Vegetable Substance Drying Apparatus for Biomass Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for converting vegetable substances and biologic wastes into biomass for energy production are inefficient, leading to poor valorization of renewable energy sources and high environmental impact, particularly due to low efficiency in biogas combustion and energy production from wet fractions of organic waste.
Innovation Solution
A treating apparatus and method that includes a pre-treatment unit for mechanical pressing and grinding, followed by a treatment unit with motion means and hot air insufflation to exsiccate vegetable substances, potentially enhanced with microwave treatment, to convert these substances into high-efficiency biomass for electric and thermal energy production, utilizing the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and ensuring a null CO2 balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If biogas combustion is used to produce energy from wet fractions of organic waste, then renewable energy production is achieved, but the efficiency is low and environmental impact is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a pre-treatment unit that mechanically presses and grinds vegetable substances before the main treatment process. This preliminary mechanical processing removes excess water and prepares the material for more efficient subsequent thermal treatment, thereby improving overall energy efficiency and reducing harmful emissions from incomplete combustion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the vegetable substances through a multi-stage process: mechanical pressing changes moisture content, thermal treatment changes temperature and chemical composition, and microwave treatment changes internal energy distribution. These parameter transformations convert low-quality wet waste into high-quality dried biomass with improved combustion characteristics and reduced environmental impact
2Productivity
If vegetable substances are converted into biomass for energy production, then renewable energy sources are valorized, but the current conversion efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple treatment methods into a single integrated system: mechanical pressing, thermal treatment with hot air insufflation, and microwave treatment. This combination of different treatment approaches working in sequence achieves superior biomass conversion efficiency that none of the individual methods could achieve alone, maximizing energy valorization while minimizing losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional purely mechanical or purely thermal treatment systems with a hybrid system that incorporates microwave treatment. The microwave energy field substitutes for and enhances traditional thermal processing, providing more uniform and efficient heating that dramatically improves biomass production efficiency and energy conversion rates
3Ease of operation
If wet fractions of organic waste are used directly for energy production, then waste management is simplified, but the energy production efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the waste treatment process into distinct functional units: a pre-treatment unit for mechanical pressing and grinding, a treatment unit for thermal processing with hot air insufflation, and an optional microwave treatment stage. This segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function optimally, transforming difficult-to-manage wet waste into efficient energy-producing biomass while maintaining operational simplicity through modular design
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 solution effectively valorizes residual energy from vegetable substances, reduces waste volume, improves waste management, and produces biomass for renewable energy production without climate-changing emissions, promoting environmental protection and efficient energy generation.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-treatment unit provided with pressing and/or grinding means for removing beforehand a water content percentage and for dividing them into fragments
Implementation Method 2
a treatment unit in which the vegetable substance fragments are put in motion to eliminate an additional water content percentage
Implementation Method 3
means for insufflating hot air into said containment unit to exsiccate the vegetable substances
Implementation Method 4
to exsiccate the vegetable substances
Implementation Method 5
potentially enhanced with microwave treatment
Implementation Method 6
produces biomass for renewable energy production without climate-changing emissions, promoting environmental protection and efficient energy generation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a treating apparatus for vegetable substances and/or substances of biologic origin and/or substances from the biologic fraction of industrial and municipal wastes, for the conversion of such substances into biomass to be used for producing electric and thermal energy from renewable sources, comprising: a containment unit (201, 301) adapted to contain the substance to be treated, exsiccation means (205, 305) adapted to insufflate hot air into the containment unit (201) in order to exsiccate said substance, and motion means (202, 302) adapted to put in motion the substance inside the containment unit (201, 301) during the exsiccation; the apparatus further comprises a pre-treatment unit (102) comprising mechanical pressing and/or grinding means configured to remove part of the water content of the substance before the substance is inserted into the containment unit (201, 301). The present invention further relates to a related treating method of vegetable substances and/or substances of biologic origin and/or substances from the biologic fraction of industrial and municipal wastes, for the conversion of such substances into biomass to be used for producing electric and thermal energy from renewable sources.