LAPSE:2024.0031
Published Article
LAPSE:2024.0031
Preliminary Results of Innovative Two-Stage Torrefaction Technology Applied for Thermochemical Treatment of Sunflower Husk
Artemy Nebyvaev, Dmitry Klimov, Artem Ryzhenkov, Mathieu Brulé
January 5, 2024
This article proposes an innovative two-stage technology for biomass torrefaction generating high-quality biochar, more specifically biocoal, as solid fuel, and offering a promising solution to the challenges posed by the combustion of biomass. In particular, the higher quality of biochar as solid fuel reduces the build-up of unmanageable deposits on fired surfaces, as these deposits inhibit heat transfer and reduce the efficiency of biomass boilers. The proposed two-stage technology involves torrefaction in a hearth-type reactor at temperatures up to 250 °C, followed by a subsequent stage of cooling achieved through washing with water. The two-stage torrefaction technology is integrated within a vertical hearth reactor vessel composed of three superimposed trays serving for biomass input, torrefaction, and water washing combined with biomass cooling, respectively. Upon contact with torrefied biomass, cooling water turned into water vapor; hence, eliminating the requirement for subsequent biomass separation and drying. The system was tested on sunflower husk, and results showed a reduction in the content of problematic elements such as alkali metal chlorides or sulfur compounds in biochar ash, suggesting lower corrosion rates of convective heating surfaces of the boiler under ash sediments. It is hypothesized that, while water exited hot biomass in the form of water vapor instead of liquid water, as is typically the case in water-washing processes, a share of undesirable elements may still have been removed from biomass through vaporization, without necessitating any additional process for ash removal. Hence, the index values calculated according to the chemical analysis of biomass ash suggested that sunflower husk biochar (biocoal) resulting from the proposed two-stage torrefaction process may display fuel characteristics similar to biomasses whose combustion ash may form reduced levels of deposits on boiler surfaces. Therefore, the proposed technology holds the potential to improve solid fuel characteristics of biomass, targeting enhanced efficiency and sustainability of biomass-fired power plants.
Keywords
ash deposits, biomass combustion, torrefaction
Suggested Citation
Nebyvaev A, Klimov D, Ryzhenkov A, Brulé M. Preliminary Results of Innovative Two-Stage Torrefaction Technology Applied for Thermochemical Treatment of Sunflower Husk. (2024). LAPSE:2024.0031
Author Affiliations
Nebyvaev A: Scientific Center “Wear Resistance”, National Research University «Moscow Power Engineering Institute», 111250 Moscow, Russia
Klimov D: Scientific Center “Wear Resistance”, National Research University «Moscow Power Engineering Institute», 111250 Moscow, Russia
Ryzhenkov A: Scientific Center “Wear Resistance”, National Research University «Moscow Power Engineering Institute», 111250 Moscow, Russia
Brulé M: Independent Researcher, 11100 Narbonne, France [ORCID]
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
11
Issue
8
First Page
2486
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-08-18
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: pr11082486, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2024.0031
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doi:10.3390/pr11082486
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Jan 5, 2024
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CC BY 4.0
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Jan 5, 2024
 
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Calvin Tsay
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