Wood utilization method

Abstract

To provide a wood utilization method that can effectively utilize unutilized thinned timbers and branches and leaves with no waste, utilize both of solid components and fluid components included in the branches and the leaves, and also reduce wastes.SOLUTION: A wood utilization method comprises: a collecting step 60 of collecting thinned timbers and branches and leaves which are generated in thinning work or the like; a step of processing collected unutilized thinned timbers 61 into chips and supplying the chips to a biomass power station 62; a step of putting the collected branches and leaves 63 into a low-temperature vacuum drying / extracting device 100 to process; a step of supplying the branches and leaves 64 subjected to drying-processing by the low-temperature vacuum drying / extracting device 100 to the biomass power station 62; a step of collecting an extracted matter 65 extracted by the low-temperature vacuum drying / extracting device 100; and a step of manufacturing a fragrance 71, an antimicrobial 72, an antifungal 73, a sedative 74, an antistress agent 75, an antivirus agent 76, an anti-inflammatory agent 77, a myokine secretagogue 78 and the like from the collected extracted matter 65.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for utilizing thinned wood and branches and leaves generated by thinning, thinning out or pruning work in a forest. [Background technology]

[0002] To keep forests healthy, it is necessary for sunlight to penetrate the forest adequately and for undergrowth and other understory vegetation to flourish, so foresters carry out thinning, thinning, and pruning work. Thinned wood from these operations is used as building materials and biomass fuel, but because collecting branches and leaves requires a lot of effort and time, and transportation costs are high, the reality is that they are left abandoned in the forests.

[0003] Leaves left in the forests become nutrients for the soil, but the forests can only absorb about 30% of the leaves that are removed through pruning, etc. Therefore, the remaining leaves remain in the forests, not only hindering reforestation, but also washing into roads and rivers during typhoons and heavy rains, blocking roads, or collecting on bridge railings and dams, causing floods.

[0004] In order to solve such problems, methods have been proposed to make effective use of thinned wood and branches and leaves. Examples of methods related to the present invention include the "Method of Utilizing Crushed Tree Materials" described in Patent Document 1, the "Method of Utilizing Discarded Trees from Land Development Work" described in Patent Document 2, and the "Bathtub Equipment Using Tree Extract" described in Patent Document 3. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-153124 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-1412 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-326110 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 make it possible to use thinned wood, branches, leaves, etc. generated in forests for various purposes, but each invention is limited to either using the solid components that make up the thinned wood, branches, leaves, etc., or the fluid components contained in the thinned wood, branches, leaves, etc., and the components that are not used are discarded, which means that there are some aspects that are insufficient from the perspective of effective use of thinned wood and branches. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to create a system such as the one shown below. (1) Creating a system that allows third parties to purchase thinned wood, branches, and leaves generated in forests in order to cover the transportation costs. (2) Creating a system to sell extracts obtained from thinned wood and branches and leaves generated in forests in order to cover the transportation costs.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention can realize the above-mentioned system, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a method of utilizing wood that can effectively utilize unused thinning materials and branches and leaves without waste, can utilize both the solid and liquid components contained in the branches and leaves, and can also reduce waste. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The wood utilization method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: A step of collecting thinning materials and branches and leaves generated by thinning work, thinning work, or pruning work; A process of processing the collected unused thinned wood into chips and supplying them to a biomass power plant; The collected branches and leaves are then put into a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device for processing; Supplying the branches and leaves dried by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction device to a biomass power plant; Recovering the extract extracted by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction device; and producing one or more of an aromatic agent, an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, a sedative, an anti-stress agent, an antiviral agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, and a myokine secretion promoter from the recovered extract.

[0009] The wood utilization method may include a step of carbonizing the branches and leaves dried by the low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device in a carbonization device.

[0010] In the wood utilization method, the low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device is an airtight processing tank capable of accommodating the collected branches and leaves; a tank heating means for increasing the temperature in the processing tank; a vacuum pump that sucks the fluid in the processing tank through a vacuum suction path that communicates with the inside of the processing tank; A condensation means for liquefying a vacuum extract contained in a fluid generated from the branches and leaves and flowing through the vacuum suction path, and an oil-water separation means for separating the liquefied vacuum-extracted liquefied extract into a vacuum-extracted oily extract and a vacuum-extracted water extract. a circulation fan that draws in a fluid in the processing tank through a fluid suction path that communicates with the inside of the processing tank, a fluid return path that returns the fluid drawn in by the circulation fan into the processing tank, a fluid heating means that heats the fluid flowing through the fluid return path, and a liquefaction means that liquefies a heated extract contained in the fluid generated from the branches and leaves and flowing through the fluid suction path. a thermometer for measuring a temperature in the treatment tank, a hygrometer for measuring a humidity in the treatment tank, and a compound gauge for measuring an air pressure in the treatment tank; It is desirable for the treatment tank to include an object thermometer for measuring the temperature of the branches and leaves contained in the treatment tank. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention provides a method for utilizing wood that can effectively utilize unused thinning materials and branches and leaves without waste, can utilize both the solid and liquid components contained in the branches and leaves, and can also reduce waste. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a partially omitted block diagram showing a wood utilization method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially omitted configuration diagram of a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device used in the wood utilization method shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, a wood utilization method according to an embodiment of the present invention and a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device used in the wood utilization method will be described with reference to Figs.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the wood utilization method of this embodiment includes a recovery process 60 for recovering thinning materials and branches and leaves generated by thinning, thinning out, or pruning work, a process for processing the recovered unused thinning materials 61 into chips and supplying them to a biomass power plant 62, a process for feeding the recovered branches and leaves 63 into a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction apparatus 100 for processing, and a process for supplying the processed branches and leaves 64 that have been dried in the low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction apparatus 100 to the biomass power plant 62.

[0015] The extract 65 extracted by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 is recovered, and the recovered extract 65 can be used as a raw material to produce an aromatic agent 71, an antibacterial agent 72, an antifungal agent 73, a sedative 74, an anti-stress agent 75, an antiviral agent 76, an anti-inflammatory agent 77, a myokine secretion promoter 78, etc. In addition, the branches and leaves 64 after drying processing by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 are supplied to a carbonization apparatus 66, where they can be carbonized.

[0016] In the wood utilization method according to this embodiment, depending on the type of tree from which the branches and leaves 63 are derived, it is possible to produce, but is not limited to, aromatic agents 71, antibacterial agents 72, antifungal agents 73, sedatives 74, anti-stress agents 75, antiviral agents 76, anti-inflammatory agents 77, myokine secretion promoters 78, and the like.

[0017] Here, the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 includes an airtight treatment tank 1 capable of accommodating branches and leaves 63, a wall heater 13 and a floor heater 14 constituting a part of a tank heating means for increasing the temperature inside the treatment tank 1, and a vacuum pump 7 for sucking the fluid inside the treatment tank 1 via a vacuum suction path 2 communicating with the inside of the treatment tank 1.

[0018] In addition, there are provided a condenser 9 which is part of the condensing means for liquefying the vacuum extract 31 contained in the fluid generated from the branches and leaves 63 in the processing tank 1 and flowing through the vacuum suction path 2, an oil-water separation means 11 which separates the liquefied vacuum-extracted liquefied extract 32 into the vacuum-extracted oily extract 21 and the vacuum-extracted aqueous extract 23, and an oily extract recovery container 10x and an aqueous extract recovery container 10y which individually recover the vacuum-extracted oily extract 21 and the vacuum-extracted aqueous extract 23 separated by the oil-water separation means 11.

[0019] In addition, there are provided a circulation fan 4 that sucks in fluid in the processing tank 1 via a fluid suction path 25 that communicates with the inside of the processing tank 1, a fluid return path 26 that returns the fluid sucked in by the circulation fan into the processing tank 1, a fluid heating means (air heater 3) that heats the fluid flowing through the fluid return path 26, a heat exchanger 12 (fin cooler) that liquefies the heated extract 27 generated from the branches and leaves 63 in the processing tank 1 and contained in the fluid flowing through the fluid suction path 25, and a recovery container 28 that recovers the liquefied heated extract 22.

[0020] On the other hand, the treatment tank 1 section is equipped with a thermometer 16 for measuring the temperature inside the treatment tank 1, a thermometer / hygrometer 15 for measuring the temperature and humidity inside the treatment tank 1, a compound gauge 17 for measuring the air pressure inside the treatment tank 1, and an object thermometer 18 for measuring the temperature of the branches and leaves 63 contained in the treatment tank 1.

[0021] Since the signal line 18b extending from the object thermometer 18 into the treatment tank 1 is flexible, the sensor portion 18a provided at its tip can be moved throughout the entire range of the treatment tank 1 and can be positioned at any position within the treatment tank 1.

[0022] The branches and leaves 63 can be loaded onto a cargo tray 24 equipped with wheels 24a and taken out of the treatment tank 1. In this embodiment, the sensor unit 18a is disposed near the center of the branches and leaves 63 loaded onto the cargo tray 24.

[0023] The tank heating means for raising the temperature within the treatment tank 1 includes a hot water circulation pipe 40 installed within the treatment tank 1, a hot water pump 5 for circulating hot water 43 to the hot water circulation pipe 40 via a hot water pipe 41 connected to the hot water circulation pipe 40 from outside the treatment tank 1, and a hot water heater 6 for heating the hot water 43 flowing within the hot water pipe 41 to a predetermined temperature.

[0024] Further, a thermometer 19 is disposed in the hot water pipe 41 near the treatment tank 1 to measure the temperature of the hot water 43 immediately after it is discharged from the treatment tank 1, and a thermometer 20 is disposed in the hot water pipe 41 between the hot water heater 6 and the hot water pump 5 to measure the temperature of the hot water 43 immediately after it is heated by the hot water heater 6.

[0025] The condensation means for liquefying the vacuum extract 31 contained in the fluid generated from the branches and leaves 63 in the treatment tank 1 and flowing through the vacuum suction path 2 includes a condenser 9 arranged in the vacuum suction path 2 upstream of the oil-water separation means 11, and a refrigerator 8 for circulating and supplying a refrigerant 53 to the condenser 9 via a refrigerant circulation path 51.

[0026] The liquefaction means for liquefying the heated extract 27 contained in the fluid generated from the branches and leaves 63 and flowing through the fluid suction path 25 includes a second refrigerant circulation path 52 branched off from the refrigerant circulation path 51, and a heat exchanger (fin cooler) 12 for cooling the fluid flowing through the fluid suction path 25 with a refrigerant 53 circulated and supplied from the refrigerator 8 through the second refrigerant circulation path 52.

[0027] In addition, the fluid heating means for heating the fluid flowing through the fluid return path 26, which returns the fluid sucked from the treatment tank 1 by the circulation fan 4 back into the treatment tank 1, is provided with an air heater 3 having the function of heating the fluid in the fluid return path 26 by utilizing the temperature of the hot water 43 flowing through the hot water pipe 41.

[0028] In the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, the hot water pump 5 and hot water heater 6 are operated to circulate hot water 43 to the hot water circulation pipe 40 in the treatment tank 1 via the hot water pipe 41, and the wall heater 13 and floor heater 14 are caused to generate heat, thereby heating the internal temperature of the treatment tank 1 to any temperature within the range of normal temperature (room temperature) to 100°C.

[0029] In addition, in the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, the air heater 3 and the circulation fan 4 are operated to circulate and supply heated fluid (air) into the processing tank 1 via the fluid suction path 25 and the fluid return path 26, thereby heating the internal temperature of the processing tank 1 to any temperature within the range of room temperature to 80°C, and the heated extract 27 contained in the fluid flowing through the fluid suction path 25 is liquefied in the heat exchanger 12, and the liquefied heated extract 22 can be recovered in the recovery container 28.

[0030] Furthermore, in the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, the air pressure in the processing tank 1 can be changed to any air pressure within the range of normal pressure (atmospheric pressure) to minus 99 KPa by operating the vacuum pump 7 and the refrigerator 8 to suck the fluid in the processing tank 1 through the vacuum suction path 2, and the vacuum extract 31 contained in the fluid flowing through the vacuum suction path 2 is liquefied in the condenser 9, and the liquefied vacuum extracted liquefied extract 32 is separated into the vacuum extracted oily extract 21 and the vacuum extracted aqueous extract 23 by the oil-water separation means 11, and these can be individually recovered in the oily extract recovery container 10x and the aqueous extract recovery container 10y, respectively.

[0031] On the other hand, in the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, the processing tank 1 is equipped with a thermometer 16, a thermo-hygrometer 15 and a compound gauge 17, so that the temperature, humidity and air pressure inside the processing tank 1 can be measured, and by arranging the sensor part 18a of the object thermometer 18 inside the branches and leaves 63 contained in the processing tank 1 (for example, near the center of the branches and leaves 63), it is possible to accurately grasp the temperature of the branches and leaves 63 during the drying process while drying the branches and leaves 63 and extracting essences from the branches and leaves 63.

[0032] As described above, in the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, the inside of the treatment tank 1 is heated by the wall heaters 13 and floor heaters 14 arranged in the treatment tank 1, and heated fluid (air) is circulated and supplied into the treatment tank 1 via the fluid suction path 25 and fluid return path 26, thereby heating the inside of the treatment tank 1 and efficiently drying the branches and leaves 63 contained in the treatment tank 1.

[0033] Furthermore, by placing the sensor portion 18a of the object thermometer 18 inside the object to be dried (branches and leaves 63), the temperature of the branches and leaves 63 can be accurately monitored while maintaining an appropriate temperature inside the processing tank 1 to perform the drying operation, so that the heated extract 27 generated from the branches and leaves 63 will not decompose or disappear due to overheating.

[0034] The air heater 3, circulating fan 4, hot water pump 5, hot water heater 6, vacuum pump 7 and refrigerator 8 that constitute the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 are automatically controlled by a control device (not shown) based on data transmitted from the thermometer / hygrometer 15, thermometers 16, 19, 20 and compound gauge 17, so that by setting the program of the control device according to the type, quantity, size and state of withering of the branches and leaves 63, it is possible to dry the branches and leaves 63 and extract a specified extract from the branches and leaves 63 under a temperature and air pressure suitable for the type of branches and leaves 63.

[0035] In the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100, Heating the inside of the treatment tank 1 by the wall heater 13 and floor heater 14 arranged in the treatment tank 1; Heating the inside of the treatment tank 1 by using a heating fluid (air) circulated and supplied into the treatment tank 1 via the fluid suction path 25 and the fluid return path 26; Recovery of the heated extract 27 via the fluid suction line 25; and The recovery operation of the vacuum-extracted oily extract 21 and the vacuum-extracted aqueous extract 23, which is carried out via the vacuum suction path 2, can be carried out by arbitrarily selecting one or more of these operations or by combining a plurality of operations.

[0036] There is no limitation on the type of branches and leaves 63 that are stored in the processing tank 1 of the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus 100 to dry and extract essences, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, but are suitable for the tasks described below, for example. (1) Drying cypress branches and leaves, and extracting and recovering cypress extract (2) Drying cedar branches and leaves, and extracting and recovering cedar extract (3) Drying the branches and leaves of other trees, and extracting and recovering essences (4) Drying plants and extracting and recovering essences (5) Drying tea leaves and extracting essence

[0037] Incidentally, as shown in Fig. 1, in a biomass power plant 62, which is a thermal power plant that uses plant resources such as wood resources as fuel, unused thinned wood 61 and felled wood may be used. In this case, the trunks of felled trees are chipped and used, and the branches and leaves 63 are discarded, but the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction device 100 can dry the branches and leaves 63 of trees that were conventionally discarded, and make the treated branches and leaves 64 available for supply to the biomass power plant 62, thereby reducing waste generated from tree felling and making effective use of plant resources.

[0038] The low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction apparatus 100 may suitably be a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction apparatus according to Japanese Patent No. 7154643, but is not limited thereto.

[0039] In this way, the wood utilization method shown in Fig. 1 can effectively utilize unused thinned wood 61 and branches and leaves 63 without waste, and can utilize both the solid and fluid components contained in the branches and leaves 63, thereby reducing waste. Furthermore, by carrying out the wood utilization method shown in Fig. 1, the process 60 of recovering thinned wood and branches and leaves from the forest is promoted, so that the amount of thinned wood and branches remaining in the forest is significantly reduced, and disasters caused by thinned wood and branches and leaves flowing into roads and rivers during typhoons and heavy rains can be prevented.

[0040] 1, it is possible to produce extracts with various efficacies such as aromatics 71, antibacterial agents 72, antifungal agents 73, sedatives 74, antistress agents 75, antiviral agents 76, anti-inflammatory agents 77, and myokine secretion promoters 78 from the collected branches and leaves 63, and by selling these, it is possible to raise funds to cover the transportation costs of thinned wood, branches, and leaves generated in the forest. Alternatively, the transportation costs can be raised by having a third party such as an electric power company purchase the thinned wood, branches, and leaves. And if they are able to secure the funds to transport thinning materials, branches, leaves, etc., those involved in forestry will benefit, which will lead to the revitalization of the forestry industry, which has been in a state of decline until now.

[0041] Furthermore, since the wood utilization method shown in Figure 1 includes the process from collecting thinned wood and branches and leaves to carbonizing the branches and leaves in a carbonization device, the amount of branches and leaves to be carbonized can be managed in an integrated manner based on the amount of collected thinned wood and branches and leaves. Therefore, by managing (controlling) the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated in the carbonization process, it is possible to stabilize the amount of carbon dioxide emissions on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

[0042] It should be noted that the wood utilization method described based on Figures 1 and 2 is merely one example of the wood utilization method according to the present invention, and the wood utilization method according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned wood utilization method. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The wood utilization method of the present invention can be widely used in various industrial fields such as forestry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and cosmetics manufacturing as a method for utilizing thinned materials and branches and leaves generated by thinning, thinning out, or pruning work in forests. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Processing tank 2 Vacuum suction path 3 Air heater 4 Circulation Fan 5. Hot water pump 6 Hot water heater 7. Vacuum Pump 8. Refrigeration Machine 9. Condenser 10x Oil Extraction Container 10y Aqueous extract collection container 11 Oil-water separation means 12 Heat exchanger (fin cooler) 13 Wall heater 14 Floor heater 15 Thermohygrometer 16,19,20 Thermometer 17 Compound meter 18 Object Thermometer 18a Sensor section 18b signal line 21 Vacuum Extracted Oil Extract 22 Heat-extracted liquefied extract 23 Vacuum Extracted Aqueous Extract 24 Cargo Tray 24a wheels 25 Fluid suction path 26 Fluid return path 27 Heated extract 28 Collection Container 31 Vacuum extract 32 Vacuum Extraction Liquefied Extract 40 Hot water circulation pipe 41 Hot water pipe 43 Hot water 51 Refrigerant circulation path 52 Second refrigerant circulation path 53 Refrigerant 60 Recovery process 61 Unused thinning materials 62 Biomass Power Plant 63 Branches and leaves 64 Branches and leaves after processing 65 Extract 66 Carbonization Equipment 71 Air Freshener 72 Antibacterial agents 73 Antifungal agents 74 Sedatives 75 Anti-stress drugs 76 Antiviral Agents 77 Anti-inflammatory Agents 78 Myokine secretion promoter 100 Low temperature vacuum drying extraction equipment

Claims

1. A step of collecting thinning materials and branches and leaves generated by thinning work, thinning work, or pruning work; A process of processing the collected unused thinned wood into chips and supplying them to a biomass power plant; The collected branches and leaves are then put into a low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device for processing; Supplying the branches and leaves dried by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction device to a biomass power plant; Recovering the extract extracted by the low-temperature vacuum drying extraction device; and producing one or more of an aromatic agent, an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, a sedative, an antistress agent, an antiviral agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, and a myokine secretion promoter from the recovered extract.

2. 2. The method for utilizing wood according to claim 1, further comprising a step of carbonizing the branches and leaves dried by the low-temperature vacuum drying and extraction device in a carbonization device.

3. The low-temperature vacuum drying extraction apparatus includes an airtight processing tank capable of accommodating the collected branches and leaves; a tank heating means for increasing the temperature in the processing tank; a vacuum pump that sucks the fluid in the processing tank through a vacuum suction path that communicates with the inside of the processing tank; A condensation means for liquefying a vacuum extract contained in a fluid generated from the branches and leaves and flowing through the vacuum suction path, and an oil-water separation means for separating the liquefied vacuum-extracted liquefied extract into a vacuum-extracted oily extract and a vacuum-extracted water extract. a circulation fan that draws in a fluid in the processing tank through a fluid suction path that communicates with the inside of the processing tank, a fluid return path that returns the fluid drawn in by the circulation fan into the processing tank, a fluid heating means that heats the fluid flowing through the fluid return path, and a liquefaction means that liquefies a heated extract contained in the fluid generated from the branches and leaves and flowing through the fluid suction path. a thermometer for measuring a temperature in the treatment tank, a hygrometer for measuring a humidity in the treatment tank, and a compound gauge for measuring an air pressure in the treatment tank; 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: an object thermometer for measuring the temperature of the branches and leaves contained in the treatment tank.

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