A Study on Amount of Biomass Pellets Used in Durability Testing

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Zhang ◽  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
X. X. Song ◽  
M. Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Quality Parameter ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Important Quality ◽  
Durability Testing ◽  
And Storage

Biofuels are an alternative to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass can be used as feedstocks for befoul manufacturing. Low density of cellulosic feedstocks causes difficulties in handling them during transportation and storage, thus hindering large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Pelleting can increase the density of cellulosic feedstocks by compacting bulky biomass into pellets. Pellet durability, an important quality parameter, measures the ability of pellets to withstand impact and other destructive forces during transportation and handling. ASABE standard S269.4 specifies a procedure to determine pellet durability using 500 grams of pellets. However, it does not provide any justification of choosing this amount of pellets. This paper investigates the feasibility of using a smaller amount of pellets (50 grams) to determine pellet durability. Results show that 50 grams of pellets can generate comparable durability results as 500 grams of pellets.

Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass: A Review

2013 ◽  
Vol 805-806 ◽  
pp. 151-155
Author(s):  
Kang Qi Fan ◽  
Yong Jun Tang ◽  
Yang Fang
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Ultrasonic Power ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Pellet Density ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Biomass To Ethanol

Increasing concerns about reliable supplies and envi­ronmental consequences of petroleum-based fuels have made it important to develop sustainable green sources for liquid transportation fuels. One such source is cellulosic biomass. However, high costs associated with transportation and storage of low-density cellulosic biomass has hindered large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting can increase biomass density, improve storability, and reduce transportation costs. This paper reviews the state of the art of this technique, covering the effects of different process parameters on pellet quality, pellet charring, pellet crack, and sugar yield. It can be concluded that pellet density increases with an increase in ultrasonic power and pelleting pressure, and with a decrease in biomass moisture content and particle size. However, large ultrasonic power may lead to the charring of cellulosic biomass, which adversely affects the conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol. In addition, some problems associated with UV-A pelletingof cellulosic biomass are proposed.

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 Particle Size on Cellulosic Biomass Pellets: A Literature Review

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Zhang ◽  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Input Parameter ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Pellet Quality ◽  
Biomass Materials ◽  
And Storage

Cellulosic biofuels are becoming an attractive alternative to conventional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the feedstock for cellulosic biofuel manufacturing. However, high transportation and storage cost of cellulosic biomass due to its low density hinders large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Pelleting processes are used to produce biomass pellets which have higher density and are easier to handle in transportation and storage. Before going through pelleting processes, original cellulosic biomass materials are milled into particles. The particle size is an important input parameter in pelleting processes. Many investigations have been conducted on effects of biomass particle size on pellet quality (in terms of density, durability, stability, and strength). This paper reviews the literature about effects of particle size on pellet quality. Investigated biomass materials, selected range of particle size, utilized milling and pelleting processes are summarized. The approaches to evaluating pellet quality are also reviewed.

Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Sorghum Stalks: Effects of Pressure and Ultrasonic Power

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
Timothy Deines ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Donghai Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzymatic Hydrolysis ◽  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sugar Yield ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Ultrasonic Power ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Low Efficiency

Cellulosic biofuels can be used to replace traditional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is feedstock in manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. However, the low density of cellulosic biomass feedstock hinders large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Another bottleneck factor in manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels is the low efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass materials resulting in a low sugar yield. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting can increase the density of cellulosic biomass feedstocks via combined effects of mechanical compression and ultrasonic vibration of the tool on the cellulosic biomass. Meanwhile ultrasonic vibration may act as a beneficial pretreatment for enzymatic hydrolysis, which can possibly increase the efficiency of hydrolysis and obtain a higher sugar yield. The pressure and the ultrasonic power are important parameters in UV-A pelleting. Their effects on pellet quality (density, durability, and stability) and sugar yield (after hydrolysis) are experimentally investigated.

Ultrasonic Vibration Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass: A Preliminary Experiment

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
Donghai Wang ◽  
Robert Clark
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Vibration ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
The Road ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Vibration Assistance ◽  
On The Road ◽  
And Storage

Biofuels produced from cellulosic biomass (such as the fibrous, woody, and generally inedible portions of plant matter) can significantly reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, create new jobs, improve rural economies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve national security. However, in the U.S., there are currently no cellulosic biofuel plants in commercial production. Several technical barriers have hindered large-scale cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. One such barrier is related to the low density of cellulosic feedstocks, causing their transportation and storage to be very expensive. Pelleting biomass can increase the overall efficiency by utilizing existing transportation infrastructure and storage systems for mega-ton quantities. If biomass is pelleted, it can be handled and transported with existing grain handling equipment in the field, on the road, and at the central biorefinery. This paper presents experimental study on ultrasonic vibration assisted pelleting of cellulosic feedstocks. The results show that ultrasonic vibration assistance could increase the mechanical strength of pellets by more than six times and the density by 50%.

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.

Effects of Ultrasonic Treatments on Cellulose in Cellulosic Biofuel Manufacturing: A Literature Review

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Zhang ◽  
Z. J. Pei
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Degree Of Polymerization ◽  
Sugar Yield ◽  
Cellulosic Biomass ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuels ◽  
Crystallinity Degree ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Low Efficiency

Cellulosic biofuels are one type of renewable energy, and have been proposed to replace traditional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the feedstocks in cellulosic biofuel manufacturing. Cellulose accounts for approximately 30% of the total weight in cellulosic biomass. Glucose, one type of monosaccharide convertible to ethanol, can be obtained by hydrolyzing the polymeric structure of cellulose. Currently enzymatic methods are the most common for the hydrolysis of cellulose. However, the low efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis increases production cost and hinders the large-scale manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Ultrasonic treatments applied on cellulosic biomass were found to improve the efficiency of hydrolysis and subsequently increase the sugar yield of hydrolysis. To understand the effects of ultrasonics on cellulose, investigations have been conducted on the effects on cellulose characteristics caused by ultrasonic treatments during hydrolysis. This paper reviews the effects of ultrasonic treatments on cellulose during hydrolysis in terms of sugar yield and some characteristics of cellulose, such as accessibility, crystallinity, degree of polymerization, and morphological structure.

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.

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.

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