Material flow, characterization, sorting, compaction

Unit of Biomass Technology and Chemistry, SLU Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform

Sylvia Larsson

Who are we?

• Torbjörn Lestander, Assoc Prof • NIR spectroscopy and multivariate modelling

• Sylvia Larsson, Asst Prof • Compaction and physical characterization of biomass

• Mikael Thyrel, PhD student • XRF characterization of ash compounds in biomass

• Magnus Rudolfsson, PhD student • Densification and characterization of thermally treated biomass

Facilities

Pilot scale research at the Biofuel Technology Centre

• 10 kg to 10 tons • Chipping/shredding (10-50 mm) • Moisture control (+/- 0.5%) • Milling (1-10 mm) • Fractioning/sieving for specific

particle size distributions • Briquetting and pelletizing

Biomass laboratory – chemical and mechanical/physical characterization Chemical • Moisture content • Ash content • Extractive content

Physical/mechanical • Sieve analysis • Flowability, frictional

properties • NEW! – Dynamic vapor

sorption

Spectroscopy • NIR • XRF

Material/sample preparation • Particle size • Particle size distribution • Single pellet production

Research examples

Biomass pelletizing Larsson, S.H., Samuelsson, R., Thyrel, M., Lestander, T.A., Storage effects on

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sawdust and influence of moisture and extractive contents on kinematic wall friction of pine powder. (submitted).

Samuelsson, R., Larsson, S.H., Thyrel, M., Lestander, T.A., Moisture content and storage time influence the binding mechanisms in biofuel pellets. (submitted).

Larsson, S.H., Thyrel, M., Geladi, P. & Lestander, T.A. 2008. High quality biofuel pellet production from pre-compacted low density raw materials. Bioresource Technology 99 (15), 7176-7182.

Larsson, S.H., Rudolfsson, M., Thyrel, M., Örberg, H., Kalén, G., Wallin, M., Lestander, T.A., Temperature controlled feed layer formation in biofuel pellet production. (accepted).

Larsson, S.H., Rudolfsson, M. Temperature control in energy grass pellet production - effects on process stability and pellet quality. (submitted).

Larsson, S.H., Segerström, M. Die temperature control in pilot scale softwood pelletizing - effects on pellet quality and energy consumption. (manuscript).

Larsson, S.H., Rudolfsson, M., (N.N), Samuelsson, R., Effects of moisture content, torrefaction temperature, and die temperature in pilot scale pelletizing of torrefied Norway spruce. (manuscript).

TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN PILOT SCALE PELLETIZING

Introduction of a new process parameter to overcome process instability

Biofuel Technology

Centre, Sweden

Biomass particle design

Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling

Technology, United Kingdom

Biomass handling and design of

equipment University of Salerno, Italy

Storage & flow characterization

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Risks of fires and explosions

Bio4Flow Star Cluster Awardees Awarded Star Cluster

BIO4FLOW PILOT STUDY

• Saw mill chips (wide size distribution) • Wood powder (hammer milled 4 mm) • Reed canary grass (shredded 30 mm) • Particle characterization (size and shape) • Storage & flow characterization • Pilot scale tests in silos, feeders and conveyor systems • Fire and explosion risk determination

Mechanical and optical fractioning

• Preparation of well-defined wood tissues • Chipping in commercial chipper • Approximately 300 L of each

IDENTIFYING AND SEPARATING WOOD CHIPS WITH ELEVATED LEVELS OF HIGH-VALUE EXTRACTIVES

• Separation of wood tissues

Materials are shared with the Biochemical Platform (L.Jönsson)

• Spatial distribution of extractives in wood chips

NIR analysis of wood chips

Our role in Bio4Energy

ThermochemicalPlatform

BiochemicalPlatform

FeedstockPlatform

EnvironmentalPlatform

Cat

alys

is a

nd s

epar

atio

nP

latfo

rm

Pro

cess

Inte

grat

ion

Pla

tform

Pre

-trea

tmen

t and

Frac

tiona

tion

Pla

tform

Biofuels,”Green” Power,District Heating,

Green Chemicals,

Pulp and Paper

Forestry products,

Agriculture by-products,

WasteFractions

• Contact: Sylvia Larsson sylvia.larsson@slu.se Torbjörn Lestander torbjorn.lestander@slu.se