Cellulosic Feedstock Separation for Biofuel GHG Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks faces challenges due to the presence of extractives like inorganic salts, silica, and sugars, which lead to slag formation, fouling, and tars during thermal processing, hindering efficient energy capture and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A solids-liquid separation process is implemented to remove extractives from cellulosic feedstocks before thermal processing, allowing for improved energy product capture and anaerobic digestion, with the separated streams being reused to enhance biogas production and reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal processing is applied to cellulosic feedstock containing extractives, then energy products can be produced, but slag formation and fouling occur reducing process reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting a solids-liquid separation process before thermal processing to remove extractives from cellulosic feedstock. This pre-treatment step prevents slag formation and fouling during subsequent thermal processing, ensuring process continuity while maintaining energy product production efficiency
2Reliability
If extractives are removed from cellulosic feedstock before thermal processing, then process reliability improves, but additional processing steps increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the solids-liquid separation process, which simultaneously removes extractives to prevent slag formation, separates solids for thermal processing, and produces an aqueous stream for anaerobic digestion. This integrated approach improves process reliability while minimizing the addition of separate processing steps
3Productivity
If waste streams from ethanol production are treated by anaerobic digestion, then biogas is produced, but the presence of solids complicates the digestion process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing solids from the aqueous stream containing extractives before anaerobic digestion. This separation simplifies the digestion process by eliminating solid interference while preserving the organic compounds necessary for biogas production, making the operation easier and more efficient
4Stability of the object's composition
If inorganic salts and silica are present in cellulosic feedstock, then feedstock composition is maintained, but low melting point materials form causing fouling and requiring shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of inorganic salts and silica by removing them through solids-liquid separation before thermal processing. This prevents the formation of low melting point materials that cause fouling and shutdowns, transforming a compositional stability issue into a process continuity solution
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 improves the efficiency of thermal processing, simplifies anaerobic digestion, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the use of purified biogas as a transportation or heating fuel, while also generating renewable fuel credits through enhanced fuel yield and reduced life cycle emissions.
Implementation Method 1
Biogas is a biofuel produced by anaerobic digestion
Implementation Method 2
Gasification includes processes in which cellulosic feedstock is subjected to high temperatures to make syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 3
conducting a solids-liquid separation on a process stream comprising the extractives and solids
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a process for producing one or more products for use as a transportation or heating fuel. In various embodiments the process comprises treating a cellulosic feedstock in one or more processing steps that release extractives from the feedstock. A solids-liquid separation is subsequently conducted on the process stream comprising the extractives and solids. An aqueous stream comprising one or more of the extractives may be fed to an anaerobic digester to produce crude biogas from which one or more impurities may optionally be removed. In various embodiments the process further comprises providing a solids stream to a thermal process. A product produced or derived from the thermal process may displace a product made from fossil fuel. One or more products obtained or derived from at least one of the foregoing process steps are provided for use as a transportation or heating fuel. In various embodiments the process enables advantaged fuel credit generation.