Corn stover fuel objects with high heat output and reduced emissions designed for large-scale power generation

Abstract

A Novel fuel object comprised of a proportion of corn stover and a proportion of wood fiber combined with a basically reacting compound. The object comprises fiber of the appropriate size and moisture content combined with an inorganic base. An appropriately sized object is readily manufactured, provides high heat output, is consistent in fuel characteristics, and is sized and configured for use in power generation facilities. Based on fiber selection and processing, the fuel object may be used in a variety of current power generation technologies including stoker, fluidized bed, gasifier, cyclonic, direct-fired, and pulverized coal technologies, and results in significant reduction of air emissions (including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mercury) compared to coal with no loss of boiler or furnace efficiency.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a high-energy, low-emission solid fuel made from natural renewable feedstocks.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]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 impact including increased local and global concentrations of greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury.[0003]The decreasing supply and environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel use have led to consideration of potential for energy derived from combustion of natural...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]We have found that moisture content and particle size of the corn stover 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 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. In the preferred materials of the invention, no separately added binder is used.

[0008]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.

Problems solved by technology

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 impact including increased local and global concentrations of greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury.

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.

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