Biofuel Pellets with Coal for Thermal Power Plants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biofuels for thermal power plants often have variable compositions that can lead to harmful environmental emissions, require significant modifications to power plants, and fail to achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining competitive costs with coal.

Innovation Solution

A biofuel composition comprising up to 30% coal and 60-70% agricultural products, processed into pellets with a specific density and humidity level, and coated with an anti-flying dust agent, which can be used without modifying existing thermal power plants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% and offering a competitive cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If pure agricultural products are used as biofuel, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but energy density and combustion stability deteriorate compared to coal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegreenhouse gas emissionsVSAvoidenergy density
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite fuel consisting of agricultural products (60-70% by weight) combined with coal or petroleum coke (30-40% by weight). This composite structure allows the fuel to maintain high energy density from the fossil fuel component while the agricultural component provides greenhouse gas reduction benefits, effectively resolving the contradiction between environmental performance and energy content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If variable composition biofuels are used, then adaptability to different sources is improved, but harmful environmental emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition flexibilityVSAvoidenvironmental emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for the fuel composition: agricultural products at 60-70% by weight and coal/petroleum coke at 30-40% by weight. These controlled parameters ensure consistent combustion characteristics and emission profiles while maintaining flexibility in selecting different types of agricultural products, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and emission control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If existing thermal power plants are used without modification, then operational simplicity is maintained, but compatibility with new biofuel composition is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidfuel compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent formulates a homogeneous composite fuel where agricultural products and coal/petroleum coke are thoroughly mixed at controlled ratios (60-70% and 30-40% by weight respectively). This homogeneous composition ensures uniform combustion characteristics that are compatible with existing thermal power plant equipment, allowing direct use without modifications while maintaining fuel compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

4Use of energy by moving object

If agricultural products are processed into pellets, then energy density is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pelletization process with the mixing of agricultural products and coal/petroleum coke into a single integrated manufacturing step. The mixture is formed into pellets during the granulation process, eliminating the need for separate mixing and pelletization equipment, thus improving energy density through pelletization while minimizing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2615156B1Biofuel composition and method for manufacturing a biofuel
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 EURO DE BIOMASSE
  • EP2615156B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Biofuel in the form of pellets, comprises up to 30 wt.% of coal and 60-70 wt.% of a mixture of at least two exits of agricultural products obtained from sorting operations, calibration, screening of cereals, oilseeds and/or protein such as broken grains, glumes, glumellae, pods, leaves or stems. An independent claim is included for producing the biofuel comprising mixing the above components, grinding the components and performing a second phase of mixing the grinded mixture, and granulating the mixture.