introduction to biochar

8/9/2019 Introduction to Biochar

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Introduction to Biochar

Joe James

Founder & PresidentAgri-Tech Producers


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Agri-Tech Producers, LLCAgri-Tech Producers, LLC

TorrefactionTorrefaction: A Technology to: A Technology to

DensifyDensify& Enhance Biomass& Enhance Biomass

Untreated biomass may be 50% water, itsbulky and its not the most efficient or useablefuel or bio-feedstock. Torrefaction:

Drives off the water and reduces the bulk

Makes a better co-fire fuel to burn with coal

Makes superior briquettes and pellets

Makes Biochar

Torrefaction, applied at or near the point ofharvest:

Reduces transportation costs of biomass, per BTU

Produces a more valuable biomass shipment


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TorrefactionTorrefaction: Adding Value and: Adding Value and

Reducing Transportation Cost/BTUReducing Transportation Cost/BTU

Untreated Biomass:

Bulky

Moist Fibrous

Perishable

Waste

Expensive totransport

Torrefied Biomass::

Dense, If Pelletized, Etc.

Dry & Water Resistant

Easily Crushed

Does Not Rot

Valuable Fuel

Energy Dense


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The Process ofThe Process ofTorrefactionTorrefaction

Heating wood, in a low-oxygen environment, liberates water,volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hemicellulose (HC)from the cellulose and lignin.

The VOCs and HC are combusted to generate 80% of thetorrefaction process heat.

Torrefied wood can easily join or replace coal in combustion orbe a feedstock for further pyrolysis or gasification for combinedheat and power or Fischer-Tropsch liquids.

The remaining and warm lignin acts as an effective binder, whenthe torrefied wood is compressed.


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Schematic ofSchematic ofTorrefactionTorrefaction MachineMachine


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Chemistry ofChemistry ofTorrefactionTorrefaction

At torrefaction temperatures, hemicellulose is theprimary wood polymer that is degraded into:

Permanent gases include H2, CH4, aromatics, CO, CO2,CxHy

Condensable liquids include acids, ketones, furans,alcohols, terpenes, phenols, waxes, tanins, water Solids include char, new and existing sugar structures

and new polymers and ash.

All of the wood polymers undergo dehydration reactionsthat destroy OH groups that are responsible forhydrogen bonding with water: this severely reduces thetendency of densified torrefied wood to absorb water.


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Mass and Energy Balance ofMass and Energy Balance ofTorrefactionTorrefaction

Published results indicate mass and energy balance of .8 and.9 respectively (for dry wood).

This is consistent with the loss of the lower energy VOC andhemicellulose and retention of higher energy lignin andcellulose.

Assuming 50% MC wood, HHV of 8700 Btu/lb for dry wood, 1000 Btu/lb latent heat of water, .4 Btu specific heat for wood and 1 Btu specific heat for water, Starting temperature of 75 F and exit temperatures of 500 F.

~800 Btu used in processing, this energy is approximatelyequal to that of the VOCs and hemicellulose.

~3575 Btu left in remaining torrefied product, which weighs~.33 lbs, for a HHV of 10,800 Btu/lb.


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TorrefiedTorrefied Wood: A Coal SubstituteWood: A Coal Substitute

Torrefied wood is a much better fuel for co-firing withcoal than untreated wood.

Torrefied wood can be ground to a particle size, similar

to that of pulverized coal, with the same or less energyuse.

Untreated wood requires many times the energy use, ingrinding (by a factor of 7.5 to 15), to achieve a similar

particle size.


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BiocharBiochar OpportunitiesOpportunities The living parts of trees, the leaves and bark, have a

much higher concentration of minerals, than does thewood from the trunk of trees.

In addition, this material tends to turn into a fine

powder, when torrefied, and can be screened away fromthe torrefied wood chips.

This may permit this fine material to be used as biochar.

Agri-Tech is interested in working with farmers, forestlandowners, researchers, etc. to fully explore thepotential of such biochar.


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ATPATPss Partner:Partner: KustersKusters Zima CorporationZima Corporation

101 Zima Park Drive / I-85 BusinessSpartanburg, S.C. 29301

Tel: (864) 576-0660

8.74 Acres (35,362 Sq. Meters)

Building Constructed in 1969

80,128 Total Manufacturing Sq. Ft.(7,444 Sq. Meters)

Kusters Zima has over 40 years

experience in engineering and

manufacturing machinery for

many various industries.

Complete Manufacturing

Water & Waste Water EquipmentGrit Removal & Washing

Course & Fine Screenings

Classifiers

CSO Screens

Dewatering

Carpet & Textile Equipment

Continuous Preparation

Dye Washers & Scour Ranges

Steamers

Liquid DispensingWater & Dry Lint Removal Systems

Contract Sales

Piece Parts & Components

Customer Specific Design & Build

Build to Print

Complete Metal Fabrication including

Welding, Cutting, Forming and Piping.

Machining Capabilities that includeCNC Turning and Vertical Milling

Centers.

Complete Mechanical and ElectricalEngineering with the latest SoftwareVersions of SolidWorks and AutoCad.

Complete Mechanical and ElectricalAssembly and F.A.T. for ProductionMachines and Prototypes.

Installation and Start-up Supervision.


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Contact InformationContact Information

Joe James, President

Agri-Tech Producers, LLC(803) 462-0153

[email protected]

www.agri-techproducers.com


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Questions?


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Recording will be available at:http://www.saferalliance.net

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