I-Corps: Commercialization of an Engineered Pyrolysis Blanket for the Economic Conversion of Forestry Residues to Soil Amendments and Energy Products

I-Corps：工程热解毯的商业化，用于将林业残留物经济转化为土壤改良剂和能源产品

• 批准号: 1158809
• 负责人: Daniel Schwartz
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-10-01 至 2013-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1158809&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Commercialization; Engineered; Pyrolysis; Blanket

In-forest biomass processing is being broadly promoted to address the costs associated with transporting low-value biomass to central facilities. However, current approaches for scaling-down conventional process technologies are unlikely to result in sufficiently low costs for accessing most woody debris resources. Previous research led to the development of a low capital cost, engineered blanket pyrolysis system that is used to convert forest residue into carbonaceous biochar through temperature-controlled slow pyrolysis. The technology is simple enough to be operated by existing fire-crews, keeping operating costs low. The team has demonstrated this approach for biochar production from as much as 500 lbs of wood. Preliminary studies are consistent with prior literature, showing that biochar can serve as a high value soil amendment or greener alternative to coal. The team has secured an initial supply of woody debris and has initiated discussions with potential customers. The team will use the funds to commercialize this technology to address the major ecological and societal challenges posed by slash, while reducing the cost to landowners. The current plan for the commercialization of this technology involves two strategies 1) the direct service of slash removal and 2) bringing biochar to the market as a soil amendment and landscaping material. Understanding scale-dependent processes in the new technology, and showing its applicability at a scale relevant to forestry operations, will significantly advance the engineering science and commercial potential of this NSF-funded research.

正在广泛推广森林内生物质加工，以解决将低价值生物质运输到中央设施的相关费用。然而，目前缩小传统加工技术规模的方法不可能使获取大多数木质残体资源的成本足够低。以前的研究导致了低资本成本的开发，工程毯热解系统，用于通过温度控制的缓慢热解将森林残留物转化为含碳生物炭。这项技术很简单，现有的消防队员就可以操作，运营成本很低。该团队已经证明了这种方法可以从多达500磅的木材中生产生物炭。初步研究与先前的文献一致，表明生物炭可以作为一种高价值的土壤改良剂或煤炭的绿色替代品。 该小组已获得初步的木质残体供应，并已开始与潜在客户进行讨论。该团队将利用这笔资金将这项技术商业化，以解决slash带来的主要生态和社会挑战，同时降低土地所有者的成本。目前这项技术的商业化计划包括两个战略：1）直接服务于砍伐和2）将生物炭作为土壤改良剂和景观材料推向市场。了解新技术中的规模依赖性过程，并展示其在林业运营相关规模上的适用性，将显着推进这项由国家科学基金会资助的研究的工程科学和商业潜力。