Porous Lignite Drying with Reduced-Pressure Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drying methods for lignite, such as hot-air drying and carbonization, often fail to sufficiently dry the central part of lignite, leading to inefficient power generation and the generation of combustion gases.
Innovation Solution
A reduced-pressure fermentation dryer is used to store lignite in an airtight container, heat and stir it under reduced pressure, and introduce microorganisms to evaporate water through fermentation heat, ensuring thorough drying of the lignite's central part without generating combustion gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hot-air drying is used to dry lignite, then the surface part of the lignite is dried, but the central part is not sufficiently dried
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional hot-air drying method with a reduced-pressure fermentation drying system. Instead of using external heat and air flow, the system uses fermentation microorganisms that generate heat internally within the lignite particles. This biological-chemical process substitutes the mechanical thermal field with a distributed biochemical field, enabling uniform heat generation throughout the lignite structure and achieving complete drying of the central part.
Solution Approach 2:
The fermentation microorganisms serve themselves by metabolizing organic matter within the lignite and generating fermentation heat internally. This self-generated heat directly evaporates water within the lignite particles without requiring external heating, creating a self-sustaining drying process that uniformly dries both surface and central parts of the lignite.
2Manufacturing precision
If carbonization apparatus is used for drying, then drying is achieved, but combustion gas is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in a reduced-pressure environment that prevents combustion by excluding oxygen. The fermentation process occurs in an anaerobic or low-oxygen condition, generating heat through biochemical metabolism rather than combustion. This inert-like environment eliminates the generation of combustion gases while maintaining effective drying through fermentation heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the combustion-based heating mechanism with a fermentation-based biochemical mechanism. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, the system uses microorganisms to metabolize organic matter and generate heat internally. This replacement eliminates combustion reactions and the associated harmful emissions while achieving the same drying effect.
3Productivity
If lignite with high water content is used for power generation, then power generation is possible, but efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary drying of lignite before power generation by removing excess water through fermentation drying. This pre-treatment reduces the water content in lignite to optimal levels, preparing the material for efficient combustion or gasification. By addressing the water content issue beforehand, the system enables subsequent high-efficiency power generation without the energy losses associated with drying wet lignite during the power generation process.
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 method achieves complete drying of lignite to its central part, enhancing its calorific value and enabling efficient hydrogen production with high gasification rates and purity, allowing for effective hydrogen extraction and storage.
Implementation Method 1
feed microorganisms into the airtight container so that the microorganisms enter pores of the porous material; and evaporate the water contained in the porous material by fermentation heat by the microorganisms so as to dry the porous material
Implementation Method 2
evaporate the water contained in the porous material by fermentation heat by the microorganisms
Implementation Method 3
heat and stir the porous material under reduced pressure so that a temperature of the porous material is within a predetermined temperature range
Implementation Method 4
heat and stir the porous material under reduced pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A drying apparatus of porous material includes a reduced-pressure fermentation dryer configured to: store porous material containing water in an airtight container; heat and stir the porous material under reduced pressure so that a temperature of the porous material is within a predetermined temperature range; feed microorganisms into the airtight container so that the microorganisms enter pores of the porous material; and evaporate the water contained in the porous material by fermentation heat by the microorganisms so as to dry the porous material.