Utilization of Wet Forest Biomass as both the Feedstock and Electricity Source for an Integrated Biochar Production System

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Eggink ◽  
Kyle Palmer ◽  
Mark Severy ◽  
Dave Carter ◽  
Arne Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Production Operation ◽  
Air Flow Rate ◽  
Process Heat

Abstract. A belt dryer and gasifier generator set were integrated into a biochar production plant to use process heat to dry biomass feedstock from forest residuals and to provide electric power to the plant using a side stream of dried biomass. Experiments were conducted to characterize the dryer throughput and drying capacity using process heat from a stack heat exchanger attached to the biochar machine flare. A matrix of tests was conducted at high and low flow rates for both the heat exchanger air flow rate (which varied the temperature and heat input to the dryer) and the residence time of feedstock in the belt dryer. Mean feedstock input moisture during dryer characterization was 45% and the mean moisture after exiting the dryer was 27%. The optimal test condition, providing the greatest water removal rate, was determined to have high air flow rate through the heat exchanger and short dryer residence time. This condition was used to demonstrate the integrated system for an 8-h production day. The integrated system dried incoming feedstock from 36% to 22% with a dryer throughput rate of 495 kg h-1 w.b. and an evaporation rate of 88.8 kg h-1, providing the necessary dry feedstock for the 20-kW gasifier generator set and the biochar machine, which produced 75 kg h-1 of biochar. This system required the operational effort of 0.92 labor hours per production hour. Results from this demonstration indicate that the integrated system provides key benefits in a biochar production operation including greater control of feedstock drying and the ability to operate without an external (non-biomass) source of fuel for electricity generation. Keywords: Biochar, Biomass, Biomass drying, Forest residuals, Gasification, Pyrolysis.

scholarly journals Thermal Performance and Energy Saving Analysis of Indoor Air–Water Heat Exchanger Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array for Data Center

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heran Jing ◽  
Zhenhua Quan ◽  
Yaohua Zhao ◽  
Lincheng Wang ◽  
Ruyang Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Heat Pipe ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Data Center ◽  
Data Centers ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Air Flow Rate ◽  
Cold Energy

According to the temperature regulations and high energy consumption of air conditioning (AC) system in data centers (DCs), natural cold energy becomes the focus of energy saving in data center in winter and transition season. A new type of air–water heat exchanger (AWHE) for the indoor side of DCs was designed to use natural cold energy in order to reduce the power consumption of AC. The AWHE applied micro-heat pipe arrays (MHPAs) with serrated fins on its surface to enhance heat transfer. The performance of MHPA-AWHE for different inlet water temperatures, water and air flow rates was investigated, respectively. The results showed that the maximum efficiency of the heat exchanger was 81.4% by using the effectiveness number of transfer units (ε-NTU) method. When the max air flow rate was 3000 m3/h and the water inlet temperature was 5 °C, the maximum heat transfer rate was 9.29 kW. The maximum pressure drop of the air side and water side were 339.8 Pa and 8.86 kPa, respectively. The comprehensive evaluation index j/f1/2 of the MHPA-AWHE increased by 10.8% compared to the plate–fin heat exchanger with louvered fins. The energy saving characteristics of an example DCs in Beijing was analyzed, and when the air flow rate was 2500 m3/h and the number of MHPA-AWHE modules was five, the minimum payback period of the MHPA-AWHE system was 2.3 years, which was the shortest and the most economical recorded. The maximum comprehensive energy efficiency ratio (EER) of the system after the transformation was 21.8, the electric power reduced by 28.3% compared to the system before the transformation, and the control strategy was carried out. The comprehensive performance provides a reference for MHPA-AWHE application in data centers.

Factors Impacting Liquid Droplet Instability in a PEFC Flow Channel

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emin Caglan Kumbur ◽  
Kendra Vail Sharp ◽  
Matthew Michael Mench
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Liquid Droplet ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Surface Hydrophobicity ◽  
Flow Channel ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Unstable State ◽  
Air Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Rates

To achieve optimal performance with minimal parasitic losses and degradation, the relationship between water removal parameters such as flow rate and the diffusion media (DM) surface properties must be clearly identified. An extensive experimental study of the influence of controllable engineering parameters, including surface PTFE (Teflon™) coverage (ranging from 5% to 20% of wt.) and operational air flow rate, on liquid droplet deformation at the interface of the DM and the gas flow channel was performed. A new visualization technique was developed to better understand the droplet mechanisms with enhanced optical access of both side and top views of the flow channel of a simulated H2 PEFC. A telecentric lens and 5 mm by 5 mm prisms embedded in the flow channel side walls were used for the first time to measure droplet receding and advancing surface angles in an enclosed flow channel. The influence of channel air flow rate and emerging droplet size on droplet characteristics with varying PTFE content in the DM was investigated to identify the conditions under which the droplet tends toward an unstable state. The results indicate that operational conditions, droplet height, chord length, and level of surface hydrophobicity of the DM directly affect the droplet instability. At high flow rates, the surface hydrophobicity of the DM enhances the efficacy of droplet removal, and helps to avoid local channel flooding, however at low flow rates, regardless of the amount of PTFE content, droplet instability (and removal) is unaffected by the DM surface PTFE content.

Removal of trichloroethylene and trichloroethane using a novel hollow-fibre gas-permeable membrane

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
S. Takizawa ◽  
T. Win
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Hollow Fibre ◽  
Permeation Rate ◽  
Permeable Membrane ◽  
Diffusional Boundary Layer

In order to evaluate effects of operational parameters on the removal efficiency of trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethene from water, lab-scale experiments were conducted using a novel hollow-fibre gaspermeable membrane system, which has a very thin gas-permeable membrane held between microporous support membranes. The permeation rate of chlorinated hydrocarbons increased at higher temperature and water flow rate. On the other hand, the effects of the operational conditions in the permeate side were complex. When the permeate side was kept at low pressure without sweeping air (pervaporation), the removal efficiency of chlorinated hydrocarbon, as well as water permeation rate, was low probably due to lower level of membrane swelling on the permeate side. But when a very small amount of air was swept on the membrane (air perstripping) under a low pressure, it showed a higher efficiency than in any other conditions. Three factors affecting the permeation rate are: 1) reduction of diffusional boundary layer within the microporous support membrane, 2) air/vapour flow regime and short cutting, and 3) the extent of membrane swelling on the permeate side. A higher air flow, in general, reduces the diffusional boundary layer, but at the same time disrupts the flow regime, causes short cutting, and makes the membrane dryer. Due to these multiple effects on gas permeation, there is an optimum operational condition concerning the vacuum pressure and the air flow rate. Under the optimum operational condition, the residence time within the hollow-fibre membrane to achieve 99% removal of TCE was 5.25 minutes. The log (removal rate) was linearly correlated with the average hydraulic residence time within the membrane, and 1 mg/L of TCE can be reduced to 1 μg/L (99.9% removal).

scholarly journals Model of thermal buoyancy in cavity-ventilated roof constructions

2021 ◽  
pp. 174425912098418
Author(s):  
Toivo Säwén ◽  
Martina Stockhaus ◽  
Carl-Eric Hagentoft ◽  
Nora Schjøth Bunkholt ◽  
Paula Wahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Model ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Wind Pressure ◽  
Air Flow Rate ◽  
Test Set ◽  
Air Cavity ◽  
Thermal Buoyancy ◽  
The Impact

Timber roof constructions are commonly ventilated through an air cavity beneath the roof sheathing in order to remove heat and moisture from the construction. The driving forces for this ventilation are wind pressure and thermal buoyancy. The wind driven ventilation has been studied extensively, while models for predicting buoyant flow are less developed. In the present study, a novel analytical model is presented to predict the air flow caused by thermal buoyancy in a ventilated roof construction. The model provides means to calculate the cavity Rayleigh number for the roof construction, which is then correlated with the air flow rate. The model predictions are compared to the results of an experimental and a numerical study examining the effect of different cavity designs and inclinations on the air flow rate in a ventilated roof subjected to varying heat loads. Over 80 different test set-ups, the analytical model was found to replicate both experimental and numerical results within an acceptable margin. The effect of an increased total roof height, air cavity height and solar heat load for a given construction is an increased air flow rate through the air cavity. On average, the analytical model predicts a 3% higher air flow rate than found in the numerical study, and a 20% lower air flow rate than found in the experimental study, for comparable test set-ups. The model provided can be used to predict the air flow rate in cavities of varying design, and to quantify the impact of suggested roof design changes. The result can be used as a basis for estimating the moisture safety of a roof construction.

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