Solid Biomass Fuel Production via Low-Temp Aqueous Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing solid biomass fuels face challenges such as the difficulty in cultivating and harvesting natural plant sources on a commercial scale, issues with homogeneity and grindability of biomass particles, insufficient waterproof characteristics, and inefficiencies in washing processes that require high temperatures and pressures.
Innovation Solution
A process that involves pulverizing biomass sources to a specific particle size, compressing and washing the biomass powder with an aqueous wash liquid, mechanically dewatering, drying, molding, and heating to produce a solid biomass fuel with improved properties. This process allows for the use of agricultural waste and other easily cultivable biomass sources, enhancing control over quality and characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If natural plant biomass sources are used, then renewable energy production is achieved, but difficulty in cultivating and harvesting on commercial scale arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the source material from natural plant biomass to agricultural waste materials (rice husk, corn stover, wheat straw). This parameter change resolves the contradiction because agricultural waste is readily available from existing farming operations, eliminating the need for dedicated cultivation and harvesting infrastructure while maintaining renewable energy production.
2Productivity
If biomass particles are processed without pulverization, then processing time is reduced, but homogeneity and grindability of biomass particles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary pulverization to reduce biomass particles to 0.5-5mm size before compression and molding. This preliminary size reduction action ensures homogeneous particle distribution in the final fuel product and improves grindability, while the pulverization equipment is designed to process agricultural waste efficiently, minimizing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies optimal particle size parameters (0.5-5mm) that balance processing time with homogeneity and grindability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the sweet spot where particles are small enough for good homogeneity but not so small as to excessively increase processing time.
3Reliability
If traditional washing processes are used, then salt removal is achieved, but high temperatures and pressures are required increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional high-temperature/pressure mechanical washing system with a low-temperature aqueous washing system. The washing solution contains surfactants and chelating agents that chemically bind to salts, allowing effective salt removal at ambient or low temperatures, thus dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining salt removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces washing solution containing surfactants and chelating agents as intermediaries to facilitate salt removal. These chemical intermediaries bind to salt ions, enabling their removal from biomass particles under mild conditions, replacing the need for high-energy thermal or pressure-based washing methods.
4Device complexity
If biomass fuel is produced without compression, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but waterproof characteristics and quality uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary compression to biomass particles before molding to achieve high density and uniform structure. This preliminary compression action creates tight particle packing that inherently provides waterproof characteristics, eliminating the need for additional waterproofing treatment steps and maintaining quality uniformity without excessive manufacturing complexity.
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 results in solid biomass fuels with improved homogeneity, grindability, waterproof characteristics, and quality uniformity, making them more suitable for combustion processes and reducing storage and transportation challenges. The adapted washing process achieves effective salt removal at lower temperatures and pressures, lowering costs and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
washing the compressed biomass powder or pulverised biomass with an aqueous wash liquid to provide a washed biomass powder
Implementation Method 2
heating the molded biomass product to a temperature of from 160°C to 420°C for a time period of from 0.25 to 5 hours so as to provide a solid biomass fuel
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for producing a solid biomass fuel, as well as a solid biomass fuel produced by said process. Additionally, the present invention relates to a combustion process comprising combusting said solid biomass fuel so as to produce energy.