Seaweed resource recovery system and seaweed resource recovery method

Abstract

To provide a seaweed resource conversion system that can effectively utilize carbon dioxide generated in a fermentation device.SOLUTION: A seaweed resource conversion system according to one embodiment includes: a carbonization device that heats seaweed taken from underwater in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the air and produces biochar; and a fermentation device that ferments other seaweed taken from underwater, using yeast. The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device is introduced to the carbonization device, thus producing a low-oxygen atmosphere.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seaweed resource production system and a seaweed resource production method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which seaweed is grown, carbon dioxide is taken in from the air, and the seaweed is used to produce, separate, and recover methanol, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-035967 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Meanwhile, the inventors are considering a seaweed resource utilization system that includes a carbonization device that heats seaweed in a low-oxygen atmosphere, for example to about 300°C, to produce biochar, and a fermentation device that ferments the seaweed using yeast to produce methane, ethanol, etc. When seaweed is fermented, the yeast emits carbon dioxide. In other words, carbon dioxide is generated in the fermentation device, and it is desirable to utilize this carbon dioxide effectively.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a seaweed resource production system and a seaweed resource production method that can effectively utilize carbon dioxide generated in a fermentation apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A seaweed resource production system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A carbonization device that heats seaweed collected from the ocean in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar; A seaweed resource recovery system comprising: a fermentation device for fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast; Carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus is introduced into the carbonization apparatus to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device is introduced into the carbonization device to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device.

[0008] The apparatus may further include a seaweed component measuring device that measures the concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components in the seaweed that do not decompose at 250°C, and a sorting device that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components measured by the seaweed component measuring device, and the sorting device may sort seaweed whose concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components exceeds a predetermined standard value to the carbonization device, and sort seaweed whose concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components is below the predetermined standard value to the fermentation device. With this configuration, the thermal decomposition of the seaweed in the carbonization device is suppressed, and the efficiency of biochar production is improved.

[0009] The other seaweed may be hydrolyzed before being fermented in the fermentation apparatus. By hydrolyzing the seaweed in advance, the seaweed can be fermented efficiently.

[0010] A method for producing seaweed resources according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce biochar; A seaweed resource production method comprising: a fermentation step of fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast, The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The present disclosure provides a seaweed resource production system and a seaweed resource production method that can effectively utilize the carbon dioxide generated in a fermentation device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource conversion system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource conversion system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified for clarity of explanation.

[0015] (First embodiment) <Configuration of seaweed resource recovery system> First, the configuration of a seaweed resource production system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource production system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment includes a fermentation apparatus 10 and a carbonization apparatus 20. In Fig. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of seaweed.

[0016] The fermentation apparatus 10 ferments seaweed with yeast to produce methane. In the fermentation apparatus 10, the seaweed is hydrolyzed and then fermented into methane. By hydrolyzing the seaweed in advance, the seaweed can be fermented efficiently. On the other hand, in the fermentation apparatus 10, the yeast emits carbon dioxide when fermenting the seaweed. That is, carbon dioxide is generated in the fermentation apparatus 10.

[0017] In the fermentation apparatus 10, seaweed may be fermented into alcohol by a yeast different from that used for methane fermentation, and then distilled to produce alcohol such as ethanol. In this case, carbon dioxide is also produced in the fermentation apparatus 10.

[0018] The carbonization device 20 heats the dried and cut seaweed to about 300°C in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce biochar. A low-oxygen atmosphere is an atmosphere with a lower oxygen concentration than the atmosphere. Specifically, the low-oxygen atmosphere is an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of, for example, 1% by volume or less.

[0019] 1, carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 is introduced into the carbonization apparatus 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 is introduced from the fermentation apparatus 10 to the carbonization apparatus 20 via, for example, a pipe (not shown) connecting the fermentation apparatus 10 and the carbonization apparatus 20. Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 can be effectively utilized.

[0020] On the other hand, seaweed may be allocated to the fermentation apparatus 10 and the carbonization apparatus 20 based on the concentration of hardly decomposable components in the seaweed that do not decompose at 250° C. For example, seaweed whose concentration of hardly decomposable components is below a predetermined standard value (e.g., about 30% by mass) may be allocated to the fermentation apparatus 10, and seaweed whose concentration exceeds the standard value may be allocated to the carbonization apparatus 20. This suppresses thermal decomposition of seaweed in the carbonization apparatus 20, improving the efficiency of biochar production.

[0021] As described above, in the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 is introduced into the carbonization apparatus 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 can be effectively utilized.

[0022] In this embodiment, the seaweed to be fermented in the fermentation apparatus 10 and the seaweed to be carbonized in the carbonization apparatus 20 are randomly distributed. On the other hand, as described later, the seaweed may be distributed between the fermentation apparatus 10 and the carbonization apparatus 20 based on the concentration of hardly pyrolyzable components contained in the seaweed.

[0023] <Seaweed resource recycling method> Next, with reference to FIG. 1, a seaweed resource production method according to a first embodiment will be described. The seaweed resource production method according to this embodiment includes a carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar, and a fermentation process in which other seaweed collected from the ocean is fermented using yeast. The fermentation process is carried out in a fermentation apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

[0024] 1, carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 is introduced into the carbonization apparatus 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. That is, carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus 10 can be effectively utilized.

[0025] As described above, in the seaweed resource production method according to the present embodiment, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere, so that the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process can be effectively utilized.

[0026] Second embodiment Next, the configuration of a seaweed resource-producing system according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource-producing system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment includes a component measuring device 30 and a sorting device 40 in addition to the fermentation device 10 and carbonization device 20 shown in FIG.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the component measuring device 30 measures the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components that do not decompose at 250°C in seaweed collected from the sea. That is, the component measuring device 30 has a thermogravimetric analysis function. The concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components measured by the component measuring device 30 is output to the sorting device 40.

[0028] The sorting device 40 sorts the seaweed collected from the sea into the fermentation device 10 and the carbonization device 20 based on the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components measured by the component measuring device 30. Specifically, the sorting device 40 sorts seaweed whose concentration of components resistant to pyrolysis is below a predetermined reference value (e.g., about 30% by mass) to the fermentation device 10, and sorts seaweed whose concentration of components resistant to pyrolysis exceeds the reference value to the carbonization device 20. This suppresses thermal decomposition of seaweed in the carbonization device 20, improving the efficiency of biochar production. When the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components is equal to the above-mentioned reference value, the seaweed may be distributed to either the fermentation device 10 or the carbonization device 20, as long as it is determined in advance.

[0029] Although not shown, the sorting device 40 includes a calculation unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which various programs, data, etc. are stored. In other words, the sorting device 40 has a function as a computer and executes sorting processing based on the various programs, etc.

[0030] As described above, the seaweed resource utilization system of this embodiment comprises a component measuring device 30 that measures the concentration of resistant to pyrolysis components in seaweed, and a sorting device 40 that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of resistant to pyrolysis components measured by the component measuring device 30.

[0031] Here, the sorting device 40 sorts seaweed whose concentration of hardly pyrolyzable components is below a predetermined reference value to the fermentation device 10, and sorts seaweed whose concentration of hardly pyrolyzable components exceeds the reference value to the carbonization device 20. This suppresses thermal decomposition of seaweed in the carbonization device 20, improving the efficiency of biochar production. The other configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0032] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. This disclosure will also promote the use of blue carbon (seaweed) and contribute to carbon neutrality, decarbonization, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10 Fermentation equipment 20 Carbonization Equipment 30 Component measuring device 40 Sorting device

Claims

1. A carbonization device that heats seaweed collected from the ocean in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar; A seaweed resource recovery system comprising: a fermentation device for fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast; The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus is introduced into the carbonization apparatus to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere. Seaweed resource utilization system.

2. A seaweed component measuring device for measuring the concentration of a hardly pyrolyzable component in the seaweed that does not decompose at 250 ° C.; A sorting device that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components measured by the seaweed component measuring device, The sorting device sorts seaweed having a concentration of the hardly-pyrolyzable components that exceeds a predetermined standard value to the carbonization device, and sorts seaweed having a concentration of the hardly-pyrolyzable components that is below the predetermined standard value to the fermentation device. The seaweed resource production system according to claim 1.

3. In the fermentation apparatus, the other seaweed is hydrolyzed before the other seaweed is fermented. The seaweed resource production system according to claim 1.

4. A carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar; A seaweed resource production method comprising: a fermentation step of fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast, The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere. Seaweed resource recycling method.

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