Demonstration of a Pilot-Scale Plant for Biomass Torrefaction and Briquetting

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Severy ◽  
Charles E. Chamberlin ◽  
Anthony J. Eggink ◽  
Arne E. Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Throughput Rate

Abstract. A semi-mobile torrefaction and densification pilot plant was constructed in order to determine ideal operating conditions and evaluate briquette quality and throughput rate using forest residuals as the input feedstock. Experiments were conducted at various conditions with feedstock moisture content ranging from 4% to 25% (wet basis), reactor residence times of 10 and 20 min, and final product temperatures between 214°C and 324°C. Optimal operating conditions, evaluated based on throughput rate, specific electricity demand, torrefied briquette grindability, briquette volumetric energy density, and briquette durability, were identified to occur with a short residence time (10 min), low feedstock moisture content (<11% wet basis), and high final product temperature between 267°C and 275°C. These conditions were able to process 510 to 680 kg h-1 (wet basis) feedstock with a dry mass yield of 79% to 84% to produce torrefied biomass with a higher heating value of 21.2 to 23.0 MJ kg-1 (dry basis) compared to 19.6 MJ kg-1 for the original biomass. Torrefied briquettes produced at these conditions had a neatly stacked packing density of 990 kg m-3 and a volumetric energy density of 21,800 MJ m-3. Their specific grinding energy was an average 37% of the energy required to grind a raw biomass briquette. These torrefied briquettes were more durable (94% DU) than raw briquettes (85% DU) directly following production, but were less durable after undergoing temperature and humidity fluctuations associated with long distance transportation (74% DU for torrefied and 84% DU for raw biomass briquettes). Results from this pilot plant are promising for commercial scale production of high quality torrefied briquettes and should lead to additional research and development of a torrefaction system optimized for a higher throughput rate at these conditions. Keywords: Biomass, Biomass conversion technology, Bioenergy, Briquetting, Densification, Forest residuals, Pyrolysis, Torrefaction.

scholarly journals Pilot-Scale Production of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters by an Engineered Escherichia coli Strain Harboring the p(Microdiesel) Plasmid

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (13) ◽  
pp. 4560-4565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser Elbahloul ◽  
Alexander Steinbüchel
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters ◽  
Ethyl Esters ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
A Cell

ABSTRACT Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) were produced in this study by the use of an engineered Escherichia coli p(Microdiesel) strain. Four fed-batch pilot scale cultivations were carried out by first using glycerol as sole carbon source for biomass production before glucose and oleic acid were added as carbon sources. Cultivations yielded a cell density of up to 61 ± 3.1 g of cell dry mass (CDM) per liter and a maximal FAEE content of 25.4% ± 1.1% (wt/wt) of CDM.

Scaling Up of Osmotic Distillation from Laboratory to Pilot Plant for Concentration of Fruit Juices

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Bui ◽  
H. M. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Grape Juice ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Hollow Fibre ◽  
Fruit Juices ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Osmotic Distillation

A step-by-step procedure for scaling up of an osmotic distillation system from laboratory to pilot plant is discussed. The newly built pilot scale OD system featured a flexibility of using 1 or 2 hollow fibre modules at a time to suit the concentration demands. Three types of hollow fibres were tested on the new system. Pilot trials for OD concentration of apple, grape juices and freeze concentrated (FC) grape juice were successfully carried out to achieve a final concentration up to 65°Brix with fluxes ranging from 2.4 to 0.69kg.m-2.h-1 depending on the fibre types and the operating conditions. Cascade effect was also employed to deal with high viscosity to achieve high concentration. The obtained pilot OD fluxes were comparable to the ones obtained in the lab under similar conditions, and they fitted well with the developed models. Sensory evaluation indicated that OD well preserved the quality attributes of the fruit juices.

Fate of Heavy Metals and Potential for Clinker Formation during Pilot Scale Incineration of Municipal Sludge

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 463-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
H W Campbell ◽  
P J Crescuolo ◽  
T R Bridle
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Throughput Rate ◽  
Nickel Copper ◽  
Four Levels

This study describes multiple-hearth incineration investigations conducted at the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) in Hamilton, Ontario. The objectives of the study were to determine, under controlled conditions, the fate of selected heavy metals present in the sludge and to determine optimal operating conditions to minimize clinker formation and residual organic content of the ash. A factorial experimental design which included four levels of temperature, three levels of throughput rate and three levels of centre shaft speed was conducted. Within the constraints of the experiment, zinc, iron, magnesium, aluminum, nickel, copper, calcium, chromium, lead, silica and phosphorus proved to be conservative and remained in the ash. Varying proportions of cadmium, mercury and arsenic were classified to the gas stream. The destruction of total carbon was essentially complete under all test conditions, with the minimum level being 98.7%. Clinker formation was observed only under conditions of high temperature combined with a long furnace residence time.

scholarly journals Comparative Biodrying Performance of Municipal Solid Waste in the Reactor under Greenhouse and Non-greenhouse Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-217
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Aeration Rate ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Airflow Rate ◽  
Greenhouse Condition ◽  
Drying Time

The high moisture content of municipal solid waste yields a lower energy content of solid fuel that affects the thermal conversion efficiency. Biodrying is an alternative drying method using bio-heat generated by microbial metabolism to reduce the moisture content of municipal solid waste. This research was conducted in three pilot-scale biodrying reactors, two under greenhouse conditions compared with one conventional non-greenhouse condition. Two bunkers with greenhouse cladding were connected with aerators, and airflow rates were set at 0.4 and 0.6 m3/(kgwaste·day), respectively. Meanwhile, a passive aeration method was applied to the non-greenhouse bunker. This study aims to investigate the effect of the greenhouse condition on the biodrying process and assess the performance of the drying process through different operating conditions. The result shows that the greenhouse mainly affects the air temperature rise in the reactor. The aeration rate is positively correlated with weight reduction (r = 0.93). At 0.6 m3/(kgwaste·day) airflow rate, the treatment can reach a moisture content less than 30% on average within ten days, while at 0.4 m3/(kgwaste·day) airflow rate, it takes 15 days to reduce the moisture content to less than 30%. Biodrying under the greenhouse condition with active aeration potentially achieves desirable moisture content reduction and heating value increase more efficiently than the common biodrying. However, the airflow rate is a crucial factor in determining the suitable drying time in biodrying under the greenhouse condition.

Application of a Pilot-Scale Pulsed Electrocoagulation system to OCC-Based Paper Mill Effluent

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 14-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUAN-SHING PERNG ◽  
EUGENE I-CHEN WANG ◽  
SHIH-TSUNG YU ◽  
AN-YI CHANG
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Optimal Dosage ◽  
Water Quality Indicators ◽  
Paper Mill Effluent ◽  
Treated Effluent ◽  
True Color

Trends toward closure of white water recirculation loops in papermaking often lead to a need for system modifications. We conducted a pilot-scale study using pulsed electrocoagulation technology to treat the effluent of an old corrugated containerboard (OCC)-based paper mill in order to evaluate its treatment performance. The operating variables were a current density of 0–240 A/m2, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8–16 min, and a coagulant (anionic polyacrylamide) dosage of 0–22 mg/L. Water quality indicators investigated were electrical con-ductivity, suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and true color. The results were encouraging. Under the operating conditions without coagulant addition, the highest removals for conductivity, SS, COD, and true color were 39.8%, 85.7%, 70.5%, and 97.1%, respectively (with an HRT of 16 min). The use of a coagulant enhanced the removal of both conductivity and COD. With an optimal dosage of 20 mg/L and a shortened HRT of 10 min, the highest removal achieved for the four water quality indicators were 37.7%, 88.7%, 74.2%, and 91.7%, respectively. The water qualities thus attained should be adequate to allow reuse of a substantial portion of the treated effluent as process water makeup in papermaking.

A pilot web former designed to study retention-formation relationships

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-194
Author(s):  
Anna Svedberg ◽  
Tom Lindström
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Montmorillonite Clay ◽  
Speed Ratio ◽  
Good Reproducibility ◽  
Total Solids ◽  
Retention Aids ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract A pilot-scale fourdrinier former has been developed for the purpose of investigating the relationship between retention and paper formation (features, retention aids, dosage points, etc.). The main objective of this publication was to present the R-F (Retention and formation)-machine and demonstrate some of its fields of applications. For a fine paper stock (90% hardwood and 10% softwood) with addition of 25% filler (based on total solids content), the relationship between retention and formation was investigated for a microparticulate retention aid (cationic polyacrylamide together with anionic montmorillonite clay). The retention-formation relationship of the retention aid system was investigated after choosing standardized machine operating conditions (e.g. the jet-to-wire speed ratio). As expected, the formation was impaired when the retention was increased. Since good reproducibility was attained, the R-F (Retention and formation)-machine was found to be a useful tool for studying the relationship between retention and paper formation.

Nanofiltration of colored surface water: Quebec's experience

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
P. Kouadio ◽  
M. Tétrault
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Quebec City ◽  
Water Regulation ◽  
Eastern Canada

Three colored surface water nanofiltration pilot-scale projects were conducted in the province of Quebec (eastern Canada), between November 2000 and March 2002, by the company H2O Innovation (2000) inc., for the municipalities of Lac Bouchette, Latulipe-et-Gaboury and Charlesbourg (now part of Quebec City). Results indicated that nanofiltration permeate quality has an advance on present drinking water regulation standard in Quebec, but important membrane fouling occurred. Fouling can be controlled by pretreatment and optimization of the operating conditions.

Experimental and numerical analysis to identify the performance limiting mechanisms in solid-state lithium cells under pulse operating conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (41) ◽  
pp. 22740-22755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Chin Pang ◽  
Yucang Hao ◽  
Monica Marinescu ◽  
Huizhi Wang ◽  
Mu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid State ◽  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Lithium Ion Batteries ◽  
Lithium Batteries ◽  
Safety Concern ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Thermal Runaway ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Lithium Cells

Solid-state lithium batteries could reduce the safety concern due to thermal runaway while improving the gravimetric and volumetric energy density beyond the existing practical limits of lithium-ion batteries.

scholarly journals Pilot-Scale Production of Chito-Oligosaccharides Using an Innovative Recombinant Chitosanase Preparation Approach

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Chih-Yu Cheng ◽  
Chia-Huang Tsai ◽  
Pei-Jyun Liou ◽  
Chi-Hang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Density ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Ionic Concentration ◽  
Dihydrogen Phosphate ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate ◽  
Selective Precipitation ◽  
Pilot Scale Production

For pilot-scale production of chito-oligosaccharides, it must be cost-effective to prepare designable recombinant chitosanase. Herein, an efficient method for preparing recombinant Bacillus chitosanase from Escherichia coli by elimination of undesirable substances as a precipitate is proposed. After an optimized culture with IPTG (Isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside) induction, the harvested cells were resuspended, disrupted by sonication, divided by selective precipitation, and stored using the same solution conditions. Several factors involved in these procedures, including ion types, ionic concentration, pH, and bacterial cell density, were examined. The optimal conditions were inferred to be pH = 4.5, 300 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and cell density below 1011 cells/mL. Finally, recombinant chitosanase was purified to >70% homogeneity with an activity recovery and enzyme yield of 90% and 106 mg/L, respectively. When 10 L of 5% chitosan was hydrolyzed with 2500 units of chitosanase at ambient temperature for 72 h, hydrolyzed products having molar masses of 833 ± 222 g/mol with multiple degrees of polymerization (chito-dimer to tetramer) were obtained. This work provided an economical and eco-friendly preparation of recombinant chitosanase to scale up the hydrolysis of chitosan towards tailored oligosaccharides in the near future.

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