Hydrothermal Carbonization System for Process Water Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrothermal carbonization processes face inefficiencies in utilizing all reaction products, particularly in the economic use of HTC process water and the handling and transportation of unprocessed water, which limits the overall efficiency and utilization of biomass conversion.
Innovation Solution
The system employs vacuum concentration for water purification, facilitates easier transport of concentrated fertilizer, and includes devices for converting coal into synthesis gas for energy generation, utilizing waste heat and exhaust air to enhance energy balance and reduce emissions, while also using aquatic plants for nutrient recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If HTC process water is used directly to accelerate plant growth, then plant growth is enhanced, but the economic viability deteriorates due to the large growing areas required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts valuable nutrients from HTC process water through vacuum evaporation to produce concentrated fertilizer. This separates the useful components (nutrients) from the bulk water, allowing the fertilizer to be transported and applied efficiently without requiring large-scale plant cultivation areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the process water by applying vacuum evaporation. This transforms dilute process water into concentrated fertilizer, fundamentally altering its utility from a substance requiring large application areas to a transportable, high-value product.
2Quantity of substance
If unprocessed HTC process water is transported, then the complete nutrient solution is moved, but the transportation costs and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts nutrients from bulk water through vacuum evaporation, producing a concentrated fertilizer substance. This extraction transforms the problem of transporting large volumes of dilute water into the simpler task of transporting small amounts of concentrated fertilizer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the process water by applying vacuum evaporation. This transforms dilute process water into concentrated fertilizer, fundamentally altering its utility from a substance requiring large application areas to a transportable, high-value product.
3Loss of substance
If all HTC process water is utilized through plant growth, then nutrient utilization occurs, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts valuable nutrients from HTC process water through vacuum evaporation to produce concentrated fertilizer. This separation simplifies the system by directly producing a usable product rather than requiring complex biological cultivation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the biological system (plant growth) with a physical-chemical system (vacuum evaporation). This substitution eliminates the need for managing large-scale plant cultivation while achieving the same goal of nutrient utilization and product recovery.
4Loss of energy
If coal is produced through hydrothermal carbonization, then energy storage is achieved, but the coal requires additional processing and handling infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrothermal carbonization process with a gasification process in an integrated system. The coal produced by HTC is immediately fed into the gasifier for conversion to synthesis gas, eliminating the need for separate coal storage, handling, and distribution infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a continuous process where coal produced by hydrothermal carbonization is immediately converted to synthesis gas in the gasifier. This continuous conversion eliminates intermediate storage and handling steps, maintaining uninterrupted energy transformation from biomass to usable fuel gas.
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 maximizes the use of all reaction products, improves energy distribution, reduces transportation costs, and enhances the overall efficiency of biomass conversion by utilizing synthesis gas for electricity generation and producing valuable fertilizers from process water.
Implementation Method 1
a device (3) for converting the organic residues by means of hydrothermal carbonization into coal and process water
Implementation Method 2
a device (4) for separating the starting materials coal and process water resulting from the hydrothermal carbonization
Implementation Method 3
a device (5) for drying and optional briquetting the coal (K) obtained as a starting product
Implementation Method 4
a device (9) for at least partial vacuum distillation of the process water (P) obtained as a starting material by concentration by means of negative pressure
Implementation Method 5
a device (7) for at least partial conversion of the dried and optionally briquetted coal (K) into a synthesis gas
Implementation Method 6
a device (8) for using the synthesis gas to generate electricity by means of a generator
Implementation Method 7
waste heat generated within the framework of the device (8) for using the synthesis gas is used to supply the device (5) for drying and optional briquetting of the coal (K) obtained as a starting product, the device (9) for at least partial vacuum distillation of the process water (P)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for working up organic residues and/or wastes, in particular biogas fermentation residues, manure and the like, cut grass or green clippings and/or sewage sludge.