Abstract:
An automated system and method are provided for conveying plant material bales. The system and method retrieves stacked bales from a storage site and places the bales on a conveyor assembly line, wherein the bales are indexed, accumulated, and metered for discharge into a bale shredder. Once the bales are on the conveyor assembly, the bales are automatically moved and arranged without manual intervention.
Abstract:
Provided is a power generation system in which the combustion heat of hydrocarbon gas is used to heat the steam for power generation; at the same time, the exhaust heat thereof is used to dry and dry-distill low rank coal. Due to the use of a moving bed dry distillation furnace, it is possible to keep the product gas temperature reduced; further, fewer restrictions are imposed on materials such as those for gas pipes, etc., and it is possible to achieve excellent maintainability. Further, due to low-temperature dry distillation, the product gas temperature is low, and it is possible to solve problems due to a tar component; further, fixed carbon is produced by utilizing the exhaust heat of the combustion step and of the power generation step, so that the system is excellent in energy-saving efficiency and resource-saving efficiency, making it possible to utilize low rank coal, which is of high moisture content and difficult to use in places other than the point of origin, in places other than the coal-producing region. The power generation system includes: a dry distillation step for dry-distilling low rank coal of high moisture content; a cooling step for cooling the fixed carbon obtained in the dry distillation step; a combustion step in which hydrocarbon gas obtained in the dry distillation step is used as the main fuel; and a power generation step in which there are provided a power generator moving a steam turbine by main steam generated in the combustion step and a condenser.
Abstract:
A method and system for processing biomass material from harvest to pelletizing includes a continuous shredding stage and grinding stage to reduce the size of the material. A fan pulls air through the shredder and the grinder to assist the movement of the biomass material through the shredder and the grinder. Due to the light weight of the biomass material, the material is transported between the shredding and grinding stages mechanically and pneumatically by a combination auger with air assist. The biomass material may include agricultural residues, such as corn stover. The process and equipment eliminates or minimizes damage to the carbohydrates in the biomass so as to maintain pre-grinding cellulose and hemi-cellulose levels.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a nozzle bottom device and to a method for operating the latter. The nozzle bottom arrangement has a nozzle group with first nozzles and a further nozzle group with second nozzles. The two nozzle groups can be supplied independently of each other with a fluidizing medium. The respective volumetric flow can be switched on and off or can be adjusted variably. The first nozzles and the second nozzles are uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the nozzle bottom arrangement. As a result, a homogeneous fluidized bed is produced in the fluidized bed dryer irrespective of whether only one of the nozzle groups or all of the nozzles is or are operated.
Abstract:
A water-containing solid fuel drying apparatus that can efficiently dry with low energy consumption by effectively utilizing sensible heat and latent heat of a heating medium for drying, etc. is provided. A drying apparatus (10) that dries water-containing solid fuel includes a dryer (20) that injects scavenging gas into the interior of a drying vessel (21) in which a heat transfer pipe (22) is disposed; a dust collector (13) that removes microparticles from microparticle-containing mixed gaseous fluid that has flowed out of the drying vessel (21); a compressor (30) that compresses vapor-containing mixed gaseous fluid; a vapor heat exchanger (31) that preheats low-pressure mixed gaseous fluid with high-pressure mixed gaseous fluid compressed at the compressor (30); and a gas-liquid separator (14), in which the high-pressure mixed gaseous fluid is employed as drying gas that radiates heat by passing through the heat transfer pipe (22), that performs gas-liquid separation of water-containing scavenging gas that has flowed out of the heat transfer pipe (22) while containing condensed water of vapor generated due to heat radiation, wherein the water-containing solid fuel is dried by heating the water-containing solid fuel in the drying vessel (21) utilizing latent heat and sensible heat of the mixed gaseous fluid.
Abstract:
Apparatus for biomass torrefaction which includes a serpentine elongated housing, the housing having three generally U-shaped axial portions having first and second axial extremities and an intermediate section, the first and second axial extremities are disposed in normal use at a higher elevation than the first and second axial extremities, the intermediate section being configured for holding a liquid. Other forms of the invention include the method for biomass torrefaction which includes providing a quantity of biomass, providing a liquid heat transfer fluid, providing at least a first housing for holding the heat transfer liquid, elevating the temperature of the liquid heat transfer liquid, heat treating the biomass by passing it through the heat transfer liquid in the first housing at a temperature and duration sufficient to accomplish torrefaction of the wood. In some forms of the method, the process further includes the step of pelletizing the biomass prior to performing the treating step.
Abstract:
An automated system and method are provided for conveying plant material bales. The system and method retrieves stacked bales from a storage site and places the bales on a conveyor assembly line, wherein the bales are indexed, accumulated, and metered for discharge into a bale shredder. Once the bales are on the conveyor assembly, the bales are automatically moved and arranged without manual intervention.
Abstract:
The present invention harvests and utilizes fluidized bed drying technology and waste heat streams augmented by other available heat sources to dry feedstock or fuel. This method is useful in many industries, including coal-fired power plants. Coal is dried using the present invention before it goes to coal pulverizers and on to the furnace/boiler arrangement to improve boiler efficiency and reduce emissions. This is all completed in a low-temperature, open-air system. Also included is an apparatus for segregating particulate by density and/or size including a fluidizing bed having a particulate receiving inlet for receiving particulate to be fluidized. This is useful for segregating contaminants like sulfur and mercury from the product stream.
Abstract:
A solid biomass-to-energy combustion method includes introducing an oxygen containing gas into a combustion chamber of a suspension furnace to form a flow of gas through the combustion chamber; injecting a particulate solid biomass fuel into the combustion chamber through a port in the furnace wall and into the gas flow, and combusting the particulate solid biomass fuel in the gas flow to form a flame in the gas flow.