Biomass Carbonization Steam Storage Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomass carbonization processes face challenges in decoupling energy and media flows from material flows, leading to inefficiencies in process control, energy usage, and increased wastewater production, with difficulties in managing temperature and pressure control and mechanical transport of biomass.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using at least two steam storage units fluidically connected to the reaction chamber, allowing for precise control of temperature and pressure by storing and releasing steam, enabling efficient energy management and reducing the need for chemical catalysts by recycling condensate, and allowing for batch operation of reactors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If biomass is completely surrounded by water in liquid phase carbonization, then the process can be implemented continuously, but the mechanical transport of biomass becomes complex and energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the biomass material flow from the liquid water medium, allowing biomass to be transported and processed separately from the water-based heating medium. This is achieved by using steam for heating while maintaining biomass in a separate phase, eliminating the need for complex mechanical transport systems through liquid media.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the process into separate functional zones: a feeding zone, a reaction zone, and a discharge zone. Biomass is fed in at one end, processed in the reaction zone using steam heating, and discharged at the other end. This segmentation allows continuous processing without requiring complex mechanical transport through the entire system.
2Productivity
If chemical catalysts are used to accelerate carbonization, then reaction speed increases, but wastewater production increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the heating medium from liquid water to steam. By using steam instead of liquid water, the process achieves faster heat transfer and higher reaction temperatures without requiring chemical catalysts. The steam condenses and can be condensed and reused, minimizing wastewater production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the condensation of steam, which would normally produce wastewater, into a beneficial cycle by condensing the steam and using it again for heating purposes. This transforms what would be waste into a reusable resource, eliminating the need for chemical catalysts while maintaining high reaction speeds.
3Loss of energy
If steam is used for heating in carbonization, then energy efficiency improves, but precise temperature and pressure control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms with sensors that monitor temperature and pressure in the reaction zone. These sensors provide real-time data to control systems that adjust steam flow rates and pressure, maintaining precise control despite the use of steam as the heating medium. The feedback loop ensures stable process conditions while maximizing energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances process control, energy efficiency, reduces wastewater, and optimizes production time by decoupling media and energy flows from material flows, achieving precise temperature and pressure control and improving the environmental balance.
Implementation Method 1
The reaction chamber can be fluidically connected to at least two steam storage units
Implementation Method 2
steam is conducted from the reactor space into the store or from the store into the reactor space
Implementation Method 3
The process itself reaches an exothermic phase, which leads to a further increase in temperature in the reaction space
Data Source
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AI summary
Carbonizing biomass in a reaction chamber using vapor to provide the required temperature and pressure values, is claimed. The reaction chamber is operated with at least two fluidically-connected vapor storage units. The vapor is conducted into the reaction chamber from at least one storage unit or at least one storage unit of the reaction chamber, depending on the process phase. An independent claim is also included for a device for carrying out the above mentioned method, where Ruth's storage units are used as vapor storage units.