The Feasibility of Using Microwave Induced Plasma Torrefaction for the Production of an Energy Dense, Carbon Neutral Fuel from Wood Pellets

使用微波诱导等离子烘焙从木屑颗粒生产能量密集、碳中性燃料的可行性

• 批准号: EP/L505894/1
• 负责人: Ahmed Al-Shamma'a
• 金额: $ 10.72万
• 依托单位: Liverpool John Moores University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2014 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FL505894%2F1
• 关键词: Feasibility; Using; Microwave; Induced; Plasma

There is a real need to de-carbonise energy production in the UK and elsewhere in order that Governments meet theirobligations set by the Kyoto Protocol and meet renewable energy generation targets. Using sustainable sources of wood asa fuel is one such method of reducing the CO2 emissions associated with energy production. However, wood has a highmoisture content, low energy density, has variable combustion properties and there are considerable costs incurredmodifying existing power plants for co-firing. As result the energy sector is looking increasingly to torrefaction to produce anenergy dense and renewable "bicoal" from wood. Torrefaction is low temperature heating of wood in the absence of oxygento produce a char-like fuel that, once pelletised, has properties similar to coal. However, the economics of existingtorrefaction technology has yet to be proven on an industrial scale and based upon prior pilot activity we believe thatmicrowave induced plasma torrefation (MPT) technology provide a more cost effective way to torrefy wood. The overallobjective of our project is to develop a prototype MPT demonstration reactor for cost effectively converting wood pellets tobiocoal.This study will bring together a unique project delivery consortium comprising of Stopford Projects Ltd (SPL) and LiverpoolJohn Moores University (LJMU). SPL is a multidisciplinary engineering design and project management consultancy withsignificant expertise in green technology and energy projects spanning research through to plant commissioning.This project will investigate the feasibility of using microwave plasma technology for torrefying pre-pelletised wood with theintention of improving fuel combustion efficiencies and reducing OPEX costs. It is the intention of the consortium todevelop, test and demonstrate an industrial lab-scale reactor as an output of the project as well as developing thetechnological and commercial route to market. Unlike currently available torrefaction technologies, the novel advantage ofthe described microwave plasma technology is that the process has a lower parasitic load, has significantly lower capitalcosts, has greater tolerance of mixed feed streams, is more durable, modular, and potentially mobile. As such thetechnology presents the sector with a more efficient and cost effective method of handling and transporting woody biomassthan conventional processes.The project will be conducted in nine Work packages:Work package 1: Feedstock Characterisation: (2 months)Work package 2: System specifications and boundary conditions (2 months)Work package 3: Microwave plasma torrefaction reactor design parameters (3 months)Work package 4: Design and build microwave plasma reactor (2.5 months)Work package 5: Experimentation and Optimisation (3 months).Work package 6: Process performance and analysis (2 months)Work package 7: Engagement with endusers (2 month)Work package 8: Regulatory Requirements (2 month)Work package 9: Process Scale-Up and Technology Exploitation (3 months)

在英国和其他地方，为了政府履行《京都议定书》规定的义务和实现可再生能源发电目标，确实需要使能源生产脱碳。使用可持续的木材作为燃料是减少与能源生产相关的二氧化碳排放的一种方法。然而，木材的含水率高，能量密度低，燃烧性能多变，而且改造现有的共烧发电厂需要相当大的成本。因此，能源部门正越来越多地寻求将木材转化为能源密度高、可再生的“双煤”。碳化是在没有氧气的情况下对木材进行低温加热，以产生一种类似木炭的燃料，这种燃料一旦制成颗粒，就具有与煤相似的特性。然而，现有碳化技术的经济效益尚未在工业规模上得到证实，根据之前的试点活动，我们认为微波诱导等离子体碳化（MPT）技术为木材的碳化提供了一种更经济有效的方法。我们项目的总体目标是开发一个原型MPT示范反应堆，以经济有效地将木屑颗粒转化为生物煤。这项研究将汇集一个由Stopford Projects Ltd （SPL）和LiverpoolJohn Moores University （LJMU）组成的独特的项目交付联盟。SPL是一家多学科工程设计和项目管理咨询公司，在绿色技术和能源项目方面拥有丰富的专业知识，从研究到工厂调试。该项目将研究使用微波等离子体技术对预颗粒化木材进行碳化的可行性，旨在提高燃料燃烧效率并降低运营成本。该财团的目的是开发、测试和示范一个工业实验室规模的反应堆，作为该项目的产出，并开发技术和商业路线进入市场。与目前可用的烘焙技术不同，所描述的微波等离子体技术的新优势在于该工艺具有更低的寄生负荷，显着降低资本成本，对混合饲料流具有更大的容忍度，更耐用，模块化和潜在的移动性。因此，该技术为该行业提供了一种比传统工艺更高效、更经济的处理和运输木质生物质的方法。该项目将分为九个工作包进行：工作包1：原料表征：（2个月）工作包2：系统规范和边界条件（2个月）工作包3：微波等离子体反应器设计参数（3个月）工作包4：设计和建造微波等离子体反应器（2.5个月）工作包5：实验和优化（3个月）。工作包6：过程性能和分析（2个月）工作包7：与最终用户接触（2个月）工作包8：法规要求（2个月）工作包9：过程放大和技术开发（3个月）