized pellet density and durability. Second-order polynomial models were used to fit the experimental results. Main and interaction effects of the input variables on pellet density and durability were also investigated.

Cost Estimates of Cellulosic Ethanol Manufacturing: A Literature Review

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei
Keyword(s):  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Cost Estimates ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Economic Analyses ◽  
Cost Components

Cellulosic ethanol is one type of renewable energy, and can be used to replace petroleum based transportation fuels. The technologies of converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol are relatively mature. However, the manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol are too high to be competitive. Economic analyses of cellulosic ethanol manufacturing have appeared regularly to estimate manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol. But the estimated manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol have a wide range due to differences in used assumptions. It is very difficult to judge which one is most reliable among the markedly different cost estimates in the literature. This paper reviews the literature on cost estimates in manufacturing of cellulosic ethanol. Cost estimates of each manufacturing process are summarized. Cost components and their data sources are discussed. This review provides a foundation to develop a comprehensive cost model for cellulosic ethanol manufacturing.

Temperature On-Line Measured in Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting Cellulosic Biomass

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 245-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jun Tang ◽  
Chun Mu Chen ◽  
Guan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Pellet Temperature ◽  
On Line ◽  
Line Measure

Cellulosic biofuels have been proposed to replace part of traditional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the feedstock in cellulosic biofuel manufacturing. Costs associated with collection and transportation of cellulosic biomass account for more than 80 percent of the feedstock cost. By processing cellulosic biomass into pellets, density and handling efficiencies of cellulosic feedstock can be improved, resulting in reduction of transportation and handling costs. The pellet temperature is one of the most important parameter in Ultrasonic Vibration (UV-A) pelleting. There is very few literature on the pellet temperature of UV-A pelleting. This paper mainly studied how to on-line measure the pelleting temperature, also, the detailed temperature characteristics of the pellet was obtained. The results are valuable for selecting suitable pelleting parameters and controlling the quality of pellet in UV-A pelleting. Also, the accurate measurement of the pellet temperature is helpful to understand pelleting mechanism, charring, and durability issues.

An Experimental Comparison of Two Pelleting Methods for Cellulosic Ethanol Manufacturing

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Jonathan Wilson ◽  
Leland McKinney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Experimental Comparison ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Pellet Density ◽  
Energy Consumptions ◽  
Preliminary Research ◽  
And Storage

Ethanol produced from cellulosic biomass is an alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuels. However, manufacturing costs of cellulosic ethanol are too high to be competitive. Low density of cellulosic feedstocks increases their handling and transportation costs, contributing to high overall costs of cellulosic ethanol manufacturing. Pelleting can increase density of cellulosic feedstocks, reduce transportation and storage costs, and make cellulosic ethanol production more competitive. UV-A (ultrasonic vibration-assisted) pelleting is a new pelleting method (available only in lab scale now). Preliminary research showed that UV-A pelleting could significantly increase pellet density and pellet durability but it has never been compared with other pelleting methods (e.g., using an extruder, a briquetting press or a ring-die pelleting). The objectives of this research are to compare UV-A pelleting with ring-die pelleting in terms of pellet density, pellet durability, energy consumptions of pelleting. The results will be useful to find a better pelleting method for cellulosic ethanol manufacturing.

Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass for Biofuel Manufacturing

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
D. H. Wang ◽  
X. R. Wu ◽  
W. L. Cong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
And Storage

Increasing demands and concerns for the reliable supply of liquid transportation fuels makes it important to find alternative sources to petroleum based fuels. One such alternative is cellulosic biofuels. However, several technical barriers have hindered large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels, such as the low density of cellulosic feedstocks (causing high transportation and storage costs) and the lack of efficient pretreatment procedures for cellulosic biomass. This paper reports experimental investigations on ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting of cellulosic feedstocks. It studies effects of input variables (ultrasonic vibration, moisture content, and particle size) on output variables (pellet density, stability, durability, pelleting force, and yield of biofuel conversion) in UV-A pelleting. Results showed that UV-A pelleting could increase the density of cellulosic feedstocks and the yield of biofuel conversion.

Effects of Water Soaking on Biomass Particle Size in Cellulosic Biofuel Manufacturing

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hera Wu ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Sugar Yield ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Biomass Particle Size

Cellulosic biofuels are an alternative to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels. However, manufacturing costs of cellulosic biofuels are high partially due to low density and sugar yield of cellulosic biomass. Previous studies show that UV-A pelleting can increase the density and sugar yield of cellulosic biomass. A hypothesis for UV-A pelleting to increase the density and sugar yield of cellulosic biomass is that UV-A pelleting can reduce biomass particle size. To test this hypothesis, biomass particle sizes before and after UV-A pelleting need to be compared. Soaking pellets in water is an efficient and non-invasive method to separate pellets into particles. However, water soaking itself might change biomass particle size. This paper reports an investigation on effects of water soaking on biomass particle size. The biomass particle sizes before and after water soaking are measured and compared. Results show that effects of water soaking on biomass particle size are dependent on the initial particle size (particle size before water soaking) and time period of water soaking.

Ultrasonic-Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass: Effects of Moisture Content

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxu Song ◽  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Timothy Deines
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Low Density ◽  
High Transportation Cost ◽  
Biomass Materials ◽  
Pellet Density

Cellulosic biomass is an important source for making biofuels. However, there are several barriers to cost-effective manufacturing of biofuels using cellulosic biomass. One such barrier is related to the high transportation cost due to the low density of cellulosic biomass. Pelleting of cellulosic biomass is one way to increase its density. This paper reports an experimental study on ultrasonic vibration-assisted pelleting of cellulosic biomass. The study was focused on the effects of moisture content (MC) on pellet density of three kinds of cellulosic biomass (wheat straw, switchgrass, and sorghum). The experimental results show that sorghum has the highest density with three levels of MC among these biomass materials. The highest density was found with sorghum of 20% MC.

Effects of Treatments on Cellulosic Biomass Structure in Ethanol Manufacturing: A Literature Review

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Pengfei Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Linda Pei
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Enzymatic Hydrolysis ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Crystallinity Index ◽  
Degree Of Polymerization ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Structure Parameters ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Biomass Structure

Ethanol made from cellulosic biomass is an alternative to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels. Enzymatic hydrolysis uses enzymes to convert cellulosic biomass into sugars that are fermented into ethanol. In order to increase sugar yield, various treatments (such as biomass size reduction and pretreatment) are applied to cellulosic biomass before enzymatic hydrolysis. These treatments will alter structure parameters of cellulosic biomass, such as crystallinity index, degree of polymerization, particle size, pore volume, and specific surface area. There are currently no review papers on these structure parameters of cellulosic biomass in ethanol manufacturing. This paper reviews experimental investigations in the literature about effects of various treatments on the structure parameters of cellulosic biomass.

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