Microwave Biomass Liquefaction Reactor for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomass hydrothermal liquefaction methods face challenges in achieving uniform heating of biomass to the required high temperature, leading to inefficiencies and prolonged processing times due to reliance on heat conduction from reactor walls, which can result in suboptimal temperature distribution and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing microwave radiation to heat biomass within the reactor, with controlled frequency and polarized wave technology, combined with a heat exchanger and pressure system to achieve uniform heating and precise temperature control, allowing for efficient liquefaction under high pressure and temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If biomass is heated via heat conduction through reactor walls, then the reactor structure is simple, but the heating uniformity and speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical heat conduction system (heating through reactor walls) with an electromagnetic field system (microwave radiation). Microwave generators emit electromagnetic waves that directly penetrate and heat the biomass throughout its volume, achieving uniform and rapid heating without relying on thermal conduction through reactor walls. This substitution resolves the contradiction by sacrificing some structural simplicity for dramatically improved heating performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes microwave radiation (electromagnetic vibration) to directly agitate and heat the biomass molecules throughout the material volume. The electromagnetic waves at frequencies of 900 MHz to 4 GHz cause molecular rotation and friction, generating heat internally throughout the biomass rather than from the outer walls inward, thus achieving uniform and fast heating.
2Temperature
If high temperature is applied to reactor walls, then heating capability is improved, but water vapour generation and local gasification increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wall-based thermal conduction heating with volumetric microwave heating. Instead of heating the reactor walls to high temperatures and relying on slow conduction, microwave generators directly irradiate the biomass, heating it uniformly throughout its volume at the required temperature range (374-400°C) without excessively heating the reactor walls, thereby preventing water vapour generation and gasification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies heating locally and directly to the biomass material itself rather than to the reactor walls. Microwave radiators are positioned to deliver energy directly to the biomass, creating localized heating zones within the material volume where temperature is precisely controlled at 374-400°C, avoiding the need to heat the entire reactor wall structure to high temperatures.
3Temperature
If low temperature is applied to biomass inside reactor, then wall temperature control is easier, but liquefying efficiency decreases and biocoal volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect wall-based heating with direct microwave irradiation of the biomass. This allows the biomass to be heated to the optimal liquefaction temperature range (374-400°C) uniformly throughout its volume, maximizing liquefying efficiency and minimizing biocoal production, while the reactor walls themselves do not need to be heated to excessively high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The biomass serves as its own heating target and medium. Microwave radiation directly interacts with the biomass molecules, causing them to generate heat internally through molecular friction and rotation. The biomass heats itself uniformly throughout its volume without relying on external wall conduction, achieving optimal liquefaction conditions efficiently.
4Device complexity
If conventional heating methods are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal conduction heating equipment with microwave generation and radiation equipment. Microwave generators emitting at 900 MHz to 4 GHz frequencies directly irradiate the biomass, heating it rapidly and uniformly throughout its volume in minutes rather than hours, dramatically reducing processing time despite adding electromagnetic field generation capability to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes periodic electromagnetic wave radiation from microwave generators to heat the biomass. The oscillating electromagnetic fields at high frequencies (900 MHz to 4 GHz) continuously interact with the biomass molecules, delivering energy in rapid cycles that achieve uniform heating throughout the material volume in a matter of minutes, vastly accelerating the process compared to conventional methods.
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 enables rapid and uniform heating of biomass, optimizing the liquefaction process by maintaining precise temperature and pressure conditions, thereby accelerating the process and enhancing efficiency, and producing high-calorific biooil and biocoal products.
Implementation Method 1
the preheated biomass is reheated in the reactor using microwave radiation emitted by generators with a frequency from 900 MHz to 4 GHz
Implementation Method 2
introducing into the biomass a material susceptible to the absorption of electro-magnetic radiation to form a radiation absorbent biomass. The radiation absorbent biomass is subjected to electro-magnetic radiation to form an activated biomass.
Implementation Method 3
the biomass supplied from the tank is pressurized in pumps to a pressure from 220 atm. to 250 atm., after which it is preliminarily heated in a heat exchanger to a temperature of at least 374 - 400°C by the thermal energy of the reactor products
Implementation Method 4
The pumps are configured to pressurize the biomass to a pressure from 220 atm. to 250 atm.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass, wherein the biomass supplied by pumps from a tank is provided to a reactor, in which the biomass is heated to obtain reactor products in the form of volatile, liquid and solid fractions, which are separated in a separator. The biomass (200) supplied from the tank (110) is pressurized in pumps (120) to a pressure from 220 atm. to 250 atm., after which it is preliminarily heated in a heat exchanger (130) to a temperature of at least 374 - 400?C by the thermal energy of the reactor (140) products and next the preheated biomass is reheated in the reactor (140) using microwave radiation emitted by generators (150) with a frequency from 900 MHz to 4 GHz through radiators (143) of polarised waves, wherein the radiation directions are perpendicular with respect to the directions of the neighbouring radiators (143A,143B), and the width (a) of the radiator slot is smaller than half of the radiation wavelength (?) emitted from the generators (150), and wherein the reflections of electromagnetic wave supplied to the radiators (143) are measured using reflectometers (151) placed between the radiators (143) and the generators (150), and wherein the temperature of the biomass inside the reactor (140) is measured using temperature sensors (141) and a controller (152), and wherein based on the measurements of the temperature sensors (141) and reflectometers (151), the power of radiation generated by the generators (150) is adjusted to retain the biomass inside the reactor at the temperature of 374?C to 400?C.