PROCESS FOR BIOMASS TORREFACTION

• Main Authors: Sethi, Vijay, Camper, Clinton B, Isaak, Jerrod B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.06.2017
• Subjects: ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE ORUNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; CHEMISTRY; DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONAGEOUS MATERIALS FORPRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS; FIRELIGHTERS; FUELS; FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; LUBRICANTS; METALLURGY; NATURAL GAS; PEAT; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE

A process for torrefaction of biomass is provided in which biomass and fluidizing gas are added to a fluidized bed reactor, wherein the fluidizing gas comprises a gas from the fluidize bed reactor and air, wherein the gas leaving the fluidize bed reactor has an oxygen content of less than 8 volume percent, wherein an oxygen content of the fluidizing gas is between 10 volume percent and 14 volume percent, and wherein the oxygen content of the fluidizing gas is adjusted with the air; wherein said biomass is heated by increasing the temperature of said fluidized bed reactor; wherein said biomass is maintained within said fluidized bed reactor for a predetermined time, wherein water is removed from set biomass; wherein volatile organic compounds associated with said biomass are vaporized; wherein the biomass is combusted with the oxygen in the fluidized gas added to said reactor and said biomass is torrefied; wherein said volatile organic compounds are combusted to help maintain the temperature of said fluidized bed reactor; and wherein the torrefied biomass is formed into pellets at a temperature of 90 °C to 200 °C.