Apparatus for carbonizing biomass

Abstract

The present invention comprises a carbonizer for carbonizing biomass to generate biochar and synthesis gas, and a heat source supplyer for supplying hot air into the carbonizer, wherein the carbonizer comprises: a carbonizer body having a receiving space and extended to a predetermined height in a vertical direction; a biomass input section formed at the upper part of the carbonizer body and configured to supply biomass into the carbonizer body; a biomass carbonization section formed at the lower part of the biomass input section inside the carbonizer body and configured to burn and carbonize the biomass supplied through the biomass input section; and a biochar discharge section formed at one side of the lower part of the biomass carbonization section inside the carbonizer body and configured to discharge the biochar generated in the biomass carbonization section to the outside. The present invention relates to a biomass carbonization apparatus capable of producing high-quality biochar and synthetic gas by enhancing the ignition and combustion effects of biomass, comprising a synthetic gas discharge section formed on the lower side of the biomass carbonization section within the main body of the carbonizer and discharging the synthetic gas generated in the biomass carbonization section to the outside.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing biochar and syngas rich in hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4) by carbonizing biomass such as sawdust, rice husks, or livestock manure, and more specifically, to a biomass carbonization apparatus capable of producing high-quality biochar and syngas. Background Technology

[0003] In a country like ours that relies on imports for the majority of its energy sources, it is essential to establish long-term energy supply and demand policies capable of minimizing dependence on imports and to develop fundamental clean alternative energy sources, both for the sake of national security and to maintain sustainable economic growth.

[0004] Under these circumstances, biomass is attracting attention as a field of alternative energy capable of addressing concerns regarding the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution. Here, biomass is a term referring to biological organisms, including plant bodies, microbial bodies, and animal bodies that feed on them, which are produced through photosynthesis by plants and microorganisms that receive solar energy. In other words, biomass resources have a comprehensive meaning that extends from starchy resources such as grains and cellulose-based resources including timber, rice straw, and rice husks, to sugary resources such as sugarcane and sugar beets, and even organic waste such as food waste and livestock waste.

[0005] Here, active technological development is underway regarding the production of biochar and syngas as part of measures to effectively utilize waste resources. This technology involves thermally decomposing biomass in the near-oxygen environment to carbonize it into a material possessing characteristics intermediate between organic matter and activated carbon, thereby converting organic waste into high-value resources for utilization.

[0006] However, in conventional biomass carbonization devices, biomass with uniform shapes, such as rice husks, sawdust, or animal manure, can be filled with uniform pores within the device and burn evenly; conversely, biomass with non-uniform shapes is filled with uneven pores, resulting in uneven combustion due to uneven contact with oxygen. This non-uniform combustion of biomass adversely affects the quality of the biochar and syngas produced after combustion.

[0007] For this reason, there is a need to develop technology for conventional biomass carbonization devices that enables uniform combustion by uniformly supplying oxygen or air to the biomass filled inside.

[0009] Prior Art Document 1: Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2382262 (Published April 4, 2022)

[0010] Prior Art Document 2: Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1185745 (Published Sep. 26, 2012) The problem to be solved

[0012] The present invention was developed to solve the aforementioned problems and aims to provide a biomass carbonization device capable of producing high-quality biochar and syngas by supplying hot air and oxygen to the biomass to enhance the ignition and combustion effects of the biomass. means of solving the problem

[0014] To achieve the above objective, the present invention comprises a carbonizer that carbonizes biomass to generate biochar and syngas, and a heat source supplyer that supplies hot air into the carbonizer. The carbonizer comprises: a carbonizer body having a receiving space and extending to a predetermined height in a vertical direction; a biomass input section formed at the upper part of the carbonizer body and configured to supply biomass into the carbonizer body; a biomass carbonization section formed at the lower part of the biomass input section within the carbonizer body and configured to burn and carbonize the biomass supplied through the biomass input section; a biochar discharge section formed at one side of the lower part of the biomass carbonization section within the carbonizer body and configured to discharge biochar generated in the biomass carbonization section to the outside; and a syngas discharge section formed at the other side of the lower part of the biomass carbonization section within the carbonizer body and configured to discharge syngas generated in the biomass carbonization section to the outside.

[0015] Preferably, the biomass input section comprises: a biomass input port formed on one side of the upper portion of the carbonizer body and configured to feed biomass toward the biomass carbonization section using a conveying screw; a biomass feeder extending from the other side of the upper portion of the carbonizer body into the interior of the carbonizer body and evenly spreading the biomass fed into the interior of the carbonizer body; and a heater for igniting the biomass fed through the biomass input port.

[0016] More preferably, an oxygen supply unit for supplying oxygen is connected to the upper part of the carbonizer body, and the biomass carbonization unit is connected to the heat source supply unit to receive hot air. When the inside of the biomass carbonization unit reaches a certain temperature due to the supply of hot air from the heat source supply unit, oxygen is supplied from the oxygen supply unit and the heater operates to ignite the biomass.

[0017] Herein, the system further includes a synthesis gas combustor for combusting the synthesis gas discharged through the synthesis gas discharge section of the carbonizer, and the synthesis gas combustor is configured to receive hot air from the heat source supply and hot air inside the carbonizer.

[0018] Preferably, the hot-air supply pipe supplying hot-air from the heat source supply unit is branched into a first pipe connected to the syngas discharge section of the carbonizer and a second pipe connected to the syngas combustor, wherein the second pipe serves not only to supply hot-air from the heat source supply unit into the carbonizer but also to supply the syngas generated inside the carbonizer to the combustor.

[0019] More preferably, the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe is further included, which is connected to the synthetic gas combustor from the upper center of the carbonizer body, and the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe is connected to a second pipe of the hot-air supply pipe.

[0020] In addition, the oxygen supply pipe supplying oxygen from the oxygen supplier is connected to the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe to supply oxygen into the carbonizer or to the synthetic gas combustor.

[0021] Meanwhile, the biomass discharge unit comprises: a rotary valve installed at the bottom of the biomass carbonization unit to discharge biochar generated in the biomass carbonization unit downward; and a biochar conveying screw installed at the bottom side of the rotary valve to convey biochar to the outside, wherein the rotary valve comprises a valve housing into which pellet-shaped biochar generated in the biomass carbonization unit is introduced, a rotary blade that rotates and discharges biochar toward the biochar conveying screw, and a guide installed at the inlet side of the valve housing to guide the pellet-shaped biochar to be introduced in a certain direction. Effects of the invention

[0023] According to the present invention, with biomass introduced into the carbonizer, hot air from a heat source supply is supplied to the biomass carbonization section, causing the temperature inside the biomass carbonization section to rise above a certain temperature, and at this time, oxygen is supplied from an oxygen supply to the biomass carbonization section while a heater operates to ignite the biomass.

[0024] Therefore, the ignition of biomass in the biomass carbonization section can be facilitated, and the combustion effect of the biomass can be enhanced, so that the biomass combusted and carbonized in the biomass carbonization section is uniformly combusted and carbonized, thereby producing high-quality biochar and synthesis gas. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a biomass carbonization device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a carbonizer of a biomass carbonization device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the rotary valve of the carbonizer of a biomass carbonization device according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0027] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a biomass carbonization apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. For reference, in the description of the present invention below, terms referring to the components of the present invention are named considering the functions of each component, and should not be understood as limiting the technical components of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the biomass carbonization device according to the present invention includes a carbonizer (100) that carbonizes biomass such as sawdust, rice husks, or livestock manure to produce biochar and biogas, and a heat source supplyer (200) that supplies hot air into the carbonizer (100).

[0030] The carbonizer (100) includes a carbonizer body (101), a biomass input section (110) formed on the upper part of the carbonizer body (101), a biomass carbonization section (120) formed on the lower part of the biomass input section (110), a biochar discharge section (130) formed on the lower part of the biomass carbonization section (120), and a syngas discharge section (140).

[0031] The carbonizer body (101) has an internal receiving space and extends vertically to a predetermined height to form a tower-shaped structure. The carbonizer body (101) may be a cuboid-shaped structure, but preferably may be a cylindrical structure for uniform combustion.

[0032] The biomass input section (110) is formed on the upper part of the carbonizer body (101) and serves to supply biomass, such as sawdust, rice husks, or animal manure, into the carbonizer body (101). Specifically, the biomass input section (110) includes a biomass inlet (111), a biomass feeder (112), and a heater (113). The biomass inlet (110) is formed on one side of the upper part of the carbonizer body (101) and allows biomass to be fed into the biomass carbonization section (120) using a biomass conveying screw (114). The biomass feeder (112) extends from the other side of the upper part of the carbonizer body (101) into the interior of the carbonizer body (101) and serves to spread the biomass fed into the carbonizer body (101) evenly. Here, the biomass feeder (112) may be a stirrer that extends horizontally and rotates, or a flat plate that reciprocates horizontally. The heater (113) is positioned at the bottom of the biomass feeder (112) inside the carbonizer body (101) and serves to ignite a flame in the biomass fed into the carbonizer body (101) through the biomass inlet (111).

[0033] The biomass carbonization unit (120) is formed at the bottom of the biomass input unit (110) inside the carbonizer body (101) and serves to burn and carbonize the biomass supplied through the biomass input unit (110). This biomass carbonization unit (120) burns the biomass to produce biochar and synthesis gas. Additionally, the biomass carbonization unit (120) may include a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the internal temperature and a level sensor (121) for measuring the amount of biomass input. Here, the level sensor (121) may be configured to include a round bar of a predetermined length that is inserted vertically into the carbonizer (100) through an insertion port formed at the top of the carbonizer body (101), a sensor installed at the bottom of the round bar that detects raw materials by contacting biomass, and a level switch installed at the top of the round bar that detects the amount of biomass input, which is the raw material, when the sensor contacts the biomass inside the carbonizer.

[0034] The biochar discharge section (130) is formed on the lower side of the biomass carbonization section (120) inside the carbonizer body (101) and serves to discharge biochar generated from the biomass carbonization section (120) to the outside. Specifically, the biochar discharge section (130) includes a rotary valve (131) installed on the lower side of the biomass carbonization section (120) to discharge biochar generated from the biomass carbonization section (120) downward. This rotary valve (131) discharges biochar downward while rotating. Additionally, the biochar discharge section (130) includes a biochar transfer screw (132a, 132b) installed on the lower side of the rotary valve (131) to transfer biochar to an external biochar storage tank (not shown). Specifically, the rotary valve (131) includes a valve housing (131a) into which pellet-shaped biochar generated in the biomass carbonization unit (120) is introduced, a rotary blade (131b) that rotates and discharges the biochar toward the biochar conveying screw (132a, 132b), and a guide (131c) installed on the inlet side of the valve housing (131a) to guide the pellet-shaped biochar to be introduced in a certain direction. The guide (131c) of the rotary valve (131) serves to eliminate interference that may occur between the biochar, the valve housing (131a), and the rotary blade (131b) by allowing the pellet-shaped biochar to be introduced into the rotary valve (131) in a certain direction. Accordingly, the rotary valve (131) allows granular bulk, powder, and irregularly shaped raw materials in a longitudinal or transverse direction to be smoothly introduced into the valve housing in a certain direction.

[0035] The syngas discharge section (140) is formed on the lower side of the biomass carbonization section (120) inside the carbonizer body (101) and serves to discharge the syngas generated in the biomass carbonization section (120) to an external syngas burner (300).

[0036] Meanwhile, an oxygen supply unit (400) for supplying oxygen into the carbonizer (100) is connected to the upper part of the carbonizer body (101). An oxygen supply pipe (410) is connected between the oxygen supply unit (400) and the upper center of the carbonizer body (101) to supply oxygen necessary for biomass combustion to the biomass carbonization section (120) of the carbonizer (100).

[0037] Additionally, the biomass carbonization unit (120) is connected to the heat source supply unit (200) through the hot-air supply pipe (210), and the heat source from the heat source supply unit (200) is supplied to the biomass carbonization unit (120) through the hot-air supply pipe (210) to increase the temperature inside the biomass carbonization unit (120), thereby increasing the ignition and combustion efficiency of the biomass. Preferably, when hot air is supplied from the heat source supply unit (200) to the biomass carbonization unit (120) through the hot-air supply pipe (210) and the inside of the biomass carbonization unit (120) reaches a certain temperature, oxygen is supplied from the oxygen supply unit (400) through the oxygen supply pipe (410) into the carbonizer (100) at the same time, and the heater (113) is activated to ignite a flame in the biomass.

[0038] Thus, according to the biomass carbonization device of the present invention, when biomass is introduced into the carbonizer (100), hot air from a heat source supply unit (200) is supplied to the biomass carbonization unit (120), causing the temperature inside the biomass carbonization unit (120) to increase above a certain temperature. At this time, oxygen is supplied from an oxygen supply unit (400) to the biomass carbonization unit (120), and at the same time, a heater (113) is operated to ignite the biomass. Therefore, the ignition of the biomass in the biomass carbonization unit (120) can be done quickly and easily, and the combustion effect of the biomass is increased, so that the biomass combusted and carbonized in the biomass carbonization unit (120) is combusted and carbonized uniformly, thereby producing high-quality biochar and syngas.

[0039] Additionally, the biomass carbonization device according to the present invention further includes a syngas combustor (300) for combusting syngas discharged through the syngas discharge section (140) of the carbonizer (100). The syngas combustor (300) is configured to receive hot air from a heat source supply unit (200) and hot air generated inside the carbonizer (100).

[0040] Specifically, the hot-air supply pipe (210) that supplies hot-air from the heat source supply unit (200) to the biomass carbonization unit (120) is branched into a first pipe (211) connected to the syngas discharge unit (140) of the carbonizer (100) and a second pipe (212) connected to the syngas combustor (300). Here, the second pipe (212) of the hot-air supply pipe (210) performs the role of supplying hot-air from the heat source supply unit (200) into the biomass carbonization unit (120) of the carbonizer (100), as well as the role of supplying the syngas generated inside the biomass carbonization unit (120) of the carbonizer (100) to the combustor (300). Meanwhile, the unreferenced numeral 500 is a blower that supplies air to the syngas combustor (300).

[0041] Additionally, the biomass carbonization device according to the present invention further includes a carbonization hot-air supply pipe (310) connected to a syngas combustor (300) from the upper center of the carbonization body (101). The carbonization hot-air supply pipe (310) is connected to a second pipe (212) of the hot-air supply pipe (210) of the heat source supply unit (200), so as to supply hot-air generated inside the carbonization device (100) to the syngas combustor (300).

[0042] And, the oxygen supply pipe (410) supplying oxygen from the oxygen supply unit (400) is connected to the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe (310) so that oxygen can be supplied into the carbonizer (100) or supplied to the synthetic gas combustor (300). Here, the white arrow shown in FIG. 1 indicates the flow of synthetic gas generated inside the carbonizer (100) and transferred to the synthetic gas combustor (300), and the black arrow indicates the flow of hot-air supplied from the heat source supply unit (200) to the carbonizer (100) and the flow of hot-air supplied from the carbonizer (100) to the synthetic gas combustor (300).

[0043] In this way, the biomass carbonization device according to the present invention supplies hot air from a heat source supply unit (200), hot air from a carbonizer (100), and oxygen from an oxygen supply unit (400) to the side of a synthesis gas combustor (300), thereby enabling complete combustion of synthesis gas.

[0045] The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely illustrative of the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims. Furthermore, as those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention, all technical concepts within the scope equivalent to the present invention should be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0047] 100: Carbonizer 101: Carbonizer body 110: Biomass input section 111: Biomass inlet 112: Biomass Feeder 113: Heater 114: Biomass transfer screw 120: Biomass carbonization section 121: Level sensor 130: Biochar discharge part 131: Rotary valve 132a, 132b: Biochar transfer screw 140: Syngas discharge section 200: Heat source supply unit 210: Hot-air supply piping 211: First piping 212: Piping No. 2 300: Syngas Combustor 310: Carbonizer hot-air supply piping 400: Oxygen supplier 410: Oxygen supply piping

Claims

Claim 1 The apparatus comprises a carbonizer that carbonizes biomass to generate biochar and synthesis gas, and a heat source supplyer that supplies hot air into the carbonizer, wherein the carbonizer comprises: a carbonizer body having a receiving space and extending to a predetermined height in a vertical direction; a biomass input section formed at the upper part of the carbonizer body and configured to supply biomass into the carbonizer body; a biomass carbonization section formed at the lower part of the biomass input section within the carbonizer body and configured to burn and carbonize the biomass supplied through the biomass input section; and a biochar discharge section formed at one side of the lower part of the biomass carbonization section within the carbonizer body and configured to discharge the biochar generated in the biomass carbonization section to the outside. A biomass carbonization device comprising a biomass carbonization unit formed on the lower side of the biomass carbonization unit inside the main body of the carbonizer and a biogas discharge unit for discharging biogas generated in the biomass carbonization unit to the outside, wherein the biomass carbonization unit is connected to the heat source supply unit through a hot-air supply pipe and an oxygen supply unit for oxygen supply is connected to the upper part of the main body of the carbonizer, wherein the hot-air supply pipe is branched into a first pipe connected to the biogas discharge unit of the carbonizer and a second pipe connected to a biogas combustion unit, and wherein the hot-air supply pipe performs the role of supplying hot-air from the heat source supply unit into the interior of the carbonizer as well as the role of supplying biogas generated inside the carbonizer to the biogas combustion unit. Claim 2 A biomass carbonization device according to claim 1, wherein the biomass input section comprises: a biomass input port formed on one side of the upper portion of the carbonizer body and configured to feed biomass toward the biomass carbonization section using a conveying screw; a biomass feeder extending from the other side of the upper portion of the carbonizer body into the interior of the carbonizer body and evenly spreading the biomass fed into the interior of the carbonizer body; and a heater for igniting the biomass fed into the biomass input port. Claim 3 A biomass carbonization device according to paragraph 2, wherein when the interior of the biomass carbonization section reaches a certain temperature by supplying hot air from the heat source supply unit, the heater operates and the biomass is ignited while oxygen is supplied from the oxygen supply unit. Claim 4 A biomass carbonization device according to paragraph 3, further comprising a synthesis gas combustor for burning synthesis gas discharged through a synthesis gas discharge section of the carbonizer, wherein the synthesis gas combustor is configured to receive hot air from the heat source supply and hot air inside the carbonizer. Claim 5 A biomass carbonization device according to claim 1, further comprising a carbonizer hot-air supply pipe connected to a synthesis gas combustor from the upper center of the carbonizer body, wherein the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe is connected to a second pipe of the hot-air supply pipe. Claim 6 A biomass carbonization device according to claim 5, wherein the oxygen supply pipe supplying oxygen from the oxygen supply unit is connected to the carbonizer hot-air supply pipe to supply oxygen into the carbonizer or to supply oxygen to the synthetic gas combustor. Claim 7 A biomass carbonization device according to claim 1, wherein the biochar discharge unit comprises: a rotary valve installed at the lower part of the biomass carbonization unit to discharge biochar generated in the biomass carbonization unit downward; and a biochar conveying screw installed at the lower side of the rotary valve to convey biochar to the outside, wherein the rotary valve comprises a valve housing into which pellet-shaped biochar generated in the biomass carbonization unit is introduced, a rotary blade that rotates and discharges biochar toward the biochar conveying screw, and a guide installed at the inlet side of the valve housing to guide the pellet-shaped biochar to be introduced in a certain direction. Claim 8 delete

Images