Biobased Economy through Biomass Torrefaction

Lately a number of places in Indonesia has begun the production of wood pellets and wood chips as a renewable fuel. Biomass waste treatment has reduced the waste pollution and provide economic benefits. Since its application to energy the higher the energy content, the better it will be in addition to other properties. Through torrefaction of biomass will experience a thermal process that makes the content of volatiles is reduced, leaving the higher energy content / energy density (or energy content / unit mass is usually presented in kcal / kg) in the biomass solids.

Torrefaction of biomass which is then followed by compaction of pellets or briquettes will make the energy content per volume (one of which is expressed in units GJ/M3) the greater. And it will save on transportation costs. Torrefaction becomes an important concern lately because of the benefits torrefaction properties of these products, compared to wood pellets or wood chips. Appropriate technology that can be relied greatly needed for the commercialization process. JF BioCarbon have an effective technology for torrefaction, the more details please click here.

Many people noticed that the biomass torrefaction will soon find its golden ages at some future time. Indonesia and Malaysia in particular as a country rich in the amount of biomass it will be great potential for applying this technology. The palm oil industry is one of the potential with huge potential for implementation. A large number of oil mills and the high solid waste generated indicating the potential magnitude of the abundant raw materials. In terms of market is a matter that can not be denied that the energy needs will continue to increase directly proportional to the increase in human population. Biomass torrefaction is one way the most efficient utilization of biomass for energy. For further details, please click here.

Only With Continuous Pyrolysis, Charcoal Briquette Industry Will Get a Supply Of High Quality Raw Materials

Charcoal briquette plant with a large capacity can only be supplied charcoal produced from continuous pyrolysis technology. The quality of products are standard and stable as well as the quantity of large quantities can only be met when using continuous pyrolysis technology in the process of charcoal production. Charcoal of satisfactory market quality can be made in kilns of any size or type when suitable coaling temperature and time conditions are present. It is perhaps more difficult to produce charcoal of consistently high quality in uninsulated metal kilns because of rapid and large heat loss.

The growing popularity of charcoal briquette has spurred great interest recently because its benefit on specific fuel application. Some information on plant equipment, manufacturing detail and the practicability of briquette production with contionous pyrolysis system to provide a few items of special interest.

Equipment : The equipment required for briquette manufacture is highly specialized. Powered units are required for grinding and mixing dry and wet charcoal, wet forming the briquettes, moving material in the process, and continous drying. Production rates are 1 to 3.5 tons of briquettes per hour. The equipment for both capacities is basically the same, but somewhat larger and heavier machines are needed for 3.5 ton output. Standard equipment for a 1-ton-per-hour briquetting plant includes the following :

-Briquette press with paddle feeder

-Hammer mill

-Charcoal feeder with surge hopper

-Paddle mixer

-Vertical fluxer

-Starch feeder or pump

-Briquette drier

-Boiler, 30 horsepower - - 15 pounds per square inch gage pressure

-Conveyors

-Bagging machine

-Building, 60 feet by 120 feet, with 20 feet clear height.

The labor requirements per shift are eight men, including a foreman, a machine operator, a night-shift maintenance man, a bagger and three men for warehouse and miscellaneous jobs.

Plant processing :-In general , charcoal lump and fines as received or from plant storage are fed by screw conveyor to hammer mill or crusher for feed material of 1/8-inch and smaller screen size. The ground charcoal is moved mechanically or by air to a surge bin for metered flows to the mixer, metered amounts of about 5 percent of binder (potato, corn or cassava starch) with water are added. After agiataion in a paddle mixer, the mixture is run through the fluxer for more throrough working of the mass before it is transferred to the press feeder for regulated flow to the forming press.

From the press, the wet or green briquettes are moved by belt conveyor to a special device for uniform loading and continous passage through the drier. The conditions for the drying are usually a 3-to 4-hour period at a temperature of about 275 F. The processing steps are carried out as shown in figure below.

Because of the large daily charcoal requirements and the investment necessary for even the smallest commercial briquette operation, it is not practical for the smaller kiln operator to undertake such manufacture. Operating the smallest commercial plant at a production rate of about 10 tons of briquette per day would require at least 250 tons of charcoal monthly.  Briquetting plants usually operate on two or three shifts per day for most economical production.

 

Only charcoal plant with level of production above 10 tons/day adequate for charcoal briquette plants need.  JFE project can provide charcoal plant (continous pyrolysis technology)  to meet that needs include high specification (quality) of charcoal requirement if it’s needed.