A Liquid Torrefication Process for Producing a Storable, Energy-Dense Fuel From Biomass Feedstock

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle A. Watson ◽  
William T. Stringfellow ◽  
Edwin R. Pejack ◽  
John J. Paoluccio ◽  
Ravi K. Jain
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Untreated Wood ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Inert Gas ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wood Pellets

This paper discusses a novel process for creating torrefied wood pellets by using a liquid torrefication process. Torrefication is a type of pyrolysis process originally developed for converting wood to an energy-dense material with properties similar to coal that would be more compact and practical to ship long distances and store outdoors. Torrefied wood has been used in specialized metallurgy and other industrial applications, but wide-scale utilization of torrefication for biofuel production has not been commercialized. Virtually all of the processing methods used in the past involve exposing biomass to hot, inert gas in an oxygen free environment; this gas-phase torrefication has a number of drawbacks, including a net-negative overall energy balance; generation of polluted gas that is difficult to treat or control; safety issues associated with the intrusion of oxygen into the inert gas; large equipment size and associated initial capital cost; operating cost; and manufacture of a nonuniform product. This paper discusses a technique that uses a heat treatment fluid in lieu of an inert gas which has numerous advantages over gas-phase torrefication and resolves many of the problems resulting from the commercial application of gasphase torrefication. This process for converting biomass to biofuel using a liquid-phase torrefication process is being developed under the trade name CNFbiofuel™ where CNF is an acronym for Carbon Neutral Fuel. The CNF Biofuel process has been developed on a small scale and results of preliminary testing are presented. Measurements of the energy content for the proposed biofuel process indicate an 18% increase in energy content for torrefied versus untreated wood pellets. Furthermore, the energy density measurements of these treated samples were also consistently higher than the untreated samples. Measurements have also been performed in order to measure the hydrophobic ability of the treated pellets and the results indicate that saturation with water has only a small effect on energy content. The heating value was determined to be reduced by only 2.2% on average after soaking in water for six hours and then being allowed to dry for 12 hours. The potential advantages of liquid-phase torrefication over any currently available gas-phase process are discussed.

Application of Disk Aerators to Recarbonation of Alkaline Wastewater from Wet Gasification of Carbide

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gomólka ◽  
B. Gomólka
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Flue Gas ◽  
Carbonic Acid ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Flue Gases ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Content ◽  
Patent Claim ◽  
Phase Dispersion

Whenever possible, neutralization of alkaline wastewater should involve low-cost acid. It is conventional to make use of carbonic acid produced via the reaction of carbon dioxide (contained in flue gases) with water according to the following equation: Carbon dioxide content in the flue gas stream varies from 10% to 15%. The flue gas stream may either be passed to the wastewater contained in the recarbonizers, or. enter the scrubbers (which are continually sprayed with wastewater) from the bottom in oountercurrent. The reactors, in which recarbonation occurs, have the ability to expand the contact surface between gaseous and liquid phase. This can be achieved by gas phase dispersion in the liquid phase (bubbling), by liquid phase dispersion in the gas phase (spraying), or by bubbling and spraying, and mixing. These concurrent operations are carried out during motion of the disk aerator (which is a patent claim). The authors describe the functioning of the disk aerator, the composition of the wastewater produced during wet gasification of carbide, the chemistry of recarbonation and decarbonation, and the concept of applying the disk aerator so as to make the wastewater fit for reuse (after suitable neutralization) as feeding water in acetylene generators.

Modeling of aerated upflow fixed bed reactors for nitrification

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Behrendt
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactor ◽  
Bulk Liquid ◽  
Initial Value ◽  
Fixed Bed Reactors ◽  
Number Of Cells

A mathematical model for nitrification in an aerated fixed bed reactor has been developed. This model is based on material balances in the bulk liquid, gas phase and in the biofilm area. The fixed bed is divided into a number of cells according to the reduced remixing behaviour. A fixed bed cell consists of 4 compartments: the support, the gas phase, the bulk liquid phase and the stagnant volume containing the biofilm. In the stagnant volume the biological transmutation of the ammonia is located. The transport phenomena are modelled with mass transfer formulations so that the balances could be formulated as an initial value problem. The results of the simulation and experiments are compared.

Theoretical analysis of counter-current absorption of a poorly soluble gas based on the PDE-AD model

1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1222-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Moravec ◽  
Vladimír Staněk
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Packed Bed ◽  
Packed Bed Column ◽  
Interfacial Transport ◽  
Gaseous Component ◽  
Poorly Soluble ◽  
Counter Current

Expression have been derived in the paper for all four possible transfer functions between the inlet and the outlet gas and liquid steams under the counter-current absorption of a poorly soluble gas in a packed bed column. The transfer functions have been derived for the axially dispersed model with stagnant zone in the liquid phase and the axially dispersed model for the gas phase with interfacial transport of a gaseous component (PDE - AD). calculations with practical values of parameters suggest that only two of these transfer functions are applicable for experimental data evaluation.

Reesterification of ethyl acetate by propanol catalysed by glycidyl methacrylate copolymers containing sulphonic acid groups

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1941-1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Setínek
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Ethyl Acetate ◽  
Kinetic Study ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Nonlinear Regression ◽  
Kinetic Data ◽  
Glycidyl Methacrylate ◽  
Kinetic Equations ◽  
Methacrylate Copolymers ◽  
Styrene Divinylbenzene

A series of differently crosslinked macroporous 2,3-epoxypropyl methacrylate-ethylenedimethacrylate copolymers with chemically bonded propylsulphonic acid groups were used as catalysts for the kinetic study of reesterification of ethyl acetate by n-propanol in the liquid phase at 52 °C and in the gas phase at 90 °C. Analysis of kinetic data by the method of nonlinear regression for a series of equations of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood type showed that kinetic equations which describe best the course of the reaction are the same as for the earlier studied sulphonated macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers. Compared types of catalysts differ, however, in the dependence of their activity on the degree of crosslinking of the copolymer used.

Treatment of Rural Domestic Sewage by Solar Ozonic Ecological Sewage Treatment Plant

2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 3393-3399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Yan Ming Yang ◽  
Yun Long Li ◽  
Jian Qiu Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Domestic Sewage ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Average Percentage

The process technique and design parameters of project of Solar Ozonic Ecological Sewage Treatment Plant (short for SOESTP) which consists of anaerobic reactor, horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetlands(CWs) and the combination of solar power and ozone disinfection are described, the paper further examines the removal efficiency for treating rural domestic sewage, running expense and recycling ability of product water. The results show that the average percentage removal values of CODcr，BOD5，SS，TN，NH3-N，TP range from 95.6% to 98.0%, 96.0% to 98.7%, 93.1% to 96.1%, 97.0% to 98.9%, 96.9% to 99.5%, 98.2% to 99.6%, respectively, the reduction of fecal coliform (FC) reaches 99.9%, the effluent quality meets the first level A criteria specified in Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant（GB18918-2002）. The running cost of SOESTP is 0.063yuan/ m3, saves much more than traditional sewage treatment, and the ozone water obtained from the reservoir will be an ideal choice for disinfection .The system has characteristics of easy manipulation, low operating cost, achieving advanced water, energy conservation and environment protection, is thought to be very suitable for use as the promotion of rural small - scale sewage treatment.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Economic Viability of Agricultural Pellets to Supplement the Current Global Wood Pellets Supply for Bioenergy Production

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2263
Author(s):  
Mahmood Ebadian ◽  
Shahab Sokhansanj ◽  
David Lee ◽  
Alyssa Klein ◽  
Lawrence Townley-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Logistics System ◽  
Global Marketplace ◽  
Biomass Logistics ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
The Cost

In this study, an inter-continental agricultural pellet supply chain is modeled, and the production cost and price of agricultural pellets are estimated and compared against the recent cost and price of wood pellets in the global marketplace. The inter-continental supply chain is verified and validated using an integration of an interactive mapping application and a simulation platform. The integrated model is applied to a case study in which agricultural pellets are produced in six locations in Canada and shipped and discharged at the three major ports in Western Europe. The cost of agricultural pellets in the six locations is estimated to be in the range of EUR 92–95/tonne (CAD 138–142/tonne), which is comparable with the recent cost of wood pellets produced in small-scale pellet plants (EUR 99–109/tonne). The average agricultural pellet price shipped from the six plants to the three ports in Western Europe is estimated to be in a range of EUR 183–204 (CAD 274–305/tonne), 29–42% more expensive that the average recent price of wood pellets (EUR 143/tonne) at the same ports. There are several potential areas in the agricultural pellet supply chains that can reduce the pellet production and distribution costs in the mid and long terms, making them affordable supplement to the existing wood pellet markets. Potential economic activities generated by the production of pellets in farm communities can be significant. The generated annual revenue in the biomass logistics system in all six locations is estimated to be about CAD 21.80 million. In addition, the logistics equipment fleet needs 176 local operators with a potential annual income of CAD 2.18 million.

scholarly journals The composition and variability of atmospheric aerosol over Southeast Asia during 2008

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1083-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Trivitayanurak ◽  
P. I. Palmer ◽  
M. P. Barkley ◽  
N. H. Robinson ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Dust Aerosol ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Sulphate Aerosol ◽  
Phase Oxidation

Abstract. We use a nested version of the GEOS-Chem global 3-D chemistry transport model to better understand the composition and variation of aerosol over Borneo and the broader Southeast Asian region in conjunction with aircraft and satellite observations. Our focus on Southeast Asia reflects the importance of this region as a source of reactive organic gases and aerosols from natural forests, biomass burning, and food and fuel crops. We particularly focus on July 2008 when the UK BAe-146 research aircraft was deployed over northern Malaysian Borneo as part of the ACES/OP3 measurement campaign. During July 2008 we find using the model that Borneo (defined as Borneo Island and the surrounding Indonesian islands) was a net exporter of primary organic aerosol (42 kT) and black carbon aerosol (11 kT). We find only 13% of volatile organic compound oxidation products partition to secondary organic aerosol (SOA), with Borneo being a net exporter of SOA (15 kT). SOA represents approximately 19% of the total organic aerosol over the region. Sulphate is mainly from aqueous-phase oxidation (68%), with smaller contributions from gas-phase oxidation (15%) and advection into the regions (14%). We find that there is a large source of sea salt, as expected, but this largely deposits within the region; we find that dust aerosol plays only a relatively small role in the aerosol burden. In contrast to coincident surface measurements over Northern Borneo that find a pristine environment with evidence for substantial biogenic SOA formation we find that the free troposphere is influenced by biomass burning aerosol transported from the northwest of the Island and further afield. We find several transport events during July 2008 over Borneo associated with elevated aerosol concentrations, none of which coincide with the aircraft flights. We use MODIS aerosol optical depths (AOD) data and the model to put the July campaign into a longer temporal perspective. We find that Borneo is where the model has the least skill at reproducing the data, where the model has a negative bias of 76% and only captures 14% of the observed variability. This model performance reflects the small-scale island-marine environment and the mix of aerosol species, with the model showing more skill at reproducing observed AOD over larger continental regions such as China where AOD is dominated by one aerosol type. The model shows that AOD over Borneo is approximately evenly split between organic and sulphate aerosol with sea salt representing 10–20% during May–September; we find a similar breakdown over continental Southeast Asia but with less sea salt aerosol and more dust aerosol. In contrast, East China AOD is determined mainly by sulphate aerosol and a seasonal source of dust aerosol, as expected. Realistic sensitivity runs, designed to test our underlying assumptions about emissions and chemistry over Borneo, show that model AOD is most sensitive to isoprene emissions and organic gas-phase partitioning but all fail to improve significantly upon the control model calculation. This emphasises the multi-faceted dimension of the problem and the need for concurrent and coordinated development of BVOC emissions, and BVOC chemistry and organic aerosol formation mechanisms.

Radiolysis of methylcyclopentane. III. Liquid phase mechanism and comparison of cycloalkanes

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (20) ◽  
pp. 3235-3240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon R. Freeman ◽  
E. Diane Stover
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Bond Cleavage ◽  
Open Chain ◽  
Methyl Substitution ◽  
Product Yields ◽  
Total Ionization ◽  
Gamma Radiolysis ◽  
G Value

The initial yields of the major products of the gamma radiolysis of liquid methylcyclopentane (MCP) at 25° are: G(H2) = 4.2, G(1-methylcyclopentene plus methylenecyclopentane) = 2.7, G(3- plus 4-methyl-cyclopentene) = 1.0, G(open chain hexene) = 1.0, and G(bimethylcyclopentyl) = 0.9. The effects of scavengers on the product yields are reported and the mechanism is discussed.The liquid phase radiolytic decompositions of cyclohexane (CH), methylcyclohexane (MCH), cyclopentane (CP), and MCP are compared. The net amount of C—C bond cleavage is much greater in the five-membered than in the six-membered rings. Methyl substitution on the ring reduces G(H2) by about one unit, mainly because of the formation of a type of ion (QH+) that does not yield hydrogen when neutralized by an electron. The QH+ type ions are formed in MCH and MCP, but not in CH and CP. In all the systems, another type of ion (N+) that does not yield hydrogen when neutralized by an electron is formed with a G value of about unity. The type of ion (PH+) that does yield hydrogen when neutralized by an electron has a G value of 3.4 in CH and CP, but only 2.0 in MCP. It is concluded that G(total ionization) is in the vicinity of 4.4 in the liquid compounds, virtually the same as the gas phase values.

scholarly journals High Pressure Photoreduction of CO2: Effect of Catalyst Formulation, Hole Scavenger Addition and Operating Conditions

Catalysts ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Bahadori ◽  
Antonio Tripodi ◽  
Alberto Villa ◽  
Carlo Pirola ◽  
Laura Prati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flame Spray ◽  
Co2 Solubility ◽  
Total Consumption ◽  
Solubility In Water ◽  
Hole Scavenger ◽  
Fuels And Chemicals

The photoreduction of CO2 is an intriguing process which allows the synthesis of fuels and chemicals. One of the limitations for CO2 photoreduction in the liquid phase is its low solubility in water. This point has been here addressed by designing a fully innovative pressurized photoreactor, allowing operation up to 20 bar and applied to improve the productivity of this very challenging process. The photoreduction of CO2 in the liquid phase was performed using commercial TiO2 (Evonink P25), TiO2 obtained by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) and gold doped P25 (0.2 wt% Au-P25) in the presence of Na2SO3 as hole scavenger (HS). The different reaction parameters (catalyst concentration, pH and amount of HS) have been addressed. The products in liquid phase were mainly formic acid and formaldehyde. Moreover, for longer reaction time and with total consumption of HS, gas phase products formed (H2 and CO) after accumulation of significant number of organic compounds in the liquid phase, due to their consecutive photoreforming. Enhanced CO2 solubility in water was achieved by adding a base (pH = 12–14). In basic environment, CO2 formed carbonates which further reduced to formaldehyde and formic acid and consequently formed CO/CO2 + H2 in the gas phase through photoreforming. The deposition of small Au nanoparticles (3–5 nm) (NPs) onto TiO2 was found to quantitatively influence the products distribution and increase the selectivity towards gas phase products. Significant energy storage in form of different products has been achieved with respect to literature results.

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