US20130145684A1 - Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation - Google Patents
Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130145684A1 US20130145684A1 US13/766,402 US201313766402A US2013145684A1 US 20130145684 A1 US20130145684 A1 US 20130145684A1 US 201313766402 A US201313766402 A US 201313766402A US 2013145684 A1 US2013145684 A1 US 2013145684A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel
- fuel object
- energy
- amount
- combustion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 111
- 241001520808 Panicum virgatum Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 title abstract description 8
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 229920002522 Wood fibre Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 239000002025 wood fiber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 150000007529 inorganic bases Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 45
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 35
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium bicarbonate Chemical compound [Na+].OC([O-])=O UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910000514 dolomite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010459 dolomite Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000030 sodium bicarbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000017557 sodium bicarbonate Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 3
- UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-DEQYMQKBSA-M Sodium bicarbonate-14C Chemical compound [Na+].O[14C]([O-])=O UIIMBOGNXHQVGW-DEQYMQKBSA-M 0.000 claims 1
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen oxide Inorganic materials O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 18
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 abstract description 9
- RAHZWNYVWXNFOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphur dioxide Chemical compound O=S=O RAHZWNYVWXNFOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 5
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 2
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract 2
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000002585 base Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000002803 fossil fuel Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 8
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 5
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004449 solid propellant Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004484 Briquette Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000009795 derivation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 241000894007 species Species 0.000 description 3
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M Bicarbonate Chemical class OC([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chloride anion Chemical compound [Cl-] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorine atom Chemical compound [Cl] ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000460 chlorine Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052801 chlorine Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000280 densification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000005431 greenhouse gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920005610 lignin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 description 2
- XTQHKBHJIVJGKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfur monoxide Chemical class S=O XTQHKBHJIVJGKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052815 sulfur oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000273930 Brevoortia tyrannus Species 0.000 description 1
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000380130 Ehrharta erecta Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920002488 Hemicellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241001327284 Sorghastrum nutans Species 0.000 description 1
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000607479 Yersinia pestis Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052784 alkaline earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001342 alkaline earth metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001449 anionic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- RHZUVFJBSILHOK-UHFFFAOYSA-N anthracen-1-ylmethanolate Chemical compound C1=CC=C2C=C3C(C[O-])=CC=CC3=CC2=C1 RHZUVFJBSILHOK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003830 anthracite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000035 biogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002802 bituminous coal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004649 carbonic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000571 coke Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004939 coking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001186 cumulative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003467 diminishing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000010099 disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000037265 diseases, disorders, signs and symptoms Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004459 forage Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007429 general method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011121 hardwood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000041 hydrogen chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- IXCSERBJSXMMFS-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydrogen chloride Substances Cl.Cl IXCSERBJSXMMFS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000004679 hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001412 inorganic anion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229930014626 natural product Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011236 particulate material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005453 pelletization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003209 petroleum derivative Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- BITYAPCSNKJESK-UHFFFAOYSA-N potassiosodium Chemical compound [Na].[K] BITYAPCSNKJESK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011122 softwood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L5/00—Solid fuels
- C10L5/40—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
- C10L5/44—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin on vegetable substances
- C10L5/442—Wood or forestry waste
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L5/00—Solid fuels
- C10L5/40—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
- C10L5/44—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin on vegetable substances
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L5/00—Solid fuels
- C10L5/40—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
- C10L5/48—Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin on industrial residues and waste materials
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/30—Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
Definitions
- the invention relates to a high-energy, low-emission solid fuel made from natural renewable feedstocks.
- a formed briquette or object is comprised of a blend of cellulosic material including switch grass and wood.
- the term “cube,” “object,” “briquette,” “formed object,” or “fuel object” are roughly synonymous and refer to a discrete particle of any size or shape that contains the natural cellulosic materials described herein.
- the major dimension of the fuel object is less than about 6 cm.
- the volume of the fuel object is about 10 to 100 cm 3 .
- Conventional fossil fuel refers to coal products including bituminous coal, anthracite coal, peat, coke and coking byproducts and to petroleum products such as oil, gas, natural gas liquids and products derived from shale and tar sands.
- moisture content and particle size of the switch grass and wood fiber particles in the final fuel object are important for product formation, handling, and effective combustion.
- the fuel object of the invention can be made without conventional binder materials such as that used in forming a number of the prior art materials.
- binder materials such as that used in forming a number of the prior art materials.
- Such binders are typically polymeric binders or are additional lignent or hemicelluloses materials.
- the fuel object may be used immediately in existing solid fuel energy facilities (including those employing stoker, fluidized bed, gasifier, cyclonic, direct-fired, and pulverized coal technologies) and operate with an efficiency and higher heating heat value similar to some coals with a significant reduction in air emissions per million BTU of energy output compared to fossil fuels.
- FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the process for forming the Fuel object of the invention.
- the embodiment that is the subject of this application includes a fuel in the form of an object, briquette, cube or other such formed object comprised of switch grass, wood and an inorganic base.
- the invention involves a fuel object processed, sized and configured for use in large-scale modern combustion energy generating systems. Composition, particle size, moisture content, and fuel object size and structure, result in the fuel object having a high energy value, low emissions upon combustion, and highly efficient combustion, in a range of commercially available combustion technologies.
- a fuel object can have a volume of about 10 to 100 cm 3 ; does not need to be symmetrical, but it is preferred that the fuel is in the form of an object substantially symmetrical in shape such as cylinder, cube, solid parallel-piped or the like.
- a fuel object can be roughly a cylinder, rectangular prism or a cube that is 1 to 6 cm on a side. Typical density of the fuel object is 30 to 40 lbs/ft 3 .
- the fuel object typically comprises about 60 to 80 weight percent switch grass and 20 to 40 weight percent wood.
- the switch grass component has a particle size of about 80 to 25,000 microns with about 85 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns.
- the wood fiber has a particle size of about 100 to 30,000 microns with about 90 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns.
- the reduction size of the switch grass and wood fiber to these proportions provides an input to the process that forms the fuel object leading to a mechanically stable fuel object that can be manufactured, stored, transported and used in modern combustion installations as is or is easily comminuted to a small particle size depending on the nature of the combustion process.
- Chemical bases that can be used in a fuel object of the invention include typically alkali metal and alkaline earth metal bases. Such bases can be made from sodium potassium, calcium, magnesium and other such metal species.
- the base can be used in the form of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, and any other inorganic anion that produces a basically reacting solution, a pH greater than 7.5, when the base is mixed in at an amount of about 0.5 to 10%.
- the important characteristic of the chemical base is that during the combustion process the chemical base can react with combustion byproducts such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, chloride, hydrochloric acid and other acidic producing gaseous species neutralized such species and substantially reduced the effects of corrosive action on combustion equipment.
- switch grass has higher chlorine content than wood and use of the base additive helps reduce chlorine/chloride gases upon combustion of the fuel object.
- a preferred base to neutralize acids in combustion is a bicarbonate or dolomite.
- the fuel objects have a typical heating value of at least about 7,000 BTU/lb. (about 3,500 cal.-gm ⁇ 1 ); about 7,300 BTU/lb (about 3,650 cal.-gm ⁇ 1 ) and typically at least 8,000 BTU/lb (about 4000 cal.-gm ⁇ 1 ) all on a dry basis.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram of the process for the manufacture of the fuel object of the invention.
- the process 500 includes, as primary process stations, raw materials and fuels storage 501 , raw materials dryer unit 503 , a cooling unit 504 and a cubing or object forming unit 505 . These primary stations take blended wood fiber and renewable fuel component, adjust particle size, reduce moisture to a preferred level, cool the material and then form the fuel object as needed. Once formed, the fuel is then stored or transferred to an industrial combustion or burn unit (not shown).
- the raw materials used in making the object of the invention is delivered to and stored in raw material delivery and storage unit 501 . That material is then transferred to a pretreatment screen 511 for the purpose of separating fines from useful material. Useful material is then transferred to a pretreatment hammer mill which adjusts the fiber size to appropriate fiber dimensions for final object formation. Fine materials from both the prescreening, pretreatment and from the hammermill are transferred to the colt exhaust bag house 515 through the conduit A-A. The sized fuel is transferred to a feed bin 512 for temporary storage. The sized fuel source is then transferred using a dryer and feed conveyor 513 to the dryer drum 503 for drying purposes. The output from dryer 503 , having moisture content of about 0.1 to 14 wt.
- % moisture is then directed to drop out chamber 514 ( a ) that separates fines from the appropriately sized materials in a dried form.
- Heat for the dryer 503 is generated by Burner 506 and blending chamber 507 .
- Fuel for the burner 506 is stored in bin 510 .
- Fuel is transferred to the burner 506 through transfer line B-B from bin 510 .
- Heat and recycle gas stream from dryer 514 b is sent conduit 508 through chamber 507 to the dryer 503 . Heat is recycled to the burner 506 through conveyor 509 .
- the fines are directed to cyclone dryer 514 ( b ) while the appropriately sized materials are directed to cooling drum in feed conveyor 517 .
- Exhaust from the cyclone material is directed to recycle fan 522 which directs the exhaust either to ambient air or to the recycle through blending chamber 507 .
- the cold exhaust bag house 515 takes fines from the screen and hammermill station 511 and from the cubing stations 505 . Those bag house fines are collected on the particulate conveyor 516 which are combined from the output from the cyclone dryer 514 ( b ) and are directed to the pulling drum and feed conveyor 517 .
- Cooling drum 504 cools the particulate material from the infeedment conveyor 517 and then conveys that material on conveyor 519 to the fuel object formation stations 505 .
- the fiber before entry into the cooling drum in conveyor 517 can be directed to a dryer bypass bulk conveyor 518 and then to an optional dryer cooling drum bypass feed conveyor 523 that directs the fiber to the object formation stations 505 .
- Fines from screen 511 , through airlock 521 , the object forming units 505 and from drum 504 or conveyor 517 are directed to baghouse 515 . Air is vented to ambient from baghouse 515 from vent 520 .
- the input material placed in delivery and storage unit 501 is typically preblended with the appropriate amount of wood fiber and renewable fuel source. Once formed, the fuel objects of the invention can be stored in product stock pile 502 and then transferred to a combustion unit (not shown) for energy generation).
- the composition of the fuel and base additive are designed to minimize air emissions from combustion of the fuel object.
- the fuel objects contain less than 0.5 percent sulfur by weight percent and therefore emit approximately 95 percent less sulfur dioxide emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal.
- wood and switch grass are biogenic in nature, combustion of the fuel object is considered carbon neutral under carbon registries and trading programs in place in the United States today and therefore results in a 100 percent reduction in creditable greenhouse gas emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal.
- Nitrogen content of the switch grass and wood and addition of the inorganic base additive also result in an approximately 40 percent reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal.
- the size and density of the fuel object is significant in that it allows for ease of handling, transportation, storage and conveyance in most power generation facilities.
- Object size also is important in that it allows the fuel object to bum on the grate of stoker-type combustion units and not combust prematurely.
- Particle size within the fuel object also is significant in both manufacturing a fuel object that maintains its integrity though shipping and handling and that burns efficiently. Efficient combustion reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide and leaves minimal residue, such as ash, which would have to be disposed in a waste site. Sizing of the fuel particles also is critical to allow a fuel object to break into discrete particles in certain applications such as pulverized coal-type units.
- the blend, composition, moisture and size of the fuel object allow efficient operation in existing power generation facilities. We anticipate no loss of boiler or furnace efficiency when using the fuel object when compared to use of coal.
- switch grass refers to a summer perennial grass native to North America with the technical name of Panicum virgatum. Switch grass is a natural component of the tall-grass prairie species that covers most of the great plains but is also found in prairie soils of Alabama and Mississippi. Switch grass is naturally resistant to many pests and plant diseases and is capable of producing high yields with very low application of moisture and fertilizer. Switch grass can also be tolerant of poor soils, flooding, and drought.
- switch grass There are two main varieties of switch grass upland and low land types. Upland types can grow to 6 feet tall and are adapted to well drained soils. Low land types grow up to 12 feet tall and are typically found on heavy soils and bottomlands. A number of varieties have been found for forage sources. As such, switch grass is a useful source of relatively low moisture cellulosic material that can be produced in large volumes for energy production.
- wood fiber refers to a product derived from some part of a tree as that term is commonly used in the art. A number of direct products and byproducts can be derived by taking trees or portions of trees and reducing their particle size.
- the term “wood fiber” may refer to materials derived from fruit, leaves, sap, bark and other such tree byproducts. Wood fiber is typically derived from either the woody part of the tree within the bark and typically refers to either wood-like components of tree trunks, tree limbs and tree roots. Wood fiber is typically primarily cellulosic in nature but is known to be derived from wood cells that typically comprise a substantial proportion of cellulosic materials in combination with lignin and hemicellulosic materials in a fibrous woody cell structure.
- Wood fiber can be derived from a number of tree sources including both hard and soft woods. Such wood fiber materials can be derived from the processing of trees into sized lumber, the byproduct of clearing and shredding trees, the byproducts derived from any process that begins with a wood containing plant part leading to the formation of a substantially cellulosic wood fiber material.
- the process for manufacturing fuel objects described herein starts by grinding cellulosic material.
- the cellulosic material can be ground by feeding a pulverizer or grinder to reduce the cellulosic material to a predetermined size.
- the switch grass component is ground to a size of about 80 to 25,000 microns with about 85 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns.
- the wood fiber is ground to a particle size of about 100 to 30,000 microns with about 90 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns).
- cellulosic materials a may be fed through a dryer.
- a dryer ensures that moisture content of the cellulosic material is at less than about 14 wt. % and often less than 10 wt. %.
- moisture of a finished fuel object should be between 7 wt % to 14 wt. %.
- Moisture content of the cellulosic material is significant to the integrity of a fuel object since moisture content of cellulosic material assists in bonding all of the materials in the composition prior to and following the pelletizing of the composition.
- an increase in the moisture of the cellulosic material beyond a disclosed limit would jeopardize the characteristics of the fuel object and its ability to withstand being transported.
- a fuel object It is important that a fuel object maintain its integrity prior to precombustion processing or burning.
- a fuel object should be rigid enough to be handled mechanically without crumbling. Achieving proper and desired moisture content for a fuel object is critical to achieve a desired heat output and in maintaining the ability to transport fuel objects without harming its integrity, shape, or composition.
- the cellulosic material After the cellulosic material has been sufficiently dried to desired moisture content, the cellulosic material can be fed through a secondary pulverizer as necessary.
- a secondary pulverizer can be the final grinding process for the cellulosic materials.
- the base additive may be added once organic components have been appropriately sized and conditioned. Components of a fuel object may be further blended together by means of a blender, drum or other mechanical equipment.
- a densification process can create a final composition of materials. Densification allows materials to be mixed and blended in a controlled manner with other particles comprising a fuel object. After the components of a fuel object have been sufficiently blended, the components/materials are processed and forced through a shape forming die. Such equipment could include commercially available machines such as those produced by Warren and Baerg. Shaping equipment forces a blended composition through a die of a forming machine, thereby creating a fuel object. Faceplate temperature of the extrusion equipment typically is between 165° F. and 185° F. A fuel object exits a shaping die at a temperature of about 110° F. and not greater than 145° F. When a fuel object exits the shaping die, there can be a slight coating on the external surface of the object. This coating can comprise lignin, which is a naturally occurring substance of the cellulosic material. Shaped objects are then transferred to the finished product conveyor/cooler.
- fuel objects are cooled down by a cooling means including, but not limited to, an air cooler, an air conditioner, or liquid nitrogen.
- the cooling process causes the objects to harden into the shape created by the forming equipment and allows components of the object to maintain their integrity.
- fuel objects are placed through a shaker screen after sufficiently cooling and hardening. This process separates fine and discrete particles of the composition. The discharge for the fine particles can be separated from a fuel object and are again recycled or forced through a shaping die. This process minimizes the potential for waste generated by any excess particles that comprise a fuel object.
- the final object maintains its structure and provides an ease of handling and a highly consistent product for good combustion at the end user power facility.
- the fuel object is designed for immediate use in existing solid fuel fired systems.
- This may include facilities that produce heat or steam for cooling, heating, or electrical generation or direct induration or drying of a product.
- Such facilities may include power plants, industrial furnaces and boilers and steam and power generation facilities at large institutions such as universities and hospitals.
- the formed, shaped and densified fuel is ideal for transport by truck, rail, and conveyer and storage in bunkers and silos that are designed for transport and storage of coal. In most instances the objects may be unloaded, stored, and transported at a facility by the existing mechanisms that transport coal without physical modification.
- the fuel object is ideal for use in stoker fired systems where fuel is discharged on a large grate and burns on the grate over a period of time.
- the fuel object also works in systems where fuel is pulverized prior to entry of the combustion chamber and then combusted in suspension such as pulverized coal, cyclonic combustion, and direct-fired units. Because individual particles in the fuel object are reduced in size prior to cubing and dried to a low moisture content, they combust efficiently and with low emissions when fed through such suspension-based systems and do not result in slagging or increased ash or sparklers from unburned fuel. Because the fuels have such a high heating value, burn efficiently, and reduce emissions, facilities that use the fuel object may reduce emissions without capital expenditure on emission controls and maintain unit efficiencies.
- a fuel object derived from switch grass and wood was produced and was substantially free of coal.
- the switch grass fuel object was substantially cylindrical in shape with a length of 5.4 cm and a diameter of 2.6 cm.
- this switch grass fuel object provided about 7,386 BTU/pound (lb.).
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Ecology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority to and the benefit as a continuation application of U.S. Patent Application entitled, “Switch Grass Fuel Objects With High Heat Output And Reduced Air Emissions Designed For Large-Scale Power Generation”, Ser. No. 13/422,850, filed Mar. 16, 2012, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 13/156,595, filed on Jun. 9, 2011, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 12/359,790 filed Jan. 26, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and relied upon.
- The invention relates to a high-energy, low-emission solid fuel made from natural renewable feedstocks.
- In large part, energy generation in the United States and worldwide is based on combustion of conventional non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, coal byproducts, petroleum-based oils and natural gas products. These energy sources provide a source of energy for power plants, industrial facilities, and institutions, however, they are not renewable in nature, have significant environmental impacts, are decreasing in supply, and increasing in cost. Continued use of these fossil fuel energy sources results in cumulative environmental impacts including increased local and global concentrations of greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury.
- The decreasing supply and environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel use have led to consideration of potential for energy derived from combustion of natural products, typically cellulosic materials. Many of the natural sources comprising potential cellulosic fuels have not achieved commercial success in the past due to a variety of problems including high moisture content, low fuel heating value, impurities in the fuel, inconsistent fuel characteristics, transportation costs, difficulties in handling, and high processing costs. Further, such materials often have combustion problems or compositions that result in the formation of adverse emissions and substantial quantities of ash.
- We have found, in the energy market segment, a substantial need for a new cellulosic based fuel containing substantially no conventional BTU source from fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, natural gas or other such non-renewable sources. This need relates to a fuel that has a substantial heating value, is consistent in nature, is low in moisture, can be readily made at low cost, can be transported and handled at low cost, can be used in existing solid fuel systems with little or no modifications, has lower emissions than fossil fuels, and is specifically adapted for use in modern power plant installations.
- We have now found a fuel source that provides a substantial heat output satisfactory for use in large-scale power generation, even in the absence of coal, oil, gas or other conventional fossil fuels. A formed briquette or object is comprised of a blend of cellulosic material including switch grass and wood. As used herein, the term “cube,” “object,” “briquette,” “formed object,” or “fuel object” are roughly synonymous and refer to a discrete particle of any size or shape that contains the natural cellulosic materials described herein. The major dimension of the fuel object is less than about 6 cm. The volume of the fuel object is about 10 to 100 cm3. “Conventional fossil fuel” refers to coal products including bituminous coal, anthracite coal, peat, coke and coking byproducts and to petroleum products such as oil, gas, natural gas liquids and products derived from shale and tar sands.
- We have found that moisture content and particle size of the switch grass and wood fiber particles in the final fuel object are important for product formation, handling, and effective combustion.
- We have found that the addition of an effective amount of a chemical base material reduces corrosive and acidic byproducts from the combustion of the cellulosic materials and reduces emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride and other acidic materials. The processing and blend of materials provides a high energy output without the addition of any fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas as found in prior art materials.
- We have also found that the fuel object of the invention can be made without conventional binder materials such as that used in forming a number of the prior art materials. Such binders, in the prior art, are typically polymeric binders or are additional lignent or hemicelluloses materials.
- We have found that the fuel object, based on sizing and specifications, may be used immediately in existing solid fuel energy facilities (including those employing stoker, fluidized bed, gasifier, cyclonic, direct-fired, and pulverized coal technologies) and operate with an efficiency and higher heating heat value similar to some coals with a significant reduction in air emissions per million BTU of energy output compared to fossil fuels.
- Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.
-
FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the process for forming the Fuel object of the invention. - The embodiment that is the subject of this application includes a fuel in the form of an object, briquette, cube or other such formed object comprised of switch grass, wood and an inorganic base. The invention involves a fuel object processed, sized and configured for use in large-scale modern combustion energy generating systems. Composition, particle size, moisture content, and fuel object size and structure, result in the fuel object having a high energy value, low emissions upon combustion, and highly efficient combustion, in a range of commercially available combustion technologies.
- A fuel object can have a volume of about 10 to 100 cm3; does not need to be symmetrical, but it is preferred that the fuel is in the form of an object substantially symmetrical in shape such as cylinder, cube, solid parallel-piped or the like. A fuel object can be roughly a cylinder, rectangular prism or a cube that is 1 to 6 cm on a side. Typical density of the fuel object is 30 to 40 lbs/ft3.
- The fuel object typically comprises about 60 to 80 weight percent switch grass and 20 to 40 weight percent wood. The switch grass component has a particle size of about 80 to 25,000 microns with about 85 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns. The wood fiber has a particle size of about 100 to 30,000 microns with about 90 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns.
- The reduction size of the switch grass and wood fiber to these proportions provides an input to the process that forms the fuel object leading to a mechanically stable fuel object that can be manufactured, stored, transported and used in modern combustion installations as is or is easily comminuted to a small particle size depending on the nature of the combustion process.
- Chemical bases that can be used in a fuel object of the invention include typically alkali metal and alkaline earth metal bases. Such bases can be made from sodium potassium, calcium, magnesium and other such metal species. The base can be used in the form of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, and any other inorganic anion that produces a basically reacting solution, a pH greater than 7.5, when the base is mixed in at an amount of about 0.5 to 10%. The important characteristic of the chemical base is that during the combustion process the chemical base can react with combustion byproducts such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, chloride, hydrochloric acid and other acidic producing gaseous species neutralized such species and substantially reduced the effects of corrosive action on combustion equipment. Specifically, switch grass has higher chlorine content than wood and use of the base additive helps reduce chlorine/chloride gases upon combustion of the fuel object. A preferred base to neutralize acids in combustion is a bicarbonate or dolomite.
- The fuel objects have a typical heating value of at least about 7,000 BTU/lb. (about 3,500 cal.-gm−1); about 7,300 BTU/lb (about 3,650 cal.-gm−1) and typically at least 8,000 BTU/lb (about 4000 cal.-gm−1) all on a dry basis.
-
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the process for the manufacture of the fuel object of the invention. Theprocess 500 includes, as primary process stations, raw materials andfuels storage 501, raw materials dryer unit 503, acooling unit 504 and a cubing or object forming unit 505. These primary stations take blended wood fiber and renewable fuel component, adjust particle size, reduce moisture to a preferred level, cool the material and then form the fuel object as needed. Once formed, the fuel is then stored or transferred to an industrial combustion or burn unit (not shown). - The raw materials used in making the object of the invention is delivered to and stored in raw material delivery and
storage unit 501. That material is then transferred to a pretreatment screen 511 for the purpose of separating fines from useful material. Useful material is then transferred to a pretreatment hammer mill which adjusts the fiber size to appropriate fiber dimensions for final object formation. Fine materials from both the prescreening, pretreatment and from the hammermill are transferred to the colt exhaust bag house 515 through the conduit A-A. The sized fuel is transferred to a feed bin 512 for temporary storage. The sized fuel source is then transferred using a dryer and feedconveyor 513 to the dryer drum 503 for drying purposes. The output from dryer 503, having moisture content of about 0.1 to 14 wt. % moisture, is then directed to drop out chamber 514(a) that separates fines from the appropriately sized materials in a dried form. Heat for the dryer 503 is generated by Burner 506 andblending chamber 507. Fuel for theburner 506 is stored inbin 510. Fuel is transferred to theburner 506 through transfer line B-B frombin 510. Heat and recycle gas stream from dryer 514 b is sent conduit 508 throughchamber 507 to the dryer 503. Heat is recycled to theburner 506 throughconveyor 509. - The fines are directed to cyclone dryer 514(b) while the appropriately sized materials are directed to cooling drum in feed conveyor 517. Exhaust from the cyclone material is directed to recycle
fan 522 which directs the exhaust either to ambient air or to the recycle through blendingchamber 507. The cold exhaust bag house 515 takes fines from the screen and hammermill station 511 and from the cubing stations 505. Those bag house fines are collected on theparticulate conveyor 516 which are combined from the output from the cyclone dryer 514(b) and are directed to the pulling drum and feed conveyor 517.Cooling drum 504 cools the particulate material from the infeedment conveyor 517 and then conveys that material onconveyor 519 to the fuel object formation stations 505. Optionally, if the cooling drum is not required for processing the fiber, the fiber before entry into the cooling drum in conveyor 517 can be directed to a dryerbypass bulk conveyor 518 and then to an optional dryer cooling drum bypass feed conveyor 523 that directs the fiber to the object formation stations 505. Fines from screen 511, through airlock 521, the object forming units 505 and fromdrum 504 or conveyor 517 are directed to baghouse 515. Air is vented to ambient from baghouse 515 fromvent 520. The input material placed in delivery andstorage unit 501 is typically preblended with the appropriate amount of wood fiber and renewable fuel source. Once formed, the fuel objects of the invention can be stored inproduct stock pile 502 and then transferred to a combustion unit (not shown) for energy generation). - Reduced Air Emissions
- The composition of the fuel and base additive are designed to minimize air emissions from combustion of the fuel object. The fuel objects contain less than 0.5 percent sulfur by weight percent and therefore emit approximately 95 percent less sulfur dioxide emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal. Because wood and switch grass are biogenic in nature, combustion of the fuel object is considered carbon neutral under carbon registries and trading programs in place in the United States today and therefore results in a 100 percent reduction in creditable greenhouse gas emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal. Nitrogen content of the switch grass and wood and addition of the inorganic base additive also result in an approximately 40 percent reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions than derivation of a similar amount of energy from coal.
- Object and Particle Size
- The size and density of the fuel object is significant in that it allows for ease of handling, transportation, storage and conveyance in most power generation facilities. Object size also is important in that it allows the fuel object to bum on the grate of stoker-type combustion units and not combust prematurely.
- Particle size within the fuel object also is significant in both manufacturing a fuel object that maintains its integrity though shipping and handling and that burns efficiently. Efficient combustion reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide and leaves minimal residue, such as ash, which would have to be disposed in a waste site. Sizing of the fuel particles also is critical to allow a fuel object to break into discrete particles in certain applications such as pulverized coal-type units.
- Combustion Efficiency
- The blend, composition, moisture and size of the fuel object allow efficient operation in existing power generation facilities. We anticipate no loss of boiler or furnace efficiency when using the fuel object when compared to use of coal.
- Switch grass
- The term “switch grass” refers to a summer perennial grass native to North America with the technical name of Panicum virgatum. Switch grass is a natural component of the tall-grass prairie species that covers most of the great plains but is also found in prairie soils of Alabama and Mississippi. Switch grass is naturally resistant to many pests and plant diseases and is capable of producing high yields with very low application of moisture and fertilizer. Switch grass can also be tolerant of poor soils, flooding, and drought.
- There are two main varieties of switch grass upland and low land types. Upland types can grow to 6 feet tall and are adapted to well drained soils. Low land types grow up to 12 feet tall and are typically found on heavy soils and bottomlands. A number of varieties have been found for forage sources. As such, switch grass is a useful source of relatively low moisture cellulosic material that can be produced in large volumes for energy production.
- Wood Fiber
- The term “wood fiber” refers to a product derived from some part of a tree as that term is commonly used in the art. A number of direct products and byproducts can be derived by taking trees or portions of trees and reducing their particle size. The term “wood fiber” may refer to materials derived from fruit, leaves, sap, bark and other such tree byproducts. Wood fiber is typically derived from either the woody part of the tree within the bark and typically refers to either wood-like components of tree trunks, tree limbs and tree roots. Wood fiber is typically primarily cellulosic in nature but is known to be derived from wood cells that typically comprise a substantial proportion of cellulosic materials in combination with lignin and hemicellulosic materials in a fibrous woody cell structure. Wood fiber can be derived from a number of tree sources including both hard and soft woods. Such wood fiber materials can be derived from the processing of trees into sized lumber, the byproduct of clearing and shredding trees, the byproducts derived from any process that begins with a wood containing plant part leading to the formation of a substantially cellulosic wood fiber material.
- General Method of Manufacturing: a Fuel Object
- The process for manufacturing fuel objects described herein starts by grinding cellulosic material. The cellulosic material can be ground by feeding a pulverizer or grinder to reduce the cellulosic material to a predetermined size. The switch grass component is ground to a size of about 80 to 25,000 microns with about 85 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns. The wood fiber is ground to a particle size of about 100 to 30,000 microns with about 90 percent of the particles greater than 1,000 microns).
- After grinding, cellulosic materials a may be fed through a dryer. A dryer ensures that moisture content of the cellulosic material is at less than about 14 wt. % and often less than 10 wt. %. Preferably, moisture of a finished fuel object should be between 7 wt % to 14 wt. %. Moisture content of the cellulosic material is significant to the integrity of a fuel object since moisture content of cellulosic material assists in bonding all of the materials in the composition prior to and following the pelletizing of the composition. However, an increase in the moisture of the cellulosic material beyond a disclosed limit would jeopardize the characteristics of the fuel object and its ability to withstand being transported. It is important that a fuel object maintain its integrity prior to precombustion processing or burning. A fuel object should be rigid enough to be handled mechanically without crumbling. Achieving proper and desired moisture content for a fuel object is critical to achieve a desired heat output and in maintaining the ability to transport fuel objects without harming its integrity, shape, or composition.
- After the cellulosic material has been sufficiently dried to desired moisture content, the cellulosic material can be fed through a secondary pulverizer as necessary. A secondary pulverizer can be the final grinding process for the cellulosic materials.
- The base additive may be added once organic components have been appropriately sized and conditioned. Components of a fuel object may be further blended together by means of a blender, drum or other mechanical equipment.
- A densification process can create a final composition of materials. Densification allows materials to be mixed and blended in a controlled manner with other particles comprising a fuel object. After the components of a fuel object have been sufficiently blended, the components/materials are processed and forced through a shape forming die. Such equipment could include commercially available machines such as those produced by Warren and Baerg. Shaping equipment forces a blended composition through a die of a forming machine, thereby creating a fuel object. Faceplate temperature of the extrusion equipment typically is between 165° F. and 185° F. A fuel object exits a shaping die at a temperature of about 110° F. and not greater than 145° F. When a fuel object exits the shaping die, there can be a slight coating on the external surface of the object. This coating can comprise lignin, which is a naturally occurring substance of the cellulosic material. Shaped objects are then transferred to the finished product conveyor/cooler.
- Following formation, fuel objects are cooled down by a cooling means including, but not limited to, an air cooler, an air conditioner, or liquid nitrogen. The cooling process causes the objects to harden into the shape created by the forming equipment and allows components of the object to maintain their integrity. In an embodiment, fuel objects are placed through a shaker screen after sufficiently cooling and hardening. This process separates fine and discrete particles of the composition. The discharge for the fine particles can be separated from a fuel object and are again recycled or forced through a shaping die. This process minimizes the potential for waste generated by any excess particles that comprise a fuel object. The final object maintains its structure and provides an ease of handling and a highly consistent product for good combustion at the end user power facility.
- Use Integration at Power Facilities
- The fuel object is designed for immediate use in existing solid fuel fired systems. This may include facilities that produce heat or steam for cooling, heating, or electrical generation or direct induration or drying of a product. Such facilities may include power plants, industrial furnaces and boilers and steam and power generation facilities at large institutions such as universities and hospitals. The formed, shaped and densified fuel is ideal for transport by truck, rail, and conveyer and storage in bunkers and silos that are designed for transport and storage of coal. In most instances the objects may be unloaded, stored, and transported at a facility by the existing mechanisms that transport coal without physical modification.
- The fuel object is ideal for use in stoker fired systems where fuel is discharged on a large grate and burns on the grate over a period of time. The fuel object also works in systems where fuel is pulverized prior to entry of the combustion chamber and then combusted in suspension such as pulverized coal, cyclonic combustion, and direct-fired units. Because individual particles in the fuel object are reduced in size prior to cubing and dried to a low moisture content, they combust efficiently and with low emissions when fed through such suspension-based systems and do not result in slagging or increased ash or sparklers from unburned fuel. Because the fuels have such a high heating value, burn efficiently, and reduce emissions, facilities that use the fuel object may reduce emissions without capital expenditure on emission controls and maintain unit efficiencies.
- Switch Grass Fuel Object
- A fuel object derived from switch grass and wood was produced and was substantially free of coal. The switch grass fuel object was substantially cylindrical in shape with a length of 5.4 cm and a diameter of 2.6 cm.
-
Volume 14.04 cm Moisture content 8.27 wt. % Amount of particulate derived from 63.2 wt. % switch grass-fiber size 80 to 25,000 microns Amount of particulate derived from wood 34.4 wt. % fiber-fiber size 100 to 30,000 microns Sodium bicarbonate (inorganic base) 2.4 wt. % - In testing, this switch grass fuel object provided about 7,386 BTU/pound (lb.).
- Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments herein, but instead by reference to claims attached hereto. Reference to a single element in the claims is intended not exclude one or more of the same element. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. The invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
- It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
Claims (9)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/766,402 US20130145684A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2013-02-13 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/359,790 US20100139155A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2009-01-26 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/156,595 US20110232172A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2011-06-09 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/422,850 US20120174475A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-03-16 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large scale power generation |
US13/766,402 US20130145684A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2013-02-13 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/422,850 Continuation US20120174475A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-03-16 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large scale power generation |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130145684A1 true US20130145684A1 (en) | 2013-06-13 |
Family
ID=42062532
Family Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/359,790 Abandoned US20100139155A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2009-01-26 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/156,595 Abandoned US20110232172A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2011-06-09 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/422,850 Abandoned US20120174475A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-03-16 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large scale power generation |
US13/766,402 Abandoned US20130145684A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2013-02-13 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
Family Applications Before (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/359,790 Abandoned US20100139155A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2009-01-26 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/156,595 Abandoned US20110232172A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2011-06-09 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation |
US13/422,850 Abandoned US20120174475A1 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-03-16 | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large scale power generation |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US20100139155A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010085306A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10167437B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2019-01-01 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Systems and apparatus for production of high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US11213801B2 (en) | 2013-10-24 | 2022-01-04 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Methods and apparatus for producing activated carbon from biomass through carbonized ash intermediates |
US11285454B2 (en) | 2012-05-07 | 2022-03-29 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Biogenic activated carbon and methods of making and using same |
US11358119B2 (en) | 2014-01-16 | 2022-06-14 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Carbon micro-plant |
US11413601B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2022-08-16 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Halogenated activated carbon compositions and methods of making and using same |
US11458452B2 (en) | 2014-02-24 | 2022-10-04 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Highly mesoporous activated carbon |
US11753698B2 (en) | 2020-09-25 | 2023-09-12 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Bio-reduction of metal ores integrated with biomass pyrolysis |
US11851723B2 (en) | 2021-02-18 | 2023-12-26 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Carbon-negative metallurgical products |
US11932814B2 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2024-03-19 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Biocarbon blends with optimized fixed carbon content, and methods for making and using the same |
US11987763B2 (en) | 2021-07-09 | 2024-05-21 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Processes for producing biocarbon pellets with high fixed-carbon content and optimized reactivity, and biocarbon pellets obtained therefrom |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5859777B2 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2016-02-16 | 米原 隆 | Combustion method and apparatus using pellet charcoal |
US8951309B2 (en) * | 2012-04-27 | 2015-02-10 | Peter Bragdon | Hay-based logs and method of making the same |
KR20190022889A (en) * | 2017-05-26 | 2019-03-06 | 노벨리스 인크. | System and method for monochromating cyclone dust in a dec coating system |
US20230323230A1 (en) * | 2022-03-15 | 2023-10-12 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Processes and systems for producing biocoke in a kinetic interface reactor, and biocoke produced therefrom |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4102653A (en) * | 1976-01-14 | 1978-07-25 | Charles T. Simmons | Aromatic wood fuel briquette and method of making and using the same |
WO2006122405A1 (en) * | 2005-05-16 | 2006-11-23 | Evergreen Biofuels Inc. | Agricultural fibre fuel pellets |
WO2007147244A1 (en) * | 2006-06-19 | 2007-12-27 | Michel Babeu | Method for manufacturing a solid fuel with waste materials |
US20090188160A1 (en) * | 2008-01-30 | 2009-07-30 | Henry Liu | Method and Device to Compact Biomass |
Family Cites Families (44)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2475767A (en) * | 1946-04-30 | 1949-07-12 | Williams Bauer Corp | Method of making artificial fuel from paper |
US4324561A (en) * | 1975-06-26 | 1982-04-13 | Nipac, Ltd. | Combustible fuel pellets formed from botanical material |
US4026678A (en) * | 1975-12-17 | 1977-05-31 | Guaranty Performance Co., Inc. | Process for treating municipal wastes to produce a fuel |
US4015951A (en) * | 1976-01-05 | 1977-04-05 | Gunnerman Rudolf W | Fuel pellets and method for making them from organic fibrous materials |
US4236897A (en) * | 1978-09-18 | 1980-12-02 | Johnston Ian F | Fuel pellets |
US4210423A (en) * | 1979-04-06 | 1980-07-01 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Solid fuel use in small furnaces |
US4561860A (en) * | 1980-03-24 | 1985-12-31 | The Secretary Of State For The Environment In Her Britannic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland | Process and apparatus for production of refuse derived fuel |
US4308033A (en) * | 1980-10-23 | 1981-12-29 | Gunnerman Rudolf W | Fuel pellet and process for making it by shaping under pressure an organic fibrous material |
US4529407A (en) * | 1981-06-25 | 1985-07-16 | Pickering Fuel Resources, Inc. | Fuel pellets |
US4395265A (en) * | 1981-12-16 | 1983-07-26 | Charles Reilly | Fuel pellets |
US4398917A (en) * | 1982-03-23 | 1983-08-16 | Reilly Charles J | Process for the preparation of fuel pellets |
US4494962A (en) * | 1982-11-24 | 1985-01-22 | Christie George M | Fuel product |
US4886519A (en) * | 1983-11-02 | 1989-12-12 | Petroleum Fermentations N.V. | Method for reducing sox emissions during the combustion of sulfur-containing combustible compositions |
DK152291C (en) * | 1985-08-19 | 1988-07-11 | Habrit Aps | PROCEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION OF STRAWBERRIES |
US4828573A (en) * | 1987-04-13 | 1989-05-09 | Technology Research & Development, Inc. | Method of manufacturing a pelletized fuel |
US4834777A (en) * | 1988-01-28 | 1989-05-30 | Hydraulic Services, Inc. | Fuel pelletizing apparatus and method |
US5342418A (en) * | 1990-04-25 | 1994-08-30 | Jesse Albert H | Method of making pelletized fuel |
US5141526A (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1992-08-25 | Shell Oil Company | Fuel preparation from a waste sludge |
US5431702A (en) * | 1993-03-25 | 1995-07-11 | Dynecology, Inc. | Waste conversion process and products |
US5458803B1 (en) * | 1993-09-30 | 1999-08-03 | Dynamotive Corp | Acid emission reduction |
US5352252A (en) * | 1993-12-07 | 1994-10-04 | Tolmie Richard W | Process for making fuel cubes from straw |
US5643342A (en) * | 1995-08-02 | 1997-07-01 | Pelletech Fuels, Inc. | Fuel pellet and method of making the fuel pellet |
US5910440A (en) * | 1996-04-12 | 1999-06-08 | Exxon Research And Engineering Company | Method for the removal of organic sulfur from carbonaceous materials |
US6043392A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-03-28 | Texas A&M University System | Method for conversion of biomass to chemicals and fuels |
US6506223B2 (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 2003-01-14 | Waste Technology Transfer, Inc. | Pelletizing and briquetting of combustible organic-waste materials using binders produced by liquefaction of biomass |
US5916826A (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 1999-06-29 | Waste Technology Transfer, Inc. | Pelletizing and briquetting of coal fines using binders produced by liquefaction of biomass |
US6698724B1 (en) * | 1999-08-11 | 2004-03-02 | Joseph P. Traeger | Post setting method |
US6447437B1 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2002-09-10 | Ut-Battelle, Llc | Method for reducing CO2, CO, NOX, and SOx emissions |
US7326263B2 (en) * | 2000-07-20 | 2008-02-05 | Erling Reidar Andersen | Method and apparatus for hydrogenating hydrocarbon fuels |
US6719816B2 (en) * | 2001-05-03 | 2004-04-13 | Duraflame, Inc. | Artificial firelog with sodium bicarbonate additive |
SE0103822D0 (en) * | 2001-11-16 | 2001-11-16 | Ecomb Ab | Combustion optimization |
US20030221363A1 (en) * | 2002-05-21 | 2003-12-04 | Reed Thomas B. | Process and apparatus for making a densified torrefied fuel |
US7455704B2 (en) * | 2002-06-03 | 2008-11-25 | Garwood Anthony J | Method of processing waste product into fuel |
EP1443096B1 (en) * | 2003-01-28 | 2011-04-20 | Hans Werner | Process and apparatus for the production of fuels from compressed biomass and use of these fuels |
US6818027B2 (en) * | 2003-02-06 | 2004-11-16 | Ecoem, L.L.C. | Organically clean biomass fuel |
US7404262B2 (en) * | 2004-10-12 | 2008-07-29 | Pesco, Inc. | Heat-moisture control in agricultural-product production using moisture from water vapor extraction |
DE102005002700A1 (en) * | 2005-01-19 | 2006-07-27 | Cognis Deutschland Gmbh & Co. Kg | Compositions usable as biofuel |
US20070006526A1 (en) * | 2005-07-07 | 2007-01-11 | New Energy Usa, Llc | Fuel pellet briquettes from biomass and recovered coal slurries |
CA2515879A1 (en) * | 2005-08-05 | 2007-02-05 | Mark A. Dupuis | Densification system |
US20070261295A1 (en) * | 2006-05-11 | 2007-11-15 | Tolmie Richard W | Water resistance, density, and durability of biomass fuels |
US7942942B2 (en) * | 2006-05-21 | 2011-05-17 | Paoluccio John A | Method and apparatus for biomass torrefaction, manufacturing a storable fuel from biomass and producing offsets for the combustion products of fossil fuels and a combustible article of manufacture |
JP5849327B2 (en) * | 2006-10-02 | 2016-01-27 | カーボン シンク インコーポレイテッド | Method and apparatus for extracting carbon dioxide from air |
WO2009018469A1 (en) * | 2007-07-31 | 2009-02-05 | Hoffman Richard B | System and method of preparing pre-treated biorefinery feedstock from raw and recycled waste cellulosic biomass |
US20090056205A1 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-03-05 | Stephane Gauthier | Plant biomass solid fuel |
-
2009
- 2009-01-26 US US12/359,790 patent/US20100139155A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-12-22 WO PCT/US2009/069133 patent/WO2010085306A1/en active Application Filing
-
2011
- 2011-06-09 US US13/156,595 patent/US20110232172A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2012
- 2012-03-16 US US13/422,850 patent/US20120174475A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2013
- 2013-02-13 US US13/766,402 patent/US20130145684A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4102653A (en) * | 1976-01-14 | 1978-07-25 | Charles T. Simmons | Aromatic wood fuel briquette and method of making and using the same |
WO2006122405A1 (en) * | 2005-05-16 | 2006-11-23 | Evergreen Biofuels Inc. | Agricultural fibre fuel pellets |
WO2007147244A1 (en) * | 2006-06-19 | 2007-12-27 | Michel Babeu | Method for manufacturing a solid fuel with waste materials |
US20090188160A1 (en) * | 2008-01-30 | 2009-07-30 | Henry Liu | Method and Device to Compact Biomass |
Cited By (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11359154B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2022-06-14 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Systems and apparatus for production of high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US10167437B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2019-01-01 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Systems and apparatus for production of high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US10611977B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2020-04-07 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Methods and apparatus for enhancing the energy content of carbonaceous materials from pyrolysis |
US10889775B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2021-01-12 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Systems and apparatus for production of high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US10982161B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2021-04-20 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Process for producing high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US11091716B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2021-08-17 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | High-carbon biogenic reagents and uses thereof |
US10174267B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2019-01-08 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Process for producing high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US11891582B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2024-02-06 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | High-carbon biogenic reagents and uses thereof |
US11674101B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2023-06-13 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Process for producing high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US11879107B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2024-01-23 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | High-carbon biogenic reagents and uses thereof |
US11286440B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2022-03-29 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Methods and apparatus for enhancing the energy content of carbonaceous materials from pyrolysis |
US11965139B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2024-04-23 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Systems and apparatus for production of high-carbon biogenic reagents |
US11959038B2 (en) | 2011-04-15 | 2024-04-16 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | High-carbon biogenic reagents and uses thereof |
US11285454B2 (en) | 2012-05-07 | 2022-03-29 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Biogenic activated carbon and methods of making and using same |
US11213801B2 (en) | 2013-10-24 | 2022-01-04 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Methods and apparatus for producing activated carbon from biomass through carbonized ash intermediates |
US11358119B2 (en) | 2014-01-16 | 2022-06-14 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Carbon micro-plant |
US11458452B2 (en) | 2014-02-24 | 2022-10-04 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Highly mesoporous activated carbon |
US11413601B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2022-08-16 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Halogenated activated carbon compositions and methods of making and using same |
US11753698B2 (en) | 2020-09-25 | 2023-09-12 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Bio-reduction of metal ores integrated with biomass pyrolysis |
US11851723B2 (en) | 2021-02-18 | 2023-12-26 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Carbon-negative metallurgical products |
US11932814B2 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2024-03-19 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Biocarbon blends with optimized fixed carbon content, and methods for making and using the same |
US11987763B2 (en) | 2021-07-09 | 2024-05-21 | Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC | Processes for producing biocarbon pellets with high fixed-carbon content and optimized reactivity, and biocarbon pellets obtained therefrom |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2010085306A1 (en) | 2010-07-29 |
US20110232172A1 (en) | 2011-09-29 |
US20100139155A1 (en) | 2010-06-10 |
US20120174475A1 (en) | 2012-07-12 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20130145684A1 (en) | Switch grass fuel objects with high heat output and reduced air emissions designed for large-scale power generation | |
US20140338576A1 (en) | Corn stover fuel objects with high heat output and reduced emissions designed for large-scale power generation | |
Maciejewska et al. | Co-firing of biomass with coal: constraints and role of biomass pretreatment | |
US8753410B2 (en) | Method for producing fuel briquettes from high moisture fine coal or blends of high moisture fine coal and biomass | |
US4236897A (en) | Fuel pellets | |
US9758738B2 (en) | Green renewable liquid fuel | |
CN104560259B (en) | The preparation method and system of biological substance shaped granule fuel | |
US20110259250A1 (en) | Systems And Methods For Converting Biomass In The Field To A Combustible Fluid For Direct Replacement Or Supplement To Liquid Fossil Fuels | |
US20100154296A1 (en) | Coal particles briquette where the binder is lignin and methods and systems of preparing the same | |
CN107365601B (en) | A kind of Biomass Gasification & Power Generation method using agriculture and forestry organic waste material | |
US20090235577A1 (en) | Methods For Binding Particulate Solids And Particulate Solid Compositions | |
Chaiyaomporn et al. | Fuel pellets production from biodiesel waste | |
US20100263271A1 (en) | Clean burning bio-coal | |
CN105950250A (en) | Environment-friendly and inflammable fuel rod and manufacturing process thereof | |
EP2123737A2 (en) | Fuel based on vine shoots | |
CN108546580A (en) | A kind of high heat environmentally friendly biomass and preparation method thereof | |
CN109321306A (en) | A kind of biological particles preparation method | |
Varnero et al. | Power form agripellets | |
Ibrahim | Solid fuel production from straw | |
CA1115955A (en) | Cellulosic material and thermoplastic polymer in fuel pellets | |
US7316188B2 (en) | Dedensification and delivery unit | |
PL198194B1 (en) | Solid fuel obtained from biomass and method of obtaining such solid fuel | |
CN106590799A (en) | Biomass pellet fuel and preparation method thereof | |
CN116694378A (en) | Environment-friendly biomass pellet fuel and preparation method thereof | |
CN113801711A (en) | Preparation method of double high carbon |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BIOGENIC REAGENTS LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:RNFL ACQUISITION, LLC;REEL/FRAME:030695/0345 Effective date: 20120228 Owner name: RNFL ACQUISITION, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RENEWAFUEL, LLC;REEL/FRAME:030692/0001 Effective date: 20111231 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: RENEWAFUEL LLC, OHIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MENNELL, JAMES A.;BRAKE, WILLIAM A.;OJA, KENNETH G.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20090404 TO 20090406;REEL/FRAME:030866/0087 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BIOGENIC REAGENT VENTURES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BIOGENIC REAGENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:033116/0852 Effective date: 20140613 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BIOGENIC REAGENT VENTURES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO REMOVE INCORRECT PROVISIONAL APPLICATION SERIAL NUMBER AND REPLACE WITH CORRECT PROVISIONAL APPLICATION SERIAL NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033116 FRAME 0852. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:BIOGENIC REAGENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:033310/0035 Effective date: 20140613 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BIOGENIC REAGENTS VENTURES, LLC, MINNESOTA Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033116 FRAME: 0851. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:BIOGENIC REAGENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:038151/0855 Effective date: 20140613 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |