JP2008274109A - Bio-coke manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing apparatus of bio-coke that permits efficient mass production of bio-coke. <P>SOLUTION: The bio-coke manufacturing apparatus is one for manufacturing bio-coke by pressure molding ground biomass under heating, where a pressure range and a temperature range for inducing thermal decomposition or thermosetting reactions of hemicellulose and lignin in the ground biomass are set; the apparatus is equipped with a bottom plate 16 for placing ground biomass on, a pressurizing plate 11 for pressurizing the ground biomass up to the pressure range by a hydraulically driven means 14, and a plurality of pressurizing members 20 arranged without a gap on the pressurizing plane side of the pressurizing plate; a cylinder head filled with a pressurized oil is formed on the pressurizing plate; one side of the pressurizing members 20 faces the cylinder head and the other side forms the pressurizing face; temperature-regulating means 26 and 27 freely switchable between heating and cooling are provided on the pressurizing plate or the pressurizing members and the bottom plate; and the ground biomass is heated and kept within the temperature range in a pressurized state and then cooled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for producing bio-coke using biomass as a raw material, and more particularly to a bio-coke production device that can industrially mass-produce bio-coke that can be effectively used as an alternative fuel for coal-coke.

In recent years, CO ₂ emission reduction has been promoted from the viewpoint of global warming. In particular, in combustion facilities such as boiler power generation, fossil fuels such as coal and heavy oil are often used as fuels. However, these fossil fuels cause global warming due to the problem of CO ₂ emissions, and are effective in protecting the global environment. Its use is being regulated from a viewpoint. In addition, from the viewpoint of depletion of fossil fuels, the development and commercialization of alternative energy resources are required.
Therefore, as an alternative to fossil fuels, the use of fuel using biomass has been promoted. Biomass is an organic substance resulting from photosynthesis, and includes biomass such as wood, vegetation, crops, and moss. By biomass-treating this biomass, the biomass can be effectively used as an energy source or an industrial raw material.

As a method of converting biomass into fuel, a method of drying biomass into fuel, a method of pressurizing to form fuel pellets, a method of carbonizing and carbonizing to dry distillation, and the like are known. However, simply drying the biomass makes it difficult to transport and store because the porosity is large and the specific gravity is low, so it cannot be said that it is effective as a fuel for long-distance transport or storage.
On the other hand, a method for converting biomass into fuel pellets is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-27435). In this method, the water content of the chopped organic fiber material is adjusted to 16 to 28%, and this is compressed in a die and dried to produce fuel pellets.
Further, a method for carbonizing biomass to produce fuel is disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-206490) and the like. This method is a method in which biomass is heated at 200 to 500 ° C., preferably 250 to 400 ° C. in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere to produce a biomass semi-carbonized consolidated fuel precursor.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-27435 JP 2003-206490 A

However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, biomass is converted into fuel by performing compression molding. However, since the generated fuel pellet has a large amount of water, it generates a small amount of heat and is not suitable as a fuel.
In addition, as described in Patent Document 2 and the like, the method of converting biomass into fuel by dry distillation has a higher value as a fuel than biomass that is not processed, but it is apparently compared with coal coke. Low specific gravity and low calorific value. Furthermore, since the hardness is lower than that of coal coke, it is insufficient for use as an alternative to coal coke.
Therefore, in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a bio-coke manufacturing apparatus that can efficiently mass-produce bio-coke.

In recent years, bio-coke has been studied as an alternative to coal-coke.
Bio-coke is produced by holding a biomass material in a pressurized and heated state for a certain period of time and then cooling it. The pressurization and heating conditions are set to a pressure range and a temperature range that induce thermal decomposition or thermosetting reaction of hemicellulose and lignin in the pulverized biomass. Thereby, the following reaction mechanism is established, and bio-coke having high hardness and high calorific value can be produced.
The reaction mechanism is that the reaction is carried out under the conditions described above, so that the hemicellulose, which is the fiber component of the pulverized biomass, is thermally decomposed to exhibit an adhesive effect, and the lignin maintains its skeleton by superheated steam generated from the pulverized biomass. By reacting at low temperature and acting synergistically with the consolidation effect, bio-coke with high hardness and high calorific value can be produced. The thermosetting reaction proceeds when a reactive site is induced between phenolic polymers contained in lignin and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a table comparing the physical properties of bio-coke with other fuels. Note that this table only describes experimentally obtained numerical values, and the present invention is not limited to these numerical values.
As shown in this table, the bio-coke has excellent performance in both hardness and flammability with physical properties of apparent specific gravity of 1.2 to 1.38, maximum compressive strength of 60 to 200 MPa, and calorific value of 18 to 23 MJ / kg. The raw woody biomass has an apparent specific gravity of about 0.4 to 0.6, a calorific value of about 17 MJ / kg, and a maximum compressive strength of about 30 MPa. It turns out that it is excellent in. Further, even when compared with physical properties of coal coke, apparent specific gravity of about 1.85, maximum compressive strength of about 15 MPa, and calorific value of about 29 MJ / kg, bio-coke has performance comparable to that of combustibility and hardness.
Therefore, bio-coke is an effective fuel as an alternative to coal-coke and has a high utility value as a material material.

However, this bio-coke is still in the experimental stage, and the actual condition is that the reaction vessel is manually filled with pulverized biomass and manufactured in batches in a single reaction vessel.
Therefore, the present invention proposes an apparatus for efficiently producing the above-described bio-coke.

The present invention is a bio-coke production apparatus for producing bio-coke by pressure forming while heating a biomass pulverized product whose water content has been adjusted to a predetermined moisture content,
The pressure range and temperature range in which hemicellulose in the pulverized biomass is thermally decomposed and lignin induces a thermosetting reaction are set,
A flat bottom plate on which the pulverized biomass is placed, and a pressure plate that moves toward the bottom plate by hydraulic drive means and pressurizes the pulverized biomass to the pressure range, and
The pressure plate and the bottom plate are provided with temperature control means capable of switching between heating and cooling, and the temperature control means heats the pressure range in the pressurized state and holds it for a predetermined time, and then cools it. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, bio-coke that can be used as an alternative to coal coke can be efficiently produced. That is, because it is configured to process a large amount of pulverized biomass at once by a pressurizing mechanism consisting of a bottom plate and a pressurizing plate, and temperature control means equipped with them, it is possible to industrially mass produce bio-coke. Become.
Furthermore, it becomes possible to perform a heating process and a cooling process in the state which pressurized the biomass ground material by providing the temperature control mechanism which can be switched to heating and cooling.

In addition, the pressure plate has a plurality of pressure members arranged on the pressure surface side without a gap, a cylinder head filled with pressure oil is formed on the pressure plate, and one end side of the pressure member is Facing the cylinder head, the other end forms a pressure surface,
The plurality of pressure members are formed such that a ratio between a pressure receiving area on the cylinder head side and an area of the pressure surface is the same.
Thus, by providing a plurality of pressurizing members on the pressurizing surface side of the pressurizing plate and providing a cylinder head communicating with them, it is possible to apply pressure uniformly to the pulverized biomass.

Further, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the cylinder head is provided, and the hydraulic drive means is controlled based on the detected pressure.
Thereby, when pressurizing the biomass pulverized product, a predetermined pressure can be accurately maintained.

Further, the temperature adjusting means supplies a cooling medium passage for passing a heating medium or a refrigerant formed in the bottom plate and the pressurizing member, a heating medium circuit for supplying the heating medium to the cooling medium passage, and a refrigerant. And the cooling medium passage of the pressurizing member includes a pipe penetrating inside the pressurizing member and a flexible connecting pipe connecting pipes of adjacent pressurizing members. It is characterized by being configured.
According to the present invention, it is possible to freely adjust the temperature of the bottom plate and the pressurizing member by using a heat medium or a refrigerant as the temperature adjusting means, and a flexible connecting pipe is provided in the cooling medium passage of the pressurizing member. By using this, the cooling medium passage is not damaged with respect to the displacement of the pressure member and can be used safely.

Still further, the temperature adjusting means supplies a cooling medium passage through which a heating medium or a refrigerant formed in the pressure plate and the bottom plate flows, a heating medium circuit that supplies the cooling medium passage, and a refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit has a heat exchanger that cools the refrigerant by heat exchange with the cooling water, and a volume that cools the refrigerant to the boiling point of water or lower on the upstream side of the heat exchanger. A refrigerant tank is provided.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can prevent that the cooling water supplied to the heat exchanger of a refrigerant circuit boils, can operate | move safely and smoothly, and can drive | operate with the amount of cooling water being minimized. It becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently mass-produce bio-coke having high hardness and high calorific value that can be used as an alternative to coal coke.
Further, by providing a plurality of pressure members on the pressure surface side of the pressure plate, it is possible to uniformly apply pressure to the pulverized biomass. Furthermore, it becomes possible to perform a heating process and a cooling process in the state which pressurized the biomass ground material by providing the temperature control mechanism which can be switched to heating and cooling.
Further, by using a heat medium or a refrigerant as the temperature adjusting means, it is possible to freely adjust the temperature of the bottom plate and the pressure member, and by using a flexible connecting pipe in the cooling medium passage of the pressure member. The cooling medium passage is not damaged with respect to the displacement of the pressurizing member and can be used safely.
Furthermore, by providing a refrigerant tank having a volume for cooling the refrigerant to below the boiling point of water upstream of the heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit, it is possible to prevent the heat exchanger cooling water from boiling and In addition, the operation can be performed smoothly and with the cooling water amount being minimized.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, but are merely illustrative examples. Not too much.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the bio-coke producing apparatus of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a pressurizing mechanism of the bio-coke producing apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an arrangement of pressurizing members in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cooling medium passage incorporated in the pressure member, and FIG. 5 is an equipment system diagram including the cooling medium circuit of the present embodiment.
In this embodiment, the biomass used as a raw material for bio-coke is an organic substance resulting from photosynthesis, and is a biomass such as wood, grass, crops, and moss. For example, waste wood, thinned wood, pruned branches, etc. , Plants, agricultural waste, and coffee waste such as coffee and tea.

In the present embodiment, the biomass is adjusted in advance so that the biomass has a predetermined moisture content, and a biomass pulverized product that has been pretreated to pulverize to a predetermined particle size or less is used as a raw material.
The bio-coke apparatus of the present embodiment produces bio-coke by cooling the biomass pulverized product under a predetermined pressure and temperature condition, holding it for a certain period of time and then cooling it. The above pressure and temperature conditions are a pressure range and a temperature range that induce thermal decomposition or thermosetting reaction of hemicellulose and lignin in the pulverized biomass. That is, the pressure range and the temperature range in which hemicellulose in the biomass pulverized product is thermally decomposed and lignin induces a thermosetting reaction.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the whole structure of the bio-coke manufacturing apparatus of a present Example is demonstrated.
The main components of the bio-coke production apparatus are a pulverized product hopper 30 into which a pulverized biomass product is charged, a screw feeder 31 that supplies the pulverized product from the pulverized product hopper 30 by a predetermined amount, and a screw feeder 31 connected to the biomass feeder. A pulverized material transport conveyor 33 for transporting the pulverized material, a biomass pulverized material supplied from the pulverized material transport conveyor 33, and performing the above reaction to produce bio coke, and the manufactured bio coke product And a product conveyor 35 to be carried out.
Although not shown in the drawings, in the present embodiment, a pretreatment device for adjusting the moisture content of the biomass raw material to a predetermined moisture content and pulverizing it to a predetermined particle size or less, and the manufactured large-diameter bio, upstream from the pulverized product hopper 30. A crushing device for crushing the coke to a desired size.

  The bio-coke production apparatus 1 includes a frame 2, a bottom plate 16 on which the pulverized biomass is placed, and a hydraulic pressurizing mechanism that applies pressure to the crushed biomass placed on the bottom plate 16 by the pressure plate 11. The temperature control mechanism that is incorporated in the bottom plate 16 and the pressure plate 11 and heats or cools the pulverized biomass is a main component.

The frame 2 is fixed to a base 3 fixed to the floor, four side frames 4 erected in a vertical direction thereto, a lower frame 5 supported by the side frame 4, and an upper end thereof. And an upper frame 6.
The bottom plate 16 is fixed to the lower frame 5 and has a flat upper surface.
The hydraulic pressurizing mechanism includes a hydraulic drive device 14, a hydraulic cylinder 13 connected to the hydraulic drive device 14 via a hydraulic pipe 15 and housed in the upper frame 6, and is slidably engaged with the hydraulic cylinder 13. The hydraulic piston 10 is moved vertically by the pressure oil supplied to the cylinder 13, and the pressure plate 11 is fixed to the tip of the hydraulic piston 10 and moves toward the bottom plate 16. The pressure plate 11 is arranged to face the bottom plate 16 and pressurizes the pulverized biomass placed on the bottom surface 16 with a predetermined pressure. The pressure of the pressure plate 11 is set by a hydraulic drive device 14. The shape of the pressure plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 may be either circular or rectangular.

  Here, in order to produce high-quality bio-coke with uniform hardness and calorific value, it is important to apply pressure evenly when the biomass pulverized product is pressurized. However, the pulverized biomass has uneven particle size and density, and it is difficult to press evenly when the pressurization area is large as in the present apparatus. Further, when placing the pulverized biomass on the bottom plate 16, it is difficult to make the thickness to be laminated uniform, and the applied pressure varies.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is adopted as a configuration capable of uniformly pressing even in the present apparatus having a large pressing area.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a cylinder head 23 filled with pressure oil is formed in the pressure plate 11, and the pressure plate 11 has a plurality of pressure members 20 on the pressure surface side. . One end side of the pressurizing member 20 is a piston portion 201 facing the cylinder head 23, and a pressurizing surface 202 is formed on the other end side toward the pulverized biomass. The pressure member 20 is preferably a member in which an SGP pipe is wound and cast with brass, bronze or the like.
The cylinder heads 23 of the plurality of pressure members 20 communicate with each other. Further, the ratio of the pressure receiving area of the piston part 201 and the area of the pressing surface 202 is formed so that all the pressing members 20 are the same. Thereby, in all the pressurization members 20, the pressure to biomass pulverized material can be made uniform.

  FIG. 3 shows an arrangement configuration of the pressure member 20. As shown in the figure, the pressure member 20 is disposed on the entire surface of the pressure plate 11. The pressure member 20 is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the adjacent pressure member. At this time, these are arranged to such an extent that the displacement width of the pressurizing member 20 can be tolerated, but it is necessary to arrange them without a gap so that there is no portion that is not pressurized in the crushed biomass. For example, when the diameter of the pressure plate 11 is 1 m, it is preferable that the pressure member 20 is in a range of 150 mm to 300 mm on a side from the results of dispersion of raw materials.

Using these configurations, first, a predetermined pressure is applied to the pressure plate 11 by the hydraulic drive device 14 via the hydraulic cylinder 13 and the piston 10. This pressure is the pressure required for the reaction to produce bio-coke. Further, the pressure is made uniform by the cylinder head 23 and the pressure member 20. Thereby, a predetermined pressure can be uniformly applied to the pulverized biomass.
Moreover, it is preferable that the pressure in the cylinder head 23 is detected by the pressure sensor 25 and the pressure applied to the pulverized biomass is controlled by the hydraulic drive device 14 based on the detected pressure. This makes it possible to apply a predetermined pressure with high accuracy.

The temperature adjusting mechanism is provided on the pressure plate 11 (including the pressure member 20) and the bottom plate 16, and is configured to perform both heating and cooling of the pulverized biomass. For example, an induction heating device is preferably used as shown in FIG. In the heating, the induction heating device is operated to heat up to a predetermined temperature, and at the time of cooling, the device is stopped so that the cooling function works to perform the cooling.
As another temperature adjustment function, there is a configuration in which temperature adjustment is performed by a heat medium or a refrigerant. As shown in FIG. 5, a cooling / heating medium passage is formed in the pressurizing plate 11 and the bottom plate 16, and heating / cooling is performed by supplying a heating medium or refrigerant to the cooling / heating medium passage.

Each of the cooling medium passages is connected to a cooling medium circuit 49. The cooling medium circuit 40 includes a heat medium circuit including a heating tank 41 that heats the heat medium, and a refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant tank 45 and a refrigerant heat exchanger 46 that cool the refrigerant. Then, during heating, the heating medium heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating medium circuit is supplied to the pressurizing plate 11, and when cooling, the refrigerant is switched from the heating medium circuit to the refrigerant circuit and cooled to the predetermined temperature by the refrigerant circuit. Is supplied to the pressure plate 11.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the cooling medium passage is provided on the pressure side, it is preferably provided on the pressure member 20. In this case, the cooling medium passage is constituted by a pipe 21 penetrating in the pressurizing member 20 and a flexible connecting pipe 22 for connecting adjacent pipes of the pressurizing member 20.

  Here, an example of the cooling medium circuit of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the bio-coke manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, a temperature adjustment mechanism including means for switching between heating and cooling of the pressure plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 is an essential configuration. Therefore, by providing a cooling medium circuit as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to provide temperature control means with high thermal efficiency and high safety. In this embodiment, as an example, a case where silicon oil is used as the refrigerant and the heat medium will be described.

In this embodiment, the cooling medium inlet and outlet of the pressurizing plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 are connected to a cooling medium circuit 40 shown in FIG. The cooling medium circuit 40 is configured by combining a refrigerant circuit and a heating medium circuit. The cooling medium outlet is connected to a cooling medium discharge line 51 and branches into a heating medium return line 52 and a refrigerant return line 53 via a three-way valve 55 on the discharge line 51.
The heat medium return line 52 is connected to the heat medium tank 41. The heat medium tank 41 includes a heater 41a and a stirrer 41b, and raises the temperature of the cooled heat medium. It is preferable that N ₂ gas is supplied from an N ₂ cylinder as necessary, and the tank is maintained in an inert atmosphere to ensure safety. The outlet side of the heating medium tank 41 is connected to the cooling medium supply line 50 via a three-way valve 56.
Using such a configuration, when the pressurizing plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 are heated, the heat medium is circulated to the heat medium tank 41 side by the three-way valves 55 and 56, and the heat medium tank 41, the cooling medium supply line 50, A heat medium circuit including a medium passage (a pressure plate and a bottom plate), a cooling medium discharge line 51, and a heating medium return line 52 is formed.

The refrigerant return line 53 is connected to the refrigerant heat exchanger 46. The refrigerant heat exchanger 46 is configured to exchange heat between cooling water such as clean water and the refrigerant to cool the refrigerant.
Further, as a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment, a refrigerant tank 45 is provided upstream of the refrigerant heat exchanger 46 in the refrigerant return line 53. The refrigerant tank 45 has the ability to cool at least the refrigerant temperature to the boiling point of water or less, preferably 80 ° C. or less. In this embodiment, the refrigerant tank 45 has a capacity for cooling to the above temperature. Further, the refrigerant tank 45 preferably includes a stirrer 45a, thereby improving the cooling capacity.

  Using such a configuration, when the pressure plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 are cooled, the three-way valves 55 and 56 are switched to the refrigerant tank 45 side so that the refrigerant circulates to the refrigerant tank 45 side. A refrigerant circuit including a heat exchanger 46, a cooling medium supply line 50, a cooling medium passage (pressurization plate and bottom plate), a cooling medium discharge line 51, and a refrigerant return line 53 is formed.

In this embodiment, the heating temperature of the pressure plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 is as high as 115 to 230 ° C., and there is a possibility that a high-temperature cooling medium is introduced into the refrigerant heat exchanger 46 when the cooling medium is switched. As a result, the cooling water of the refrigerant heat exchanger 46 boils, and there is a possibility that a malfunction such as a failure of the apparatus may occur. Although it is possible to employ a configuration in which the cooling water does not boil depending on the design conditions of the refrigerant heat exchanger 46, it is necessary to increase or pressurize the cooling water flow rate, which is not efficient.
Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the cooling water of the refrigerant heat exchanger 36 is provided by providing the refrigerant tank 45 having an ability, preferably a volume, to cool the refrigerant to the boiling temperature or lower on the upstream side of the refrigerant heat exchanger 46. Is prevented from boiling, and safe and smooth operation is possible, and operation is possible with a minimum amount of cooling water.

Next, the operation of the bio-coke production apparatus having the above configuration will be described including the operation method. The numerical ranges such as temperature, pressure, moisture content, size, and the like described here are a preferred example in the present apparatus, but are not limited thereto.
First, as a pretreatment of the pulverized biomass as a raw material, moisture adjustment is performed to dry the moisture content of the biomass to 5 to 10%, and the dried biomass is pulverized to a particle size of 3 mm or less, preferably 0.1 mm or less. Some types of biomass are conditioned after drying and pulverization. As a result, when the biomass is laminated on the bottom plate 16, the bulk density is improved and uniform filling is possible, the contact between the biomass is increased in the thermoforming, and the hardness after the molding is also improved.
The pulverized biomass is put into the pulverized product hopper 30. A predetermined amount of the pulverized biomass stored in the pulverized product hopper 30 is supplied to the pulverized material transport conveyor 33 by a screw feeder 32. The supply amount of the screw feeder 32 is adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 32. The pulverized biomass is conveyed by the pulverized material conveyor 33 and supplied onto the bottom plate 16 of the bio-coke manufacturing apparatus 1.

When the pulverized biomass is stacked on the bottom plate 16, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 13 is adjusted by the hydraulic drive device 14 to drive the hydraulic piston 10, and the biomass is applied by the pressure plate 11 fixed to the tip of the piston 10. The pulverized product is compressed by pressing to 8 to 25 MPa. At the same time, the temperature adjusting means in the pressure plate 11 and the temperature adjusting means in the bottom plate 16 are operated to heat the biomass pulverized product to 115 to 230 ° C. When a cooling medium is used as the temperature adjusting means, the heating medium is caused to flow through a cooling medium passage having a predetermined temperature.
At this time, the inside of the pressurizing plate 11 and the bottom plate 16 may be heated in advance and then the pressurization may be performed, or conversely, the pressurization may be performed after the pressurization, and the heating and pressurization are performed almost simultaneously.
The above-described temperature, pressure, and moisture content are set in a range where thermal decomposition or thermosetting reaction of hemicellulose and lignin in the pulverized biomass is induced. In other words, the hemicellulose in the pulverized biomass is thermally decomposed and lignin induces a thermosetting reaction. Here, the moisture content is in a range sufficient for moisture to form a subcritical state in the cylinder.

The pulverized biomass that is sandwiched and pressed between the bottom plate 16 and the pressure plate 11 maintains the above-described pressure and heating state for a certain period of time. For example, when the laminated thickness of the pulverized biomass is 50 mm, the holding time is 10 to 20 minutes, and when it is 150 mm, the holding time is 30 to 60 minutes.
By carrying out the reaction under the conditions described above, hemicellulose, which is a component of the biomass pulverized product, is thermally decomposed to develop an adhesive effect, and the lignin reacts at a low temperature while maintaining its skeleton by superheated steam generated from the biomass pulverized product, By acting synergistically with the compaction effect, bio-coke with high hardness and high calorific value can be produced. The thermosetting reaction proceeds when a reactive site is induced between phenolic polymers contained in lignin and the like.

After holding for a certain period of time, the temperature adjustment means of the bottom plate 16 and the pressure plate 11 is switched from heating to cooling. At this time, when a cooling medium is used for the temperature adjusting means, the heating medium is removed from the cooling medium passage 3 and the refrigerant is allowed to flow. In the present embodiment, silicon oil and steam are preferably used as the heat medium, and silicon oil, water, or air is preferably used as the refrigerant.
The biomass pulverized product is cooled to 50 ° C. or lower, preferably 40 ° C. or lower, with the pressure plate 11 maintaining the pressurized state. In addition, when bio-coke is taken out at a temperature higher than this temperature, the adhesion effect due to hemicellulose is lowered, so that it is discharged after cooling.
After cooling, the pressure plate 11 is raised, the bio-coke is extruded onto the product conveyor 35 by the product extruding device 34, and the product conveyor 35 carries it out. Since the bio-coke produced by this apparatus has a large diameter, it is preferable to produce a product by appropriately crushing it to a desired size.

  In this embodiment, the hydraulic pressurizing mechanism is configured such that the pressurizing plate 11 is moved up and down by a hydraulic piston fixed to the pressurizing plate 11 and the hydraulic cylinder 13, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any mechanism may be used as long as it pressurizes the pulverized biomass with the bottom plate 16. As another configuration, for example, a configuration in which a hydraulic drive device is provided on the four side frames 4 and the pressure plate 11 can be moved by this is provided.

  By using the bio-coke production apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to efficiently produce high-hardness and high calorific bio-coke that can be used as an alternative to coal coke. In addition, the bio-coke produced in this example can be used as a heat source / reducing agent in a cupola, blast furnace, etc. in casting production or iron production, and fuel demand for fired fuel such as boiler fuel for power generation, slaked lime, etc. It can also be used as a material material by taking advantage of properties such as higher compressive strength.

That is, according to the present Example, since it is the structure which can process a large amount of biomass ground once, bio-coke can be industrially mass-produced.
Further, by providing a plurality of pressure members 20 on the pressure surface side of the pressure plate 11 and providing a cylinder head 23 communicating with them, it is possible to uniformly apply pressure to the pulverized biomass.
Furthermore, it becomes possible to perform a heating process and a cooling process in the state which pressurized the biomass ground material by providing the temperature control mechanism which can be switched to heating and cooling.

  By using the bio-coke production apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently produce high-hardness and high calorific bio-coke that can be used as an alternative to coal coke. In addition, the bio-coke produced in this example can be used as a heat source / reducing agent in a cupola, blast furnace, etc. in casting production or iron production, and fuel demand for fired fuel such as boiler fuel for power generation, slaked lime, etc. It can also be used as a material material by taking advantage of properties such as higher compressive strength.

It is a whole block diagram of the bio-coke manufacturing apparatus of a present Example. It is a sectional side view which shows the pressurization mechanism of the bio-coke manufacturing apparatus of a present Example. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the pressurization member in a present Example. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the cooling-heat-medium channel | path integrated in the pressurization member. It is an equipment system diagram including the cooling-medium circuit of a present Example. It is a table | surface which compares the physical-property value of bio-coke.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bio-coke manufacturing apparatus 2 Frame 11 Pressure plate 13 Hydraulic cylinder 14 Hydraulic drive device 16 Bottom plate 20 Pressure member 21 Pipe 22 Connection pipe 23 Cylinder head 25 Pressure sensor 26, 27 Induction heating device 30 Ground material hopper 33 Ground material conveyance conveyor 35 Product conveyor 40 Cooling medium circuit 41 Heat medium tank 45 Refrigerant tank 46 Refrigerant heat exchanger 201 Piston part 202 Pressure receiving surface

Claims (5)

A bio-coke production apparatus for producing bio-coke by pressure-molding while heating a pulverized biomass adjusted to a predetermined moisture content,
The pressure range and temperature range in which hemicellulose in the pulverized biomass is thermally decomposed and lignin induces a thermosetting reaction are set,
A flat bottom plate on which the pulverized biomass is placed, and a pressure plate that moves toward the bottom plate by hydraulic drive means and pressurizes the pulverized biomass to the pressure range, and
The pressure plate and the bottom plate are provided with temperature control means capable of switching between heating and cooling, and the temperature control means heats the pressure range in the pressurized state and holds it for a predetermined time, and then cools it. A bio-coke production apparatus characterized by the above. The pressure plate has a plurality of pressure members arranged on the pressure surface side without a gap, and a cylinder head filled with pressure oil is formed on the pressure plate, and one end side of the pressure member is the cylinder head. And the other end makes a pressure surface,
2. The bio-coke producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure members are formed such that a ratio of a pressure receiving area on the cylinder head side and an area of the pressure surface is the same.   3. The bio-coke manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the cylinder head is provided, and the hydraulic driving means is controlled based on the detected pressure.   A cooling medium passage through which the temperature adjusting means forms a heating medium or a refrigerant formed in the bottom plate and the pressurizing member, a heating medium circuit for supplying the heating medium to the cooling medium passage, and a refrigerant for supplying the refrigerant The cooling medium passage of the pressurizing member is composed of a pipe penetrating through the pressurizing member and a flexible connecting pipe connecting pipes of adjacent pressurizing members. The bio-coke production apparatus according to claim 2.   A cooling medium passage through which a heating medium or a refrigerant flows in the pressure plate and the bottom plate, a heating medium circuit for supplying the heating medium to the cooling medium passage, and a refrigerant circuit for supplying the refrigerant The refrigerant circuit includes a heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant by heat exchange with cooling water, and a refrigerant tank having a volume for cooling the refrigerant to the boiling point of water or less upstream from the heat exchanger. The bio-coke production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bio-coke production apparatus is provided.

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