Biomass Extraction Process for Energy Density and Ash Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Biomass combustion faces challenges due to high moisture content, irregular shapes, and high ash content, leading to reduced boiler efficiency and increased particulate emissions, necessitating the development of processes to produce energy-dense biomass while recovering fermentable sugars.
Innovation Solution
A process involving steam or hot water extraction, separation, hydrolysis, and drying of cellulosic biomass to produce energy-dense biomass pellets with integrated recovery of fermentable sugars, which also reduces ash content and enhances combustion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If biomass is used for combustion, then renewable energy is produced, but boiler efficiency is reduced due to high moisture content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts moisture and hemicellulose from biomass through steam extraction and hot water washing, removing the harmful substance (moisture) that reduces boiler efficiency. The biomass is processed to reduce moisture content from typical levels to below 10%, directly addressing the efficiency problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary drying and extraction treatments to biomass before combustion. The biomass undergoes steam extraction, hot water washing, and drying processes that prepare it in advance for efficient combustion, ensuring low moisture content enters the boiler.
2Use of energy by moving object
If biomass is combusted, then energy is produced, but particulate emissions increase due to high ash content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes ash and inorganic contaminants from biomass through hot water washing and extraction processes. This extraction eliminates the source of particulate emissions before combustion occurs, allowing energy production without the harmful emissions penalty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cleaning and washing of biomass to remove ash-forming contaminants before combustion. This advance treatment ensures that when the biomass is combusted, minimal particulate emissions are generated.
3Use of energy by moving object
If irregular biomass is fed to boiler, then combustion can occur, but material bridges and lodges in storage silo
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of biomass through processing - reducing moisture content, removing hemicellulose, and altering structural properties. These parameter changes transform irregular, sticky biomass into uniform, free-flowing material that handles well in storage silos while maintaining combustion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing of biomass to improve its physical properties before storage and handling. The extraction and drying processes prepare the biomass in advance to prevent bridging and lodging issues in storage silos.
4Use of energy by moving object
If biomass is dried to reduce moisture, then boiler efficiency improves, but drying time is extended requiring full summer season
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts moisture through steam extraction and hot water washing processes that remove water more rapidly than natural drying. This active extraction significantly reduces the time required compared to passive seasonal drying, while achieving the same moisture reduction goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the natural, passive drying process (relying on environmental conditions over summer) with active mechanical/thermal processing using steam extraction and hot water washing. This substitution dramatically accelerates moisture removal from months to much shorter processing times.
5Quantity of substance
If pelletizing is used to drive moisture out, then moisture content reduces to 5-7%, but equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses steam extraction and hot water washing to directly remove moisture and hemicellulose from biomass, achieving moisture reduction without requiring pelletizing equipment. This extraction approach reaches similar moisture levels (5-7%) through chemical/thermal processes rather than mechanical compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves the moisture removal effect of pelletizing through an alternative process - steam extraction and hot water washing. This copying of the functional outcome (moisture reduction) uses different, potentially simpler equipment that avoids the complexity of pelletizing machinery.
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
The process increases the energy density of biomass, reduces particulate emissions, and allows for efficient combustion with potential co-production of fermentable sugars and lignin, improving boiler efficiency and meeting environmental regulations.
Implementation Method 1
extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water under effective extraction conditions to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids
Implementation Method 2
extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water under effective extraction conditions
Implementation Method 3
hydrolyzing the dewatered cellulose-rich solids, thereby removing a portion of cellulose contained therein, to produce intermediate solids and a hydrolysate
Implementation Method 4
drying the intermediate solids to produce the energy-dense biomass
Implementation Method 5
combusting the energy-dense biomass to produce power and/or heat
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides processes to convert biomass into energy-dense biomass for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing energy-dense biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; separating the extract liquor, to produce dewatered cellulose-rich solids; hydrolyzing the dewatered cellulose-rich solids, thereby removing a portion of the cellulose, to produce intermediate solids (with higher energy density) and a hydrolysate; drying the intermediate solids to produce energy-dense biomass; and optionally recovering fermentable sugars from the hydrolysate. The energy-dense biomass may be pelletized into biomass pellets, which may have a similar energy density as torrefied pellets from wood. The hemicellulosic oligomers may be further hydrolyzed to produce additional fermentable sugars. The fermentable sugars may be fermented to ethanol or another product.