JP6418584B1 - Activation furnace and activated carbon production equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An activation furnace capable of obtaining activated carbon having a large specific surface area with high efficiency is provided. An activation furnace for activating carbide at high temperature and high pressure to obtain activated carbon, comprising: an internal space; a charging unit capable of charging carbide into the internal space; and a discharging unit capable of discharging at least activated carbon to the outside. A main body part, a cylindrical rotating body housed in the internal space and extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body part, a plurality of blades provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, and heating the internal space A heating part that forms a steam channel through which water vapor flows, and a plurality of holes that communicate the steam channel and the outside of the rotating body are formed on the outer peripheral surface. Activation furnace. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an activation furnace and an activated carbon production apparatus.

In recent years, processing organic matter (also called “biomass”) emitted from the household and industrial fields,
The method of reusing as activated carbon is examined (patent document 1).

JP 2000-154012 A

  However, in a conventional manufacturing apparatus that obtains activated carbon from biomass, further increase in specific surface area of activated carbon and improvement in manufacturing efficiency have been demanded according to market demand.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, Comprising: It aims at providing the activation furnace which can obtain activated carbon with a large specific surface area with high efficiency, and the manufacturing apparatus of activated carbon.

  In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is an activation furnace that activates carbide at high temperature and high pressure to obtain activated carbon, and has an internal space, a charging unit capable of charging carbide into the internal space, and at least activated carbon. Provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, a cylindrical rotating body that is accommodated in the internal space and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body section A plurality of blades and a heating unit for heating the internal space, the interior of the rotating body constitutes a steam channel through which water vapor flows, and the outer peripheral surface includes the steam channel and the outside of the rotating body. An activation furnace in which a plurality of holes communicating with each other is formed.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of blades may be arranged in a spiral shape along the rotation axis direction of the rotating body.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the input portion is provided at an upper portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion, and the discharge portion is provided at a lower portion on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. Also good.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the opening amount per unit length along the rotation axis direction of the rotating body may be gradually increased from one end of the rotating body toward the other end of the rotating body. Good.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the opening amount of the input portion may be smaller than the opening amount of the discharge portion.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the charging section may be provided with one stage of rotary valve, and the discharge section may be provided with two stages of rotary valves.

  One aspect of the present invention is a carbonization furnace that carbonizes biomass to obtain carbides, the activation furnace described above, a transport unit that transports carbides from the carbonization furnace to the activation furnace, and a gas flow that exhausts exhaust gas generated in the carbonization furnace. And a steam generating means provided in the middle of the gas flow path for generating water vapor, and a part of the gas flow path provides an activated carbon manufacturing apparatus connected to the heating unit.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, an activation furnace and an activated carbon production apparatus capable of obtaining activated carbon having a large specific surface area with high efficiency are provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an activated carbon production apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment. Drawing 2 is a sectional view showing typically carbonization furnace 1 of an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the activation furnace 100 of the embodiment.

<Production equipment for activated carbon>
Hereinafter, the activated carbon production apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings below, the dimensions and ratios of the constituent elements are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an activated carbon production apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment. The arrow shown in FIG. 1 represents the flow of the substance in each process. As shown in FIG. 1, the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment includes a carbonization furnace 1, an activation furnace 100, a conveying means 130, a gas flow path 140, a steam generation means 150, and two hoppers 160. .

[hopper]
One hopper 160 </ b> A of the two hoppers 160 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the front stage of the carbonization furnace 1. The hopper 160 </ b> A stores the biomass before being introduced into the carbonization furnace 1. On the other hand, the other hopper 160B of the two hoppers 160 is provided in the middle of the conveying means 130. The hopper 160 </ b> B stores the carbide C discharged from the carbonization furnace 1.

[Carbonization furnace]
The carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment carbonizes biomass to obtain carbide C. In the activated carbon production apparatus of the present embodiment, a generally known carbonization furnace can be applied. Below, an example of the carbonization furnace applicable to the manufacturing apparatus of the activated carbon of this embodiment is demonstrated. Examples of biomass to be carbonized include those containing carbon, such as food waste, construction waste, shredder dust, livestock waste, soft biomass such as sludge or inawara, and general waste discharged from households.

  Among these, as the biomass to be carbonized, wood waste (also referred to as “woody biomass”) is preferable. Examples of woody biomass include thinned wood, pruned branches, and sawdust. The size of the woody biomass is not particularly limited, but is about 5 cm square, for example.

  The biomass to be carbonized is preferably dried in advance with a hopper 160A or the like. Thereby, carbonization efficiency and the yield of the carbide | carbonized_material C can be made high.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment includes a carbonization furnace main body 10, a heat storage body 20, and a table 30.

(Carbonization furnace body)
The carbonization furnace main body 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a cylindrical housing. The magnitude | size of the carbonization furnace main body 10 of this embodiment is suitably selected by the quantity of the biomass to process and the quantity of the carbide to manufacture.

  The carbonization furnace main body 10 of the present embodiment includes an introduction port 11, an exhaust port 12, a burner 13, an air introduction unit 14, and an outlet 15.

  The inlet 11 and the outlet 15 of the present embodiment communicate the outside and the inside of the carbonization furnace main body 10. Biomass is introduced into the carbonization furnace 1 through the inlet 11. On the other hand, the generated carbide is taken out of the carbonization furnace main body 10 through an outlet 15 provided at the bottom of the carbonization furnace main body 10. At this time, the carbide is discharged below the main body 10 by free fall.

  The exhaust port 12 of the present embodiment exhausts high temperature exhaust gas generated during carbonization of biomass to the outside of the carbonization furnace main body 10. In the present specification, “high temperature exhaust gas” means that the temperature is higher than the exhaust gas finally discharged to the outside of the activated carbon production apparatus 1000.

  The burner 13 of this embodiment ignites the biomass introduced into the carbonization furnace main body 10.

  The air introduction unit 14 of the present embodiment introduces air outside the carbonization furnace main body 10 into the carbonization furnace main body 10.

  The take-out port 15 of the present embodiment takes out the carbide inside the carbonization furnace main body 10 to the outside of the carbonization furnace main body 10.

(Heat storage)
The heat storage body 20 of this embodiment is a cylindrical member. The heat storage body 20 is provided inside the carbonization furnace main body 10. The heat storage body 20 of the present embodiment plays a role like a so-called “baked ball” in the carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment. The heat storage body 20 may include a heating device, but the heat storage body 20 is preferably heated by heat or the like when obtaining carbide from biomass.

  The heat storage body 20 is rotatable about a perpendicular line passing through the bottom surface of the heat storage body 20 and the center of the ceiling surface (rotating shaft 35). When the heat storage body 20 is rotatable in this way, the carbonization efficiency and the purity of the carbide can be improved.

  The means for rotating the heat storage body 20 is not limited, but it is preferable to connect the heat storage body 20 to the rotation shaft 35 and rotate the rotation shaft 35 by a known drive means.

(table)
The table 30 of this embodiment is a disk-shaped member. The table 30 is disposed inside the carbonization furnace body 10 and is provided at the bottom of the heat storage body 20. At this time, the table 30 is arranged so that the center of the heat storage body 20 and the center of the table 30 overlap.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the table 30 can move up and down and can adjust the space | interval with the carbonization furnace main body 10 suitably. With such a structure, the carbide can be pulverized between the table 30 and the carbonization furnace body 10, and the size of the carbide can be adjusted as appropriate.

  Further, the table 30 is preferably rotatable around the rotation shaft 35. The table 30 may rotate in conjunction with the heat storage body 20, but may be rotatable independently of the heat storage body 20.

  Known means are used for the lifting means and rotating means of the table 30.

The specific surface area of the carbide obtained in the carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, about 500 m ² . The quantity of the carbide | carbonized_material discharged | emitted from the carbonization furnace 1 of this embodiment is 350-500 kg / hour, for example.

[Conveying means]
Returning to FIG. 1, the carbide C obtained in the carbonization furnace 1 of the present embodiment is transported to the activation furnace 100 described later by the transport means 130 of the present embodiment. The apparatus used in the conveying means 130 is not particularly limited as long as the carbide C can be conveyed, but an apparatus having a screw and a bucket conveyor is preferable.

[Gas flow path]
The high temperature exhaust gas _GH generated in the carbonization furnace 1 is exhausted through the gas flow path 140 of the present embodiment. One end of the gas flow path 140 of the present embodiment communicates with the exhaust port 12 of the carbonization furnace 1. The other end of the gas flow path 140 of the present embodiment is open to the outside of the activated carbon production apparatus 1000.

  The gas flow path 140 shown in FIG. 1 is branched, and the branched gas flow path 140 </ b> A is connected to the activation furnace 100.

[Activation furnace]
The carbide C conveyed by the conveying means 130 of this embodiment is activated at high temperature and high pressure in the activation furnace 100 of this embodiment, and activated carbon is obtained. In the activation furnace 100, the carbide C is activated by bringing the carbide C into contact with the high temperature steam V _H while applying heat of the high temperature exhaust gas _GH generated in the carbonization furnace 1, and a gas containing hydrogen is generated. The generation of the high temperature steam V _H will be described later.

  The activated carbide C is preferably dried in advance between the carbonization furnace 1 and the activation furnace 100 using a hopper 160B or the like. Thereby, activation efficiency and activated carbon yield can be made high.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the activation furnace 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the activation furnace 100 of the present embodiment includes a main body 110, two rotating bodies 120, a plurality of blades 123, and a heating unit 145.

(Main body)
A main body 110 shown in FIG. 3 is a long casing. The length in the longitudinal direction of the main body 110 of the present embodiment is determined based on the residence time of the carbide. At this time, the residence time of the carbide is determined based on the correspondence with the specific surface area of the obtained activated carbon. Specifically, when the residence time of the carbide is increased in order to increase the specific surface area of the activated carbon, the length of the main body 110 in the longitudinal direction may be increased.

  The main body 110 according to the present embodiment includes an internal space 115, a loading unit 111, and a discharging unit 112.

  The internal space 115 of the present embodiment accommodates a rotating body 120 described later and further has a sufficient volume necessary for the activation of carbide.

  The input part 111 of the present embodiment is provided on the upper part of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body part 110. The charging unit 111 is configured so that the carbide can be charged into the internal space 115 while the carbide is flowing in the internal space 115.

  The discharge part 112 of this embodiment is provided in the lower part on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body part 110. The discharge unit 112 is configured to be able to discharge the gas containing activated carbon and hydrogen to the outside even while the carbide flows in the internal space 115.

  The opening amount of the input unit 111 of this embodiment is smaller than the opening amount of the discharge unit 112. Thereby, the activated carbon is less likely to stay in the internal space 115 of the activation furnace 100. Therefore, in the internal space 115 of the activation furnace 100, carbides are likely to exist uniformly, and the activation time of the carbides is likely to be constant. As a result, the carbide introduced into the activation furnace 100 can be activated uniformly, and the quality of the obtained activated carbon is stabilized.

  In the activation furnace 100 of this embodiment, a rotary valve 113 is provided in the input unit 111 and the discharge unit 112 in order to activate carbide at high temperature and pressure. In the activation furnace 100 of the present embodiment, it is preferable to provide one rotary valve 113A in the charging part 111 and two rotary valves 113B in series in the discharge part 112. By providing the rotary valve 113A and the rotary valve 113B, the pressure of the internal space 115 is unlikely to decrease when the carbide is charged and when the activated carbon is discharged. Further, by providing two rotary valves 113B in series in the discharge portion 112 having a relatively large opening amount, the pressure in the internal space 115 is less likely to decrease. Thereby, the pressure inside the activation furnace 100 of this embodiment can be maintained. As a result, there is a tendency to obtain activated carbon having a large specific surface area.

(Rotating body)
The two rotating bodies 120 of the present embodiment are respectively accommodated in the internal space 115 and are disposed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the main body 110. The rotating body 120 of this embodiment is a cylindrical member. Further, the outer shape of the rotating body 120 is a long prismatic shape. A rotating body 120 is disposed over the entire length of the main body 110.

  The two rotators 120 of the present embodiment are rotatable with the shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotator 120 as a rotation shaft 125. Specifically, one rotating body 120A of the two rotating bodies 120 is connected to the power source 200 and rotates. On the other hand, in the other rotating body 120B, the rotation of one rotating body 120A is transmitted through a belt, a gear, and the like, and rotates in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of one rotating body 120A.

  The interior of the rotating body 120 of the present embodiment constitutes a steam flow path through which water vapor necessary for activation flows.

  The rotating body 120 of the present embodiment has a plurality of holes 122.

  The plurality of holes 122 in the present embodiment are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 120. The plurality of holes 122 communicate the vapor channel 121 and the outside of the rotating body 120.

  The pressure in the internal space 115 of the activation furnace 100 during the activation treatment is preferably 0.5 kPa or more and 5.0 kPa or less, more preferably 1.0 kPa or more and 3.0 kPa or less, and further preferably 1.5 kPa or more and 2.0 kPa or less. This pressure can be adjusted by the amount of water vapor flowing through the steam channel 121, the opening amount of the plurality of holes 122, and the temperature of the activation furnace 100. The opening amount per unit length along the rotational axis direction of the rotating body 120 gradually increases from one end 120a toward the other end 120b. Thereby, water vapor can be uniformly brought into contact with the carbide introduced into the internal space 115. As a result, the carbide introduced into the activation furnace 100 can be activated uniformly, and the quality of the obtained activated carbon is stabilized. The opening amount per unit length described above can be calculated from the number of holes 122 and the opening area of the holes 122.

(Multiple feathers)
The plurality of blades 123 of the present embodiment agitates the carbide and conveys the carbide from the input unit 111 toward the discharge unit 112. The plurality of blades 123 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 120. The plurality of blades 123 are spirally arranged along the rotation axis direction of the rotating body 120.

  Each blade 123 includes a plate-like paddle 123A and a support portion 123B that supports the paddle 123A. The paddle 123A is preferably inclined with respect to a plane including the rotation shaft 125 and the central axis of the support portion 123B so that the carbide can be pushed out in the transport direction when the rotating body 120 is rotated. The paddles 123A included in the plurality of blades 123 may have the same angle or different angles. The angle of each paddle 123A may be adjusted according to the target activation time (the residence time of carbide). The activation time is preferably from 5 minutes to 60 minutes, more preferably from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, and even more preferably from 15 minutes to 20 minutes.

(Heating section)
The heating unit 145 of this embodiment is connected to the branched gas flow path 140A. The heating unit 145 is provided around the main body 110. The heating unit 145 uses the heat of the high-temperature exhaust gas _GH from the carbonization furnace 1 to heat the internal space 115 to a temperature necessary for activation. The exhaust gas _GL after passing through the heating unit 145 is sent to the steam generation means 150 described later and used for the generation of water vapor.

In the activation furnace 100 of this embodiment, activated carbon can be continuously manufactured from carbide. Therefore, the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment has high production efficiency. Moreover, it can be said that the activated carbon obtained by the activation furnace 100 of this embodiment has a high specific surface area of about 1000 m ² and high quality. In addition, when the specific surface area of the obtained activated carbon is less than a target value, it is good to employ | adopt methods, such as raising the temperature at the time of activation, enlarging the pressure at the time of activation, or lengthening activation time.

[Vapor generation means]
Returning to FIG. 1, the steam generation means 150 of this embodiment is provided in the middle of the gas flow path 140, and generates the high temperature steam V _H from the water using the heat of the high temperature exhaust gas _GH . In the present specification, “high temperature steam” means steam finally used for activation of activated carbon, and means that the temperature is higher than that of steam generated by the heat exchanger 150B described later. A known heat exchanger can be used as an apparatus used in the steam generating means 150. In the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 1, two heat exchangers are provided.

High-temperature exhaust gas _GH flows from the carbonization furnace 1 through the gas flow path 140 into one of the two heat exchangers shown in FIG. Further, the steam _VL flows into the one heat exchanger 150A. In one heat exchanger 150A, the high-temperature exhaust gas _GH is cooled by exchanging heat with the steam _VL . On the other hand, the water vapor V _L is heated by heat exchange with the hot exhaust gas G _H, the high-temperature steam V _H. The generated high-temperature steam V _H is sent to the steam channel 121 described above.

In contrast, in the other heat exchanger 150B, the exhaust gas _{G L} that is cooled from the heat exchanger 150A flows, the exhaust gas _{G L} flows from the activating furnace 100. Further, water flows into the other heat exchanger 150B. In the other heat exchanger 150B, the combined exhaust gas _GL is further cooled by exchanging heat with water. Meanwhile, the water becomes steam V _L described above is heated by the exhaust gas G _L heat exchange. The cooled exhaust gas G is discharged to the outside of the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 through the gas flow path 140.

<Method for producing activated carbon>
Returning to FIG. 1, a method for producing activated carbon using the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 will be described.

First, biomass is carbonized in the carbonization furnace 1 to obtain carbide C. The obtained carbide C is conveyed from the carbonization furnace 1 to the activation furnace 100 by the conveying means 130. On the other hand, the high temperature exhaust gas _GH generated during carbonization in the carbonization furnace 1 is transferred to the steam generation means 150 through the gas flow path 140. Using the heat of the transferred high-temperature exhaust gas _GH , high-temperature steam V _H is generated from water. Separately from this, the high temperature exhaust gas _GH is transferred to the heating unit 145. Next, in the activation furnace 100, the carbide C is activated using the high-temperature steam V _H generated by the steam generation means 150 and the heat of the high-temperature exhaust gas _GH transferred to the heating unit 145 to obtain activated carbon. The obtained activated carbon is stored or transferred to another facility. On the other hand, the gas containing hydrogen generated during activation in the activation furnace 100 is transferred to a power generation facility (not shown) and used for power generation. On the other hand, the exhaust gas G that has passed through the heating unit 145 and the steam generation means 150 is discharged to the outside of the activated carbon production apparatus 1000.

  According to the activated carbon production apparatus 1000 of the present embodiment, activated carbon having a large specific surface area can be obtained with high efficiency.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Carbonization furnace, 35,125 ... Rotary shaft, 100 ... Activation furnace, 110 ... Main part, 111 ... Input part, 112 ... Discharge part, 115 ... Internal space, 120, 120A, 120B ... Rotating body, 120a, 120b ... End part, 121 ... Steam channel, 122 ... Hole, 123 ... Blade, 130 ... Conveying means, 140, 140A ... Gas channel, 145 ... Heating unit, 150 ... Steam generating means, 150A ... Heat exchanger (steam generating means) ), 1000 ... Manufacturing equipment

Claims (8)

An activation furnace that activates carbide at high temperature and pressure to obtain activated carbon,
A main body having an internal space, a charging unit capable of charging the carbide into the internal space, and a discharging unit capable of discharging at least the activated carbon to the outside;
A cylindrical rotating body housed in the internal space and arranged extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body,
A plurality of blades provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body;
A heating section for heating the internal space,
The interior of the rotating body constitutes a steam flow path through which water vapor flows,
A plurality of holes are formed in the outer peripheral surface to communicate the steam channel and the outside of the rotating body ,
Two rotating bodies are provided,
The two rotary bodies are activation furnaces that rotate in opposite directions . The activation furnace according to claim 1, wherein an opening amount of the charging portion is smaller than an opening amount of the discharge portion. The activation furnace according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the charging unit is provided with one rotary valve, and the discharge unit is provided with two rotary valves in series along a discharge direction of the discharge unit .   An activation furnace that activates carbide at high temperature and pressure to obtain activated carbon,
  A main body having an internal space, a charging unit capable of charging the carbide into the internal space, and a discharging unit capable of discharging at least the activated carbon to the outside;
  A cylindrical rotating body housed in the internal space and arranged extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body,
  A plurality of blades provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body;
  A heating section for heating the internal space,
  The interior of the rotating body constitutes a steam flow path through which water vapor flows,
  A plurality of holes are formed in the outer peripheral surface to communicate the steam channel and the outside of the rotating body,
  The opening amount of the input portion is smaller than the opening amount of the discharge portion,
  An activation furnace in which one rotary valve is provided in the charging section, and two rotary valves are provided in series in the discharge section along the discharge direction of the discharge section. The activation furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a spiral shape along a rotation axis direction of the rotating body. The insertion portion is provided on an upper portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion,
The activation furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the discharge portion is provided at a lower portion on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. The opening amount per unit length along the rotation axis direction of the rotating body of the plurality of holes gradually increases from one end of the rotating body toward the other end of the rotating body. 6. The activation furnace according to 6 . A carbonization furnace for carbonizing biomass to obtain the carbide;
The activation furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
Conveying means for conveying the carbide from the carbonization furnace to the activation furnace;
A gas flow path for exhausting exhaust gas generated in the carbonization furnace;
Provided in the middle of the gas flow path, and steam generating means for generating the water vapor,
Part of the gas flow path is an activated carbon production apparatus connected to the heating unit.

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