MX2011012286A

MX2011012286A - Method and plant for the thermal treatment of organic matter in order to produce charcoal or char.

Info

Publication number: MX2011012286A
Application number: MX2011012286A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Lucio Alvaro
Original assignee: Lucio Alvaro
Priority date: 2009-05-21
Filing date: 2010-05-20
Publication date: 2012-06-01
Also published as: ZA201109306B; CL2011002938A1; CA2762863A1; AP2011006018A0; AU2010251712A1; BRPI0901948A2; US20120137576A1; CN102459515A; WO2010132970A1

Abstract

The organic matter carbonization process is based on thermal treatment at high temperatures, under a controlled atmosphere, if possible in the absence of oxygen. The organic matter carbonization theory was expounded in this text, with emphasis on the thermodynamic aspects. It is shown in this exposition the important misfit between the endothermic and the exothermic carbonization stages, which hinders the use of the energy emitted during the exothermic stage by the brick kilns. Following there is a summary of the carbonization technique actual stage. The present invention relates to a method and plant for the thermal treatment of organic matter comprising independent reactors for the drying and pyrolysis of organic matter, and an independent reactor for the charcoal cooling. In this method the volatile products - non condensable gases and condensable pyrolytic vapors - are burned in an independent combustion chamber in order to supply the energy demanded by the process. In this way wood is not burned, and polluting substances are not emitted to the atmosphere. The method proposed by the present invention allows a precise control of the process in order to obtain the specified charcoal fixed carbon content; and a higher gravimetric yield, which gives an increase of the forest wood, either native or cultivated. In the independent pyrolysis and drying reactors proposed by the present invention, exiting flue gases from an external combustion chamber are driven to the drying reactor where the wood onto roll on buckets are heated and dried. Fuel gases emitted by the carbonizing wood are burned in the combustion chamber as an energy source. Inside the combustion chamber is placed a heat exchanger with the aim to reheat the pyrolytic gases. After reheated, these gases return to the carbonizing reactor in order to supply energy for the endothermic carbonizing step. The aim of this technique is to avoid the mixing of the fuel gases with the flue gases generated inside the combustion chamber, and to precisely control the carbonizing temperature. The present invention allows the production of intermediate products between wet wood and charcoal by halting the carbonization process at the desired stage in order to obtain anhydrous wood, char or, or high volatile content charcoal. The basic concepts of the process are: 1 - Utilization of the emitted gases by the carbonizing wood as an energy source. 2 - The stages of wood drying, wood pyrolysis and charcoal cooling are performed in independent reactors, inside which only one of these stages occurs. 3 - Energy supply during the carbonizing endothermic stage of the pyrolysis by the gases emitted during this stage after reheated in a heat exchanger. Basically the present invention comprises the following equipments: 1 â Reaction chambers inside which the process stages are performed. 2 â An external combustion chamber. 3- A heat exchanger inside said combustion chamber. 4 - A set of pipes. 5 - A set of fans. 6 - A loading system comprising roll on buckets.

Description

PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON THAT USES THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

This invention relates to a process and the respective constructive configuration of the system of equipment intended for the carbonization of organic matter, in a process in which the energy necessary for the carbonization of the biomass comes from the burning of the gaseous fuel ingredients emitted by the organic matter during the pyrolysis stage of the carbonization process of the respective organic matter.

The respective organic matter can be: wood in logs of any size; coconut husk, coconut baba? u, coconut husk baba £ u, rice husk, sugar cane, sugar cane husk, sawmill waste and plant residues in general. For simplicity reference will be made to wood but the explanations can be applied to any organic matter.

Theory of carbonization of biomass The term biomass was invented around 1975 to describe natural materials that can be used as fuel. Includes all organic matter of vegetable or animal origin, including materials from its natural or artificial transformation (eg charcoal). Any type of biomass comes ultimately from photosynthesis.

Biomass is a source of renewable energy, resulting from the storage of solar energy in plants. Through photosynthesis, plants convert C02 (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere into organic compounds used in their growth. This chemical energy stored in plants and animals (which feed on plants and other animals), or in their waste, is called bioenergy. This energy contained in the plant can be recovered through several processes, the simplest being combustion.

The use of biomass grown as an energy source is beneficial for the environment. When a fossil fuel is burned, C02 is released into the atmosphere. The increase in the concentration of this gas in the planet's atmosphere implies a gradual increase in temperature, which we call the "greenhouse effect". When burning wood from cultivated forest, CO 2 is released into the atmosphere, just as in the case of fossil fuel. However, during the growth phase of the tree plantations, CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere and oxygen is released. The oxygen released contributes to the recovery of ozone through the thermodynamic equilibrium oxygen-02bno. The final balance gives a non-reduction of the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere, which is very favorable for the environment. In the natural cycle of life, biomass dies and decomposes in its elementary molecules, also releasing heat. Thus the release of energy by the conversion of biomass, reproduces the natural decomposition, but in a much faster way, and this energy is a form of renewable energy. Using biomass, carbon is recycled and C02 is not added to the atmosphere, unlike fossil fuels. Of all forms of renewable energy, biomass is the only one that effectively stores solar energy. In addition to this, it is the only renewable form of carbon, and can be processed to produce solid, liquid or gaseous fuels. In the case of a renewable source, it is necessary to always bear in mind that fossil fuels are not inexhaustible.

It should be noted that fossil fuels have their origin in organic matter, so in the end they come from photosynthesis. The organic matter accumulated in sedimentary rocks since the Cambrian geological period evolved into fossil fuels: mineral coal, oil, natural gas, and oil shale. This energy accumulated chemically for 600 million years has been used by humanity, with increasing intensity, consuming much of the fossil fuels, all coming from solar energy.

There are several physical-chemical processes used to value the energy use of biomass. The thermochemical processes subject the biomass to the action of heat in order to decompose it into simpler compounds. Any type of biomass (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, coconut husk, grasses, etc.) can be used in a thermochemical conversion process. Wood is more commonly used due to high productivity, good quality, low cost and high density. If the process of thermal decomposition is anaerobic (absence of oxygen or air) it is called pyrolysis. If the process is carried out with the presence of oxygen, in sufficient quantity to promote complete decomposition of the biomass, combustion or gasification is obtained.

Pyrolysis is the process of thermal conversion of biomass at temperatures between 300 and 800 ° C > with the total absence of air, or with a small amount of air that does not cause significant combustion. Biomass pyrolysis is also called carbonization, destructive distillation or distillation of wood. It is usually called carbonization to the process where charcoal is the main product of interest. The heat can be introduced into the process indirectly or produced by a partial combustion of biomass (direct heating). Pyrolysis carried out at high temperatures (1,000 ° C) maximizes gas production (gasification), while pyrolysis at low temperatures (<500 ° C) maximizes the production of charcoal.

In the case of wood or any other vegetable, there is a decomposition due to the effect of temperature resulting in charcoal, a solid product and volatile products part of which can be condensed obtaining the following related products. Liquor piroleñoso in two stages. The first stage is the pyrogenic acid, or aqueous fraction of the pyrogenic liquor, which gives a brown aqueous solution containing several components such as acetic acid, methanol, soluble tar and other constituents in smaller proportion. The second stage is insoluble tar, dense and viscous, also known as an oily or heavy fraction, black in color, containing dozens of components. This fraction is separated from pyrogenic acid by gravity. With the exception of water vapor, condensable volatile products are highly polluting. The emission of dense smoke containing these vapors, characteristic of the traditional brick kilns in use in Brazil, is detrimental to health, affecting the respiratory tracts of people who are close to the carbonization plant. When condensed they will produce contamination in the soil and the water table.

The temperatures used in the carbonization are normally in the range of 300-500 ° C, and coal is the main component of wood decomposition products. While wood is heavy and its combustion produces a lot of smoke, charcoal possesses high power calorific, it is light and burns without smoke. The charcoal contains ashes, which are native to the wood used and its content depends on the type of wood, amount of bark, contamination with soil or sand, etc. In addition to charcoal, a gaseous phase containing 1 condensable gases and non-condensable gases is released. Non-condensable gases (CNG) contain combustible elements that can be burned to produce thermal energy. The CNG basically consist of C02, CO, H2, CH4 and CnHm. The condensable gases that also contain fuel elements are very harmful to health and highly polluting. When condensed they produce liquids that contaminate the soil and the water table. This contamination is typical of carbonization plants with furnaces that do not take advantage of the gaseous phase emitted by the wood in the carbonization.

Pyrolysis is the basic thermodynamic process to convert biomass into more useful products of greater economic value. When the biomass is heated in the absence of air, thermally descohipone in other less complex compounds and goes through several stages until it becomes charcoal. Many physical phenomena and chemical reactions occur during the carbonization process, which are closely linked to the temperature of the process. The pyrolysis process consists of a set of complex reactions that include the formation of intermediate radicals. As a result, there is a solid residue rich in carbon (charcoal), and a volatile fraction composed of gases, organic vapors and tar components. This volatile fraction, if not used for thermal energy generation, or for the recovery of condensable vapors, becomes highly contaminant, harmful to the health of people who are in the vicinity of the carbonization plant and is harmful For the enviroment. In spite of being a relatively simple technology of conversion of biomass in solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, carbonization is a quite complex process when it is examined from the scientific point of view.

The biomass contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are sugars that decompose generating the volatile components during carbonization. Once the pyrolysis has started, cellulose and hemicellulose are almost totally decomposed (volatilized) at 400 ° C. Lignin is the most stable component of wood and decomposes more slowly, being the main contributor to the formation of charcoal (fixed carbon).

The carbonization process can be divided into several stages. 1 - . 1 - Drying. Wood absorbs heat and dries, releasing moisture as water vapor. Temperature range in that stage: 20 - 110 ° C. The temperature remains around 100 ° C until the wood is completely dry. A green wood contains between 50 and 70% of water, which must be evaporated before the temperature of the wood can increase. Drying is an endothermic process. 2 - . 2 - Term of the drying. Final traces of water are released, few important reactions. It is an endothermic stage. Temperature range: 110 to 175 ° C. 3 - . 3 - Pre-carbonization. It is still an endothermic stage that occurs in the temperature range of 175 to 270oC. Increase in the reaction rate and start of the release of volatiles. Small gas elimination The wood begins to decompose releasing CO, CO2, acetic acid and methanol. The wood acquires the brown-violet color. 4 - . 4 - Transition. The decomposition reactions continue and the reactions become exothermic. Temperature range: 270 - 290 ° C. 5 - . 5 - Carbonization. The reaction becomes exothermic, releasing heat. The reaction becomes thermally self-sustaining, and the temperature of the medium increases due to the thermal release of up to about 380-450 ° C. The process of thermal decomposition is accelerated, releasing more heat, so that the temperature does not fall below that value while carbonization lasts. Important stage of decomposition reactions and great elimination of gases. The composition of gases is modified, decreasing the oxygenated gases and a combustible gas containing CO, H¿, CH, hydrocarbons, along with CO2 and condensable vapors. Tar begins to appear as predominant with the increase in temperature. The decomposition rate reaches its maximum at 355 ° (peak of the DTG curve). The final residue of this stage is charcoal. The fixed carbon content of charcoal depends on the final temperature of this stage, which can reach 500 ° C. 6 -. 6 - Cooling. The produced coal must be cooled, to avoid its ignition when opening the oven, which must be hermetically sealed.

It is important to note that the carbonization process is initiated by a highly endothermic stage, which is the drying of the wood. Normally the consumption of heat for wood drying comes from the burning of part of the wood in the furnace, although in the final energy balance the heat released by the exothermic reactions and by the combustion of the gases emitted by the wood is superior to the thermal needs of the initial heating and drying of the wood. The problem of taking advantage of the energy released in the exothermic stage to meet the thermal demand of wood drying is in the phase shift of the two stages, and in the fact that the endothermic stage of the wood carbonization process precedes the stage Exothermic Table number 1 shows the theoretical evolution of the carbonization of biomass.

Table 1 - Theoretical Evolution of Wood Distillation.

Sources: Uhart, 1971; Doat and Petroff, 1975 Current state of the art More than eight million tons of charcoal are consumed annually in Brazil and, of that total, approximately 60% is produced with eucalyptus wood from plantations. The majority of Brazilian industrial coal-fired plants operate with traditional hive-type brick kilns, popularly known as "hot-tailed ovens". These furnaces use as an energy source the combustion of part of the wood that is in the furnace, because they do not have a system for harnessing the energy released during the exothermic stage of the process. They also do not allow control of the properties of the coal produced, since the parameter of the operation is the color of the gases emitted directly into the atmosphere.

The widespread use of charcoal throughout history allowed the development of various types of furnaces for the production of charcoal, many of them existing to the present. The first method of charcoal production was probably the well furnace, still in use today, where the wood is placed in a hole, covered with earth and slowly burned. With reference to the method of generation of heat, the carbonization furnaces can be classified into: a) - Internal burning (controlled combustion of part of the material) b) - External burner (external burner) c) - Retorta (gas recirculation or internal heating) The internal combustion furnaces are the most common. The carbonization begins with a controlled introduction of air into the furnace, in order to burn part of the contained wood and heat the furnace until the carbonization temperature is reached. Once carbonization has started, the air inlet is partially closed and the carbonization process continues until all the wood has been transformed into charcoal. The gases and volatiles produced in the carbonization are released into the atmosphere, only producing carbon. In these kilns around 15% to 20% (mass) of the wood in the kiln is consumed in the burning. This is one of the oldest methods of making charcoal and the most used kilns that work according to this principle are: parva furnaces, pit kilns, metal kilns and brick kilns. At present, the most used in Brazil are brick kilns.

In external combustion furnaces, the combustion is carried out in a burner external to the furnace. The hot gases from the products of combustion are introduced into the kiln to dry the wood and carry out combustion. In the combustion chamber, waste, husks, branches, charcoal fines, tar, fuel oil or natural gas can be burned. This system is more expensive and more complicated construction, but manages better control of the operation, produces a charcoal of better quality and higher yield.

Retorta ovens are carbonization ovens that use an external source of heat to heat the biomass contained in a closed chamber. The retorts allow the recovery of volatile oils and gases that are co-products of pyrolysis, and also allow better control of the process, producing high quality charcoal with high performance, and with a minimum emission of polluting gases. Due to the high investment cost they are not economically viable if the sole objective was the production of charcoal. The retort processes are normally used when the main objective is the recovery of condensable products. The liquor piroleñoso containing water, tar and the so-called piroleñosos, goes through a series of treatments that allow the recovery of several important chemicals (acetic acid, methanol, flavorings for food, solvents, etc.).

The processes of retorta require the cutting of the pieces of wood with a maximum length of 30 cm. The investment in the carbonization plant is increased by the need for a large sawmill. In addition to this, the sawing operation increases the cost of charcoal.

As mentioned above, currently in Brazil the most commonly used are brick kilns. Almost all of the charcoal produced in these kilns in Brazil goes to the steel industry. Brick-type brick kilns predominate, popularly called "hot-rod ovens".

The typical furnace used by the Brazilian steel industry has a capacity of 10 to 30 cubic meters. Figure 1 is a schematic representation thereof. The oven is loaded through door 1 and then sealed. The ignition of the wood stack is carried out through the hole 2 in the upper part of the furnace. The carbonization is done from top to bottom, allowing the entry of air through the holes 3 in the vertical walls, where the smoke is also expelled. When the smoke becomes light blue, all the openings and holes are closed and sealed with mud,In order to avoid the filtration of air, which would burn the charcoal resulting from the carbonization of the wood. Then the cooling of the load takes place. The total time for the complete cycle of charcoal making in that type of kiln varies from 9 to 12 days. An evolution of the wood carbonization brick kilns was the development of the large rectangular kiln, figure 2. This furnace was developed in Missouri, United States with the aim of reducing labor in the almost artisanal process that characterizes the production of charcoal in brick kilns. The main objective of the Missouri furnace is the mechanization of the operations of feeding the wood into pieces, and the removal of the charcoal. The dimensions of the oven allow the entry of a truck or crane for the placement of pieces of wood, thus avoiding the handling of them. It also allows the removal of charcoal by means of a loader. That mechanization is the main advantage of the Missouri furnace, which was developed in a country where labor is expensive.

The average volume of a rectangular oven is in the range of 180 - 200 cubic meters. The most common internal dimensions are 11x4x3.5 meters, the thickness of the walls being normally 4 (figure 2) 25 cm. Door 5 is thick plate protected by refractory concrete. He! The oven is equipped with a chimney 6 placed laterally. The air inlets 7 are located in the base of the oven. The wood is loaded on a base of pieces arranged transversely on the ground. Ignition occurs through a channel 8 located above the furnace in the central part thereof.

The carbonization is controlled by the color of the smoke, as it happens in the ovens "hot tail". The bluish color of the smoke indicates the end of the carbonization process.

Then the air inlets 7 are closed, starting the cooling of charcoal. Such as in the small "hot-tailed" type brick kilns, the total cycle between the loading of the pieces in the kiln and the removal of the charcoal varies from 9 to 12 days.

A shortcoming of the large rectangular oven is the difficulty of a homogeneous carbonization. At certain times there may be excessively hot areas inside the oven, with the burning of charcoal, and areas in the drying stage. An evolution in the control of the oven was the implantation of temperature meters based on infrared sensors. These measurements indicate any excessively hot or cold areas of the furnace and suitable measures of air entry control are adopted for the homogenization of the carbonization inside the furnace.

In Brazil, rectangular kilns were installed by some steel companies, particularly integrated power plants, based on the description above. The majority of Brazilian coal works with traditional brick kilns that do not have smoke removal or recirculation systems, with carbonization oriented exclusively towards the production of charcoal.

One of the basic characteristics of brick kilns is the burning of part of the wood that is in the oven due to the lack of use of the energy released by the exothermic reactions of the carbonization, and of the energy contained in the gases emitted. during the process. In the brick kilns there is a considerable overlap of the drying and carbonization stages. The release of polluting gases into the atmosphere is another characteristic of these kilns. These gases contain approximately 45 to 50 kg of methane per ton of produced charcoal. As far as the greenhouse effect is concerned, this methane content is equivalent to one ton of C02.

In the traditional process of brick kilns for the carbonization of wood, it is necessary to store the wood free to dry it. At the time of cutting, the wood has an average of 50% humidity (wet basis). The carbonization of wood with this moisture content is unfeasible, and moisture reduction is essential up to a range of 25-30% (b.h.). This is obtained by stacking the wood properly for a period that varies from 100 to 120 days, depending on the time of year. The following operations, which they involve a lot of labor, characterize the manipulation of the wood between the moment of the cut in the forest and the placement of the pieces in the brick kilns. > Cut the firewood into pieces approximately one meter long. > Stacking of the pieces of wood in a suitable way for drying outdoors. > Removal of the wood from the batteries and loading in the truck. > Transfer of wood from the truck to the furnace, when rectangular ovens are used, or for a storage beach when "hot tail" ovens are used. > Placement of the wood in the "hot tail" type oven. > Transfer of the charcoal from the brick kiln to the truck that will transport it to the storage silo. > Transfer of the charcoal from the truck to the silo.

The participation of workers for this sequence of operations is responsible for about 60% of the cost of manufacturing charcoal. In addition, when removing with shovels - manually or mechanically - the charcoal from the masonry furnace, a part of the ground from the floor of the furnace is dragged, contaminating the charcoal, thus causing an increase in the ash content of the same.

Gravimetric performance means the ratio (kg of charcoal) / (t of dehydrated wood). By virtue of the burning of part of the wood in the kiln, the gravimetric performance of the brick kilns is low, being in the range 28-34%. It means that between 280 and 340 kilos of charcoal are produced per ton of dehydrated wood. The upper strip of this strip is obtained in rectangular ovens that have temperature control by infrared sensors.

Therefore, the main disadvantages of the carbonization in brick kilns, including those of large rectangular dimensions are: 1 - . 1 - Low gravimetric performance. 2 - . 2 - Carbonisation fumes are released directly into the environment. 3 - . 3 - The brick walls are more conductive of heat which means that more days are needed for the cooling of the charcoal at temperatures that make possible the handling, loading and transport. 4 - . 4 - Difficulties in obtaining uniformity of temperature on the carbonization front in all areas of the furnace, which produces differences in the fixed carbon content in the charcoal, which has variable quality depending on its position in the furnace. Thus, in a firing, coals can be obtained in different states of thermal decomposition, that is, of toasted wood in the furnace floor to coal with a fixed carbon content of 80% that is formed in the upper part of the load in the furnace. 5 - . 5 - Lack of control over carbonization, which is carried out by the coloring of the smoke and the external temperature of the walls of the furnace. 6 -. 6 - Difficulty of standardizing the carbonization routine according to the different ways in which carbonization can be developed in them, depending on the skill of the operator. 7 -. 7 - Burning of part of the wood for the supply of heat necessary to the process. 8 -. 8 - Long cycle time with the consequent low productivity. 9 -. 9 - Non-use of gaseous (condensable and non-condensable) released during the carbonization of wood. 10 -. 10 - Need for storage of outdoor wood in order to reduce the humidity of it.

Solution of the problems To solve the problems mentioned above, we devised a system of manufacturing charcoal that uses as an energy source the gaseous constituents emitted by the wood in the carbonization. The system devised is based on the basic concepts described below: Although the energy released during the carbonization stage of the wood is superior to the thermal needs of the process, the brick kilns do not take advantage of this energy, because the availability of it is out of phase in relation to the endothermic stage of wood drying.

That is, the carbonization process of wood is self-sufficient in thermal energy. However, this energy is available after the endothermic stage of drying, which is why it is necessary to burn part of the wood fed in the brick kilns, to meet the thermal demand of the vaporization of the water contained in the wood. The fundamental characteristic of the Process presented here is the clear separation of the stages of drying and carbonization, which are carried out in independent reactors, in such a way that the energy contained in the gases detached by the vegetal matter in carbonization is exploited in the stage endothermic drying. The process presented here solved the problem of incompatibility between the initial endothermic drying stage and the exothermic stage that provides sufficient energy to meet the thermal demand of the vaporization of the water contained in the wood.

The basic concepts of the Process presented here are: 1 - . 1 - Use of the emitted gases - condensable and non-condensable - as a necessary source of energy to the carbonization process, thus not having burned part of the wood in the furnace. 2 - . 2 - Use of gases emitted by wood in carbonization as a thermal fluid for heat transfer during the initial endothermic phase of pyrolysis. 3 - . 3 - The functions of drying, carbonization of wood, and cooling of charcoal are processed simultaneously and independently in at least three reactors. The gases emitted during the pyrolysis, with a significant calorific power, are burned in a combustion chamber, where hot gases are generated, which are transported to the reactor in which the drying of the wood is processed.

Any reactor can perform the functions of drying, carbonization and cooling. The process can be carried out in more than three reactors, depending on the final capacity desired for the carbonization plant.

Figure 3 shows a layout of the Process presented here. The system consists of three independent reactors, 9, 10 and 11, and a combustion chamber 12 placed externally to said reactors. Let us admit that at a certain moment the reactor 9 was in the drying stage, the reactor 10 was in pyrolysis and the reactor 11 was in the cooling stage of the charcoal. In reactor 10, condensation and non-condensable gases containing combustible components are released from the wood in carbonisation. These gases leave the reactor 10 through the pipeline 13. A large part of these gases are conducted through the pipeline 13 to the pyrolysis gas collecting duct 14. In this path they pass through the special valves 15 and 16. The valve 15 remains open for the passage of the gases to the collecting duct 14, but prevents the passage thereof for the dilution gas collection duct 17. From the collecting duct 14 the pyrolysis gases are conducted to the burner 18 of the chamber 12, passing before by the gasifier 20, flow controlled by the valve 19. In the burner 18 the fumes of the pyrolysis are mixed with the combustible air blown by the blower 21, flow controlled by the valve 22, arriving at the burner 18 after being pre-heated by the heat exchanger 23 placed inside the combustion chamber 12. The burning of the fumes from the pyrolysis in the burner 18 generates hot gases intended to meet the endothermic demand of the drying of the dera. The other part of the pyrolysis gases returns to the reactor 10 sucked by the blower 24 through the duct 25, flow controlled by the valve 26. The purpose of that return is to control the temperature in the reactor in which the pyrolysis is processed of wood, since it is this temperature that will define the quality of the charcoal, mainly as regards the content of fixed carbon. Therefore, part of the pyrolysis gases form a closed circuit, a "looping". The closed circuit of the combustible gases with the purpose of a precise control of this stage of carbonization of the biomass is one of the fundamental characteristics of the process presented here. The end of the carbonization is indicated by the reduction of the flow of pyrolysis gases emitted by the wood. The temperature in the reactor 10 in which the carbonization of the wood is processed is controlled so as to remain in the range of 310-340 ° C suitable for obtaining the charcoal with a desired fixed carbon content for the pig iron ovens. . The carbonization rate is controlled by the return flow of the pyrolysis gases.

The hot gases generated by the combustion of combustible gases in the chamber 12 are sucked by the blower 27 through the duct 28, towards the mixer 29. Dilution gases coming from the reactor 9, are mixed with these hot gases in the mixer 29 and led to the hot gas collector duct 30, through the duct 31, flow controlled by the valve 32. From the duct 30, the hot gases are sucked by the blower 24 (corresponding to the reactor 9) through the duct 33, passing through the valve 34 fully open, and by the flow control valve 35. The hot gases are then blown into the drying reactor 9. The hot gases insufflated in the reactor 9 are incubated with water vapor from the drying of the wood . This gaseous mixture leaves the reactor: 9 at a temperature of approximately 120 ° C through the pipeline 13, and is conducted to the dilution gas distribution pipe 17, valve 15 remaining fully open and the valve 16 completely closed. conducted to the mixer 29 through the duct 36, where they are mixed with the hot gases effluent from the combustion chamber 12, before the blower 27. The greatest amount of heat must be provided to the reactor in which the stage is being carried out. drying In order to avoid high temperatures in the drying reactor, the hot gases coming from the chamber 12 are mixed with the dilution gases circulating through the pipeline 17, according to the above. This technique, which we call re-circulation, allows the drying reactor 9 to be fed to the desired temperature. It was found that the ideal temperature for the gases that will be introduced into the drying reactor is in the range of 300 - 350 ° C. As a result, during the drying phase, there is no risk of unwanted overheating in the steel containers. In addition, drying at high temperatures causes the formation of scratches and cracks in the wood, which will affect the quality of the charcoal. The technique of re-circulation is another essential characteristic of the process presented here.

In the reactor 11 the cooling of the charcoal is being processed. That cooling develops in two stages. In the first stage the blower 24 is turned off and the flow control valves 26 and 32 of the ducts 25 and 31 are closed, the valve 15 also being closed. The reactor 11 must be completely annulled since any infiltration of atmospheric air would cause the combustion of charcoal. The cooling of the charcoal begins then by irradiation of heat to the outside. During this cooling part of the carbon contained in the gaseous atmosphere coming from the end of the carbonization is incorporated into the charcoal, slightly increasing the fixed carbon content of the same. In addition to that the gaseous atmosphere generates a small positive pressure, collaborating to prevent the infiltration of atmospheric air. The cooling will be completed with the injection of a very fine "spray" of water from the reactor 11. The water is injected under high pressure by a pump 42 in the nebulizer 43 through the duct 44. The atomizer causes the nebulization of water in very fine droplets that evaporate quickly, thus ending the cooling of the charcoal. When the temperature in the cooling reactor reaches 95 ° the injection of water through the sprayer is interrupted. The cooling will be finished when the temperature allowing the charcoal discharge is reached by irradiation of heat to the outside.

It should be noted that the wood remains immobile in reactors 9, 10 and 11 throughout the carbonization process, thus avoiding the generation of charcoal fines. The operation will be developed in such a way that the drying, pyrolysis and cooling stages occur simultaneously, and are concluded at the same time. At the end of the process the drying reactor 9 receives the hot gases from the pyrolysis while in the pyrolysis reactor 10 the cooling of the charcoal begins., and the reactor container 11 is removed. Reactor 11 receives new wooden container, beginning the drying process in it. The change in the functions of reactors 9, 10 and 11 that at the end of the described carbonization cycle will pass for pyrolysis, cooling and drying reactors respectively, is carried out through maneuvers in valves 15, 16 and 34 placed in the ducts 14, 17 and 30.

At the beginning of the operation of the system, no fuel gas is available for the combustion chamber 12, since none of the three reactors is in the pyrolysis phase. Therefore, an external heat source is needed to start and finish the drying of the wood placed in the reactor 9. There are two possible options for starting the system. Feed the burner 18 with natural gas or with LPG, or, what is preferable, install a wood gasifier close to the set of reactors, and start the first cycle by burning in the burner 18 the poor gas effluent from that gasifier. Figure 3 shows the wood gasifier 20 and the duct 45 that transported the lean gas generated in the gasifier 20 to the burner 18. The gasifying agent is sucked from the mixer 46 by the blower 47, and injected in the gasifier 20, controlled flow by valve 48. Atmospheric air is conveyed to mixer 46 by line 49, flow controlled by valve 50. Dilution gas is conducted via line 51 to mixer 46, flow controlled by valve 52. A small proportion of that dilution gas is mixed with the gasification air to avoid excessive temperatures in the lower region of the gasifier. The capacity of the gasifier 20 must be adequate to the thermal demand of the wood drying reactor 9. In addition, it will have the function of completing the supply of the fuel gas to the drying reactor in the event of a possible deficiency in the supply of the gas emitted. for the wood in carbonization.

Note that once the process has begun by burning a combustible gas from a source external to the system, the process is continuous, although the wood remains stationary throughout the cycle. There will always be a reactor in drying, a reactor in pyrolysis, and a third in cooling. Once the cycle is over, the function of each reactor changes, however, the carbonization process is uninterrupted. The total time for the carbonization of the wood according to the process presented here is approximately 72 hours. Considering the possibility of feeding the drying reactor once the cutting of the wood is finished, the time elapsed between that cut and obtaining the charcoal is approximately seven days, while in the brick kilns, that time can reach up to 140 days. days.

At the beginning of the pre-carbonization period, as well as at the end of the carbonization, the generation of gases containing fuel elements is minimal. In order to avoid the lack of energy generating gases in the combustion chamber 12, ensure regularity regarding the lower calorific value (PCI), and the amount of combustible gas that must be provided to the chamber 12, must be provided of at least six reactors in operation. Thus we can have two or more reactors in pyrolysis, two or more reactors in drying and the corresponding number of reactors in cooling. The simultaneous operation allows to synchronize the various stages of manufacturing charcoal. To avoid oscillations in the quantity and calorific value of the pyrolysis gases that will pass to the burner 18 of the chamber 12, carbonization is started in the second reactor when the first one approaches the maximum of the generation of gases. In this way when the generation of fuel gases in the first reactor begins to decay, the second reactor approaches the phase of maximum amount of generation of pyrolysis gases, which allows maintaining the regularity of the process. The productivity of the system is increased when at least six reactors are used. Figure 4 shows a system constituted by six reactors.

In figure 4 we can see three main ducts, collectors of the various gases of the process. Pipeline 53 is the piping collector of the pyrolysis gases, only that type of gases circulating in it. The pipeline 53 conducts the pyrolysis gases to the duct 54, flow controlled by the valve 55. The combustible gases from the pyrolysis of the biomass are conducted to the burner 56 of the combustion chamber 57, reaching the burner 56 through the pipeline 58. These gases were generated in the reactors in which the it processes the pyrolysis of the wood, let's say that at the moment chosen for this description are the reactors 59 and 60. The gases emitted by the wood in pyrolysis are driven to the duct 53 by the duct 61, passing before the valves 62 and 63. These valves are arranged in such a way that the valve 62, although closed, allows the passage of the fumes from the pyrolysis only in the direction of the duct 53 passing through the valve 63, which remains open at this time. Part of the pyrolysis gases return to reactors 59 and 60 through line 64, sucked by blower 65, flow controlled by valve 66. As in the case of figure 3 with three reactors, the purpose of return On the part of the pyrolysis gases, it is the control of the temperature in the reactors 59 and 60, with the purpose of avoiding the overheating of the wood in carbonization in those reactors during the exothermic phase of the pyrolysis. With two reactors in carbonization of the biomass, the supply of fuel gas to the chamber 57 is ensured in the quantity and quality necessary for the process.

At the time chosen for this description, reactors 67 and 68 are processing the drying of the wood. Hot gases generated in the chamber 57 are drawn by the blower 69 through the duct 70, to the combustion gas mixer 71. The gases of the mixer 71 are conducted to the duct 72, through the duct 73, controlled flow by the valve 74. The duct 72 conducts said gases to the drying reactors 67 and 68 through the duct 75, flow controlled by the valve 76. With the reactors 67 and 68 in the drying stage, water vapor from the Dehydration of the wood together with the combustion gases that entered the temperature range of 300 to 350 ° C, are conducted through the duct 61 to the dilution gas collection duct 77. At that time the valves 62 remain open, and the valves 63 remain closed. That is, the effluent gases from the drying reactors have access only to the duct 77, with no possibility of access to the duct 53. At that moment the valves 66 remain open for re-circulation. The dilution gases are conducted through the duct 77 to the duct 78, flow controlled by the valve 79 towards the inlet of the mixer 71 where they are mixed with the hot gases effluent from the chamber 57; in order to obtain the ideal temperature for drying, as it was described for the system with three reactors. At that time in the reactors 86 and 87 the charcoal is being cooled. As in the system with three reactors, the cooling is initiated with the reactors 86 and 87 sealed, by irradiation of heat to the outside; it is completed with the injection of water by the pump 88, through the duct 89 to the nebulizer 90; When the temperature in the cooling reactors reaches 95"C, the injection of water is interrupted and the cooling is completed by the irradiation of heat to the atmosphere.

The process now presented allows a precise control of the carbonization operation of the wood, which makes it possible to obtain charcoal with the metallurgical properties specified by the consumer. The control is done by means of thermocouples installed at the entrance and exit of each reactor. In this way, at the beginning of the drying stage, the difference between the temperature of the gases at the inlet and the outlet of the reactor is large, due to the strong thermal demand for the heating of the wood and the vaporization of the water from humidity. In the continuation of the drying, that temperature difference decreases, the convergence of the temperatures will indicate the end of the drying, and the availability of that reactor for the carbonization stage of the wood. The control of the operation by means of thermocouples in the entrance and exit of the gases, in each reactor, allows the automation of the operation in the system presented here.

During the carbonization of wood, the higher the temperature, the higher the fixed carbon content of the charcoal, and lower the gravimetric performance of the carbonization. Figure 6 shows the relationship between carbonization temperature, fixed carbon content of the charcoal, and gravimetric performance. The main use of charcoal in Brazil is in the steel industry, in the blast furnaces for the production of pig iron. The fixed carbon content most indicated for the operation is in the range 70 - 75%. Figure 6 shows that for this fixed carbon content, the temperature of the operation of the carbonization reactor should be in the range of 320-350 ° C. As in the process now presented no combustion occurs inside the reactor, and the temperature does not need to pass through 350 ° C, it is possible to place the wood in metal containers, because that temperature range is perfectly compatible with the behavior of common steel.

Thermodynamic calculations showed that the energy contained in the gases released by the wood in carbonization is sufficient to dry the recently cut wood, when the humidity of the same is in the order of 50% (b.h.). One of the advantages of the process presented here is the possibility of feeding the reactor with freshly cut wood, which avoids the storage costs of the same to atmospheric air for the reduction of humidity to levels compatible with the carbonization in brick kilns. Meanwhile, if it is convenient to obtain the condensable products from the distillation of the wood, it is possible to proceed as in the brick kilns, previously drying the wood to the atmospheric air, and recovering those products by means of condensation and subsequent separation of the various ingredients. of condensable vapors - by suitable conventional processes. With the advantage that the separation starts during the carbonization process presented here by virtue of the independence of the stages of the process.

Alternatively, the combustible gases emitted by the wood during the pyrolysis stage can be used as an energy source for any other purpose, such as for thermoelectric generation. This alternative is particularly attractive in the case of carbonization located in the vicinity of the charcoal blast furnace. The hot gases, product of the combustion of effluents from the peripheral units of the pig iron producing steel plant, can be used for the drying of the wood. And the fumes from the pyrolysis or tar obtained by the condensation of these gases can be used for thermoelectric generation, thus converting the self-sufficient steel mill into electrical energy.

According to the above, in the traditional process of brick kilns for the carbonization of wood, it is necessary to store the wood in the open air for drying. The use of labor for the sequence of wood drying and transport operations for the carbonization plant is responsible for about 60% of the cost of manufacturing charcoal. In addition, the financial cost derived from the time needed for that drying must be added.

To solve this logistics problem the process presented here found an excellent solution based on the use of a truck trailer of the "roll on" type.

The wood, recently cut in the forest, without any need for stacking for outdoor drying, is cut to the size of the "roll-on" trailer. Once the process is started, economize on the least number of wood cuts. Then the wood is placed manually or by means of machines used in the forestry industry in the trailer of the "roll-on" truck. The truck lifts the trailer to the respective body and after the necessary route to the carbonization plant, it is placed directly inside the reactor in which it will start immediately to dry the wood. After cooling the charcoal after finishing the process in that reactor, the truck removes the trailer "roll-on" from the reactor, and transports the charcoal to its storage silo. Note that no man intervention occurred between cutting the wood and unloading the charcoal in the silo. This technique is possible by the absence of any combustion inside the carbonization reactor, and by the temperature control thereof. In addition, any contamination of charcoal was prevented by impurities contained in the oven floor. Figure 5 shows the operation of the reactor-trailer association "roll-on".

This technique is evident the logistical advantage of the Process presented here in relation to the conventional processes of carbonization in brick kilns.

Another important characteristic of the process presented here is the possibility of interrupting the operation at any stage of the carbonization of the biomass, due to the independence in the reactors in which the drying and cooling stages are carried out. You can then obtain dehydrated wood, toasted wood (char), or charcoal with high volatile content. The latter is a very convenient fuel, suitable for the substitution of petroleum derivatives in industrial furnaces or in steam boilers for thermoelectric generation. Dehydrated wood, toasted wood and charcoal with high volatile content represent a concentration of biomass energy, also being very convenient fuels. Due to the size and long internal distances of Brazil, the "energy concentration" aspect of the biomass in order to make transportation viable becomes relevant.

The process presented here can use biomass with small dimensions, such as, coconut shell, babacu coconut, babafu coconut shell, sawmill waste, agricultural waste in general, elephant grass, etc. Tests carried out in a reactor like the one presented here showed the viability in the carbonization of elephant grass by this process, which was achieved for the first time in the world.

The process presented here can general the following products: > Charcoal for electric reduction furnaces, with a minimum of 78% fixed carbon.

Advantages in relation to coke: it does not contain sulfur, higher electrical resistance. > Charcoal for the steel industry. Advantages in relation to coke: it does not contain sulfur, higher reactivity, lower volume of waste due to the low ash content. > Charcoal with 35 to 50% volatile matter. Ideal fuel as a substitute for fossil fuels in industry or for thermoelectric generation.

Charcoal from elephant grass, sawmill waste, or any small biomass. > Toasted wood > Dehydrated wood Table 2 shows the lower calorific value of these products. As a reference, table 2 iridica the PCI of the eucalyptus next to the cut.

Table 2 - PCI of the main products derived from wood.

Table 2 shows the importance of the energy concentration that the Process presented here can provide.

The third column of table 3 shows the relationship between the unit cost of energy coming from the various types of biomass and the unit cost of energy from fuel oil.

Table 3 - Comparison of the unit cost of energy The advantages of the Process presented here associated with the use of "roll-on" trailers for wood handling can be summarized as follows: 1 - . 1 - Higher gravimetric performance, by not burning the wood in the oven. Gravimetric performance in the range of 40 - 42%, while in brick kilns that performance is in the range of 28 - 34%. 2 - . 2 - No emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere. 3 - . 3 - It is not necessary to store the wood once cut. 4 - . 4 - Immobility of the wood during the carbonization in the reactors, which minimizes the generation of charcoal fines. 5 - . 5 - Significant reduction in the cost of production of charcoal. 6 -. 6 - A great logistical advantage. 7 -. 7 - Possibility of interruption of the carbonization process at any stage in order to obtain products with dehydrated wood, toasted wood, or charcoal with high volatile content for energy purposes. 8 -. 8 - Suitable for any degree of mechanization or automation. 9 -. 9 - Precise control of the process, allowing to obtain the product with the specifications desired by the consumer. 10 -. 10 - Less number of wood cuts in the forest. eleven - . 11 - Investment cost (expressed in dollars per ton of charcoal) lower than the retort process. 12 -. 12 - It is a very high productivity process, the residence time of the wood inside the reactor is around 72 hours. 13 -. 13 - Possibility of carbonization of biomass with small dimensions.

Numerous tests, initially on a pilot scale, later on an industrial scale, confirmed all the advantages of the Process presented here, theoretically envisaged, particularly as regards the greater gravimetric yield and the absence of any contamination.

The advantages mentioned in items 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are those that lead to a significant reduction in the cost of manufacturing charcoal, reducing the order of 75%.

Beyond the economic advantages, it is important to mention the social advantages that the process presented here can provide.

In the case of Brazil, the use of child labor or slave labor is eliminated from the charcoal sector. A wood carbonization plant that uses the Process presented here will employ qualified professionals, duly trained, representing, therefore, a social gain.

The process presented here offers opportunities for significant social gain through the cultivation of elephant grass for energy purposes by the small farmer, who has no financial possibilities for a tree plantation. The charcoal obtained from the elephant grass can not be used directly as a thermo reducer due to its small dimensions. However, it can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels in industrial furnaces, in boilers, for the injection of coal fines in blast furnace nozzles, or for thermoelectric generation. It is important to mention that the productivity of dry biomass expressed in tons per hectare per year is higher than that of the eucalyptus forest, due to the rapid growth of elephant grass. In some regions, it is possible to cut elephant grass four times a year. An adequate energy policy, which stimulates the use of biomass as a renewable source of energy, will undoubtedly contribute to the reduction of the rural exodus to the big cities.

The energy concentration of the biomass given by the process HERE PRESENTED, offers an extraordinary perspective for the development of the Countries.

The use of biomass grown in the steel sector is generating jobs in the countryside, thus contributing to the reduction of rural workers' migration to large cities. Every 10 hectares of cultivated forest generates employment in the countryside. The economic advantages of the Process presented here can be summarized as follows: The incidence of charcoal in the cost of manufacturing the pig iron produced in the blast furnaces that use this reducing thermos is of the order of 60%. A significant reduction in the cost of charcoal that the process presented here can provide, would significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing pig iron and steel, significantly increasing the competitiveness of companies producing and exporting these products. The best quality of these steel products should be mentioned when charcoal is used as a reducing thermo.

The yield gravimetric ((kg charcoal) / (t dehydrated wood)) of the Process presented here is in the range of 40 - 42%. If we consider the gravimetric performance of brick kilns in the range of 28-34%, the process presented here represents an average 30% increase in yield. That is, while in brick kilns you get between 280 and 340 kilos of charcoal per ton of dehydrated wood, the process presented here allows obtaining 400 to 420 kg of charcoal per ton of dehydrated wood. This represents an average increase of 30% in the production of charcoal per hectare of planted forest. In other words, keeping the consumption of charcoal in the steel company constant, the forest will last 30% more time.

The significant reduction in the cost of manufacturing charcoal, and the increase in the duration of tree planting, are sufficient to emphasize the importance of the innovative process presented here.

Claims

Page 19 of 21 CLAIMS 1 - . 1 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized by the use of a set of equipment consisting of: rectangular fixed reactors, combustion chamber, heat exchanger, blowers and pipeline assembly, as an integral part of the constructive configuration of the carbonization system of the aforementioned plant material. 2 - . 2 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claim 1, by the use of a set of rectangular reactors fixed, in which the stages of drying, and carbonization of the vegetable piateria and the cooling of the produced charcoal are processed simultaneously and independently. 3 - . 3 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 2, by the use of a camera combustion placed externally to the mentioned fixed rectangular reactors. 4 - . 4 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 3, by the use of a heat exchanger metallic heat installed internally to the combustion chamber. 5 - . 5 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 by the use of a set of blowers that have the purpose of insufflating the gases through the ducts that will lead the respective gases to the reactors of the system. 6 -. 6 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PRQCESO AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, by the feeding of the process gases in each reactor, gases whose chemical composition and temperature depend on the stage of the carbonization process in progress in the respective reactor. 7 -. 7 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PRQCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 2, by carrying out the steps of drying and carbonization of wood, and Page 20 of 21 cooling of the charcoal simultaneously in independent reactors in which only one of the functions is developed. 8 -. 8 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1, 6 and 7, by the use of the gases emitted by the wood in carbonisation as a thermal fluid for the transfer of heat during the endothermic stage of the pyrolysis phase, 9 -. 9 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS AN SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESERVOIR EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 3, by the use of the contained energy in the gases emitted during the carbonization of the vegetal matter for the drying of the wood with high humidity, or for the supply of energy for any other purpose, such as for example thermoelectric generation. 10 -. 10 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 2, by the possibility of being interrupted the Carbonization process in any stage of the same in order to obtain dehydrated wood, toasted wood or charcoal with high volatile content, very convenient fuels. eleven - . 11 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 2, by the possibility of adopting any degree of mechanization or automation. 12 -. 12 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claim 2, by the control of the operation in each reactor through temperature measurements of the process gases at the inlet and outlet of each reactor. 13 -. 13 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 2, 6 and 7 by the placement of the material Vegetable to be carbonized in the trailer of the truck type "roll-on" that will serve as metal containers within which the drying stages, carbonization of the vegetable matter and the cooling of the produced charcoal will be processed simultaneously and independently. 14 -. 14 - PROCESS FOR OBTAINING VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to the Page 21 of 21 claims 1, 2 and 7 for the greater efficiency in the condensation of the condensable volatiles emitted by the wood in carbonization, and consequently better recovery of those products, by virtue of the independent and simultaneous processing of the drying and pyrolysis stages of the vegetal matter , when the recovery of said condensable products is desired. fifteen - . 15 - PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON USING GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT, characterized according to claims 1 and 2, by the possibility of adopting any degree of mechanization or automation what does not happen with the processes of carbonization of the wood that are produced in the brick kilns. page 1 of 2 SUMMARY PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE VEGETABLE CARBON THAT USES THE GASES EMITTED DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ORGANIC MATTER AS SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THE PROCESS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONFIGURATION OF THE RESPECTIVE EQUIPMENT The process of carbonization of vegetable matter consists in subjecting it to a thermal treatment at higher temperatures than the environment, in a controlled atmosphere, as far as possible, free of oxygen. We briefly describe the theory of the carbonization of plant matter, giving emphasis to the thermodynamic aspects, in particular to the phase shift of the endothermic and exothermic stages of the process, which prevents the use by the masonry kilns of the energy contained in the exothermic phase of carbonization. Below we describe the current state of the art. The present invention relates to a process and independent reactors for the drying and pyrlysis of vegetable matter, and an independent reservoir for cooling the charcoal. In this process, volatile products - non-condensable gases and condensable pyroligneous vapors - are burned in an independent combustion chamber for the generation of heat necessary for the process. In this way the burning of part of the wood is avoided and the contaminating condensable products are not released into the atmosphere. The reactors proposed by the present invention allow an accurate control of the process, thus obtaining the desired fixed carbon content, and a higher yield of carbonization, which in turn means an increase in the forest reserve either native 0 planted. In the independent pyrolysis and drying ovens proposed by the present invention, effluent gases from an externally located combustion chamber travel through a drying reactor and then pass to the cooling reactor, heating the solid column of vegetable matter in drying and cooling the charcoal in the cooling reactor. The combustion chamber uses as fuel the fuel gases emitted from the wood in carbonization. The combustion chamber is equipped with a heat exchanger, which transfers heat from the hot gases produced by combustion to part of the gases produced in the pyrolysis reactor that will serve as thermal fluid for heat transfer during the endothermic stage of the the pyrolysis. The purpose of this technique is to prevent the contamination of the combustible gases emitted by the vegetal matter in carbonization in the pyrolysis reactor (by the gases produced by combustion in the aforementioned chamber). In the system devised by us it is possible to interrupt the carbonization process at the end of the drying stage, or at the end of the endothermic phase of the pyrolysis, obtaining in this way1 anhydrous wood or toasted wood, very convenient fuels. The fundamental concepts of the idealized process are:

1 - . 1 - Use of the gases emitted by the wood in carbonization as an energy source for the process.