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    Biomass Torrefaction As A Preprocessing Step For Thermal Conversion - Evergreen

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    Fernando Talero
    The document discusses how torrefaction can help address challenges with biomass feedstock by improving quality, increasing energy density, and reducing costs. Torrefaction involves heating biomass in an oxygen-depleted environment, which dries it out and increases its energy content. This produces a more consistent and dense fuel that is easier and cheaper to transport. While still developing, torrefaction shows promise as a preprocessing step for thermal conversion technologies like combustion.

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    Biomass Torrefaction As A Preprocessing Step For Thermal Conversion - Evergreen

    Uploaded by

    Fernando Talero
    109 views4 pages
    The document discusses how torrefaction can help address challenges with biomass feedstock by improving quality, increasing energy density, and reducing costs. Torrefaction involves heating biomass in an oxygen-depleted environment, which dries it out and increases its energy content. This produces a more consistent and dense fuel that is easier and cheaper to transport. While still developing, torrefaction shows promise as a preprocessing step for thermal conversion technologies like combustion.

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    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion - Evergreen

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    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion - Evergreen

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    The document discusses how torrefaction can help address challenges with biomass feedstock by improving quality, increasing energy density, and reducing costs. Torrefaction involves heating biomass in an oxygen-depleted environment, which dries it out and increases its energy content. This produces a more consistent and dense fuel that is easier and cheaper to transport. While still developing, torrefaction shows promise as a preprocessing step for thermal conversion technologies like combustion.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    109 views4 pages

    Biomass Torrefaction As A Preprocessing Step For Thermal Conversion - Evergreen

    Uploaded by

    Fernando Talero
    The document discusses how torrefaction can help address challenges with biomass feedstock by improving quality, increasing energy density, and reducing costs. Torrefaction involves heating biomass in an oxygen-depleted environment, which dries it out and increases its energy content. This produces a more consistent and dense fuel that is easier and cheaper to transport. While still developing, torrefaction shows promise as a preprocessing step for thermal conversion technologies like combustion.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 4

    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion

    Reducing costs in the biomass supply chain

    There have been many studies to identify biomass sources and quantities in the United States.
    These studies have shown there is at least one billion tons of biomass available for conversion.
    What is not taken into account is the logistics of aggregating and transporting the biomass to the
    processing locations. These aggregating and transporting costs are high enough to make a
    significant portion of the biomass uneconomical to utilize for conversion. In addition to these
    costs there are inherent problems with most types of biomass. This paper will address some of
    the major challenges with biomass and how torrefaction can help to improve the feedstock and
    reduce the costs associated with biomass aggregation and transportation.

    Biomass Challenges
    There are a number of quality and logistical challenges which biomass sources have in common.
    Foreign debris is common among many types of biomass. Forest waste has a large content of
    residual dirt. Construction waste and MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) include metal items, glass,
    plastics, and other materials which can damage equipment and release harmful chemicals when
    burned. Feedstock sources must have the foreign materials separated out before the conversion
    process to prevent damage.
    Inconsistent moisture is also prevalent in biomass feedstock. Unprocessed forest residue and
    urban wood waste may have 20%-50+% moisture depending on time left to dry and moisture in
    location. MSW also has a wide range of moisture content just because of the inconsistent nature
    of the feedstock. Ag residue moisture also varies depending on the type of biomass and time of
    harvest. Moisture variation in the feedstock requires adjustments to the conversion process.
    These adjustments reduce the efficiency of the process and increase costs.
    Biomass typically degrades over time due to natural decomposition. Biomass does not store well
    without careful protection. Biomass is prone to natural decomposition and breakdown with
    exposure to moisture, pests, and other environmental conditions. The high moisture content of
    some sources of biomass naturally accelerates the decomposition process.
    Biomass is bulky. The density of baled ag waste, collected wood residue, or MSW often fill the
    transport container before it reaches the maximum weight. Since the transportation containers
    could carry more if the biomass had a higher density densification would result in lower
    transportation costs.
    Biomass generally requires pre-processing before conversion into other products. Biomass can
    rarely be used in the conversion process without a reduction (grinding) operation to make a
    consistent particle size. This pre-processing provides a consistent material so complete
    conversion can take place. Inconsistent biomass size cause un-reacted materials to pass through
    the conversion process and reduce efficiency.
    Biomass is not as efficient to collect and transport as other feedstocks. Grains, coal, oil, and
    natural gas all have well developed and efficient collection and transportation systems. Biomass
    collection and transportation costs are much higher because the material is typically batch loaded

    August 2009, EverGreen Renewable, LLC Page 1


    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion

    and unloaded. Other developed feedstock sources have high speed continuous flow loading and
    unloading systems.
    These biomass challenges are not insurmountable. Minimizing the effects and costs associated
    with these challenges results in a more economical feedstock supply.

    The Torrefaction Process


    The torrefaction process is typically a combination of two distinct steps with an additional
    pelletization step after the process in selected applications.
    The pre-processing step consists of separating any foreign materials from the feedstock and
    grinding to produce a more uniform particle size. The separated and ground material is then
    delivered to the torrefaction equipment.
    During the torrefaction process the biomass is heated in an oxygen depleted environment to 200-
    300C just long enough for the moisture and some of the hydrocarbons to off gas. The volume of
    the original material is reduced by 30% - 70% while the material retains over 90% of the original
    energy in the biomass. The gas is captured and used to provide the power for the torrefaction
    process. The torrefied material has higher energy content because the moisture and other
    components were removed in the heating process. The material is dry and brittle compared to
    the original biomass.
    In comparison conventional wood pellets contain approximately 8 11 GJ/m3 torrefied wood
    pellets contain approximately 15-18.5 GJ/m3 (2).
    Pelletization is can be used with torrefaction to convert the material into a more transportable
    form. The pelletization process increases the mass density of the product, eliminates dust
    problems, and provides a medium which conveys easily for material handling.

    Torrefaction Reduces Feedstock Costs


    The torrefaction process addresses several of the biomass challenges mentioned previously.
    The torrefaction process requires the biomass to be ground or chipped before processing. This
    preparation step allows the separation of foreign materials and dirt before torrefaction. This can
    eliminate significant downstream conversion problems with slag formation and other foreign
    material problems.
    Normal feedstock moisture ranges from 10% - 50+%. The torrefaction process completely dries
    the biomass and the resulting material has 1%-6% (1) moisture. This provides two main
    benefits because the resulting feedstock has a consistent moisture level for the conversion
    process and it reduces transportation costs associated with moving unwanted water. The
    resulting chemical conversion also stops the biomass decomposition and moisture absorption.
    The torrefaction process increases the caloric density of the material. Torrefied material has a
    caloric density of approximately 20 MJ/kg (1) compared to wood chip density of approximately
    11 MJ/kg (1). When the torrefaction process is combined with pelletization it provides an
    extremely dense renewable feedstock for processors. The pelletization process increases the
    mass density to approximately 750 kg/m3 (2) and the energy density to approximately 16.75

    August 2009, EverGreen Renewable, LLC Page 2


    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion

    GJ/m3(1). The pelletized material can also be moved like coal or grain with existing handling
    systems and hopper bottom containers.
    Torrefaction produces a material that is free from foreign materials with consistent moisture.
    The torrefied material also has a higher energy content and density. The material is also resistant
    to decomposition and pelletized material transports using common grain handling equipment.
    These factors can reduce the logistics costs by over 50% (2) while also improving economics for
    thermal conversion. The resulting material can also be burned in existing coal fired or wood
    pellet systems without modification.

    Process Equipment Development


    Several companies around the globe are working on commercial scale torrefaction processing
    equipment at various stages of development. This process appears to be a beneficial feedstock
    upgrade for several conversion technologies. Given the current development paths of these
    companies there may be economical regional scale or semi-mobile equipment options. Current
    cost projections for the processing and pelletization are $40-$50/ton of product including capital
    costs. The young nature of this process application and its limited introduction should allow for
    significant process improvements and economies of scale as the capacities are increase and
    processing experience is gained.
    There are several well established companies who can provide the pre-processing and
    pelletization equipment in commercial scale designed for the application and environment. This
    equipment can either be powered by diesel or electrical power depending on the location and
    infrastructure. The pre-processing and pelletization equipment is utilized in commercial
    applications globally.

    Summary and Conclusions


    Torrefaction solves several biomass challenges and converts biomass into a consistent feedstock
    with higher energy density and lower transportation costs. The development of regional scale or
    mobile torrefaction processing equipment will provide a more cost effective solution for
    opportunistic collection of biomass located in remote areas.
    Torrefied material is not a good fit for all biomass conversion processes. It is not a good
    feedstock for chemical conversion. The chemical changes in the biomass make it much harder to
    break down. Torrefaction is a good preprocessing step for general combustion, wood or coal
    fired applications, and gasification.
    The commercial scale deployment of biomass torrefaction will depend on many factors including
    the total conversion costs/ton, biomass pricing, carbon credit pricing, capital cost deferment
    because of reduced emissions, and utilization biomass within the existing process.
    Torrefaction will likely be a regional solution like many of the biomass opportunities available
    today. The maturity of the technology and processing experience will provide a reduction in
    processing costs and drive more widespread usage as it becomes economically viable.

    August 2009, EverGreen Renewable, LLC Page 3


    Biomass Torrefaction as a Preprocessing Step for Thermal Conversion

    References
    (1) Patrick .C.A. Bergman and Jacob H.A. Kiel, Torrefaction for Biomass Upgrading
    Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Unit ECN Biomass
    ECN Report: ECN-RX--05-180
    (2) CheckBiotech www.checkbiotech.org Torrefaction gives biomass a 20% energy boost,
    makes logistics far more efficient Friday, July 25, 2008

    August 2009, EverGreen Renewable, LLC Page 4

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