Upgrading woody biomass to biocoal using a novel microwave induced plasma technology

利物浦约翰摩尔大学(LJMU)正在支持Stopford Projects Ltd.，研究一种利用木球生产生物煤的新系统。这种生物煤是在一种被称为燃烧的过程中形成的，通过在低氧环境中加热来去除木材中的水和低能量挥发物。这是在封闭的反应堆中实现的。热量是由一种气体提供的，这种气体被微波提供能量，将其转化为等离子体。该系统将基于LJMU一直在开发的微波诱导等离子体炬技术。LJMU在这个项目中的主要目标是研究不同等离子体气体的使用，以使燃烧系统尽可能经济，这可能需要对当前技术进行改进。他们还将评估产生的等离子体的性质和反应堆内达到的温度，以最大限度地提高其与木质颗粒的相互作用。作为连续工业过程的一部分，还将调查等离子体的长期性能。

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is supporting Stopford Projects Ltd. by researching a novel system for the production of biocoal from wood pellets. The biocoal is formed in a process known as torrefaction by removing water and low energy volatiles from the wood by heating in a low oxygen environment. This is achieved in a closed reactor. The heat is provided by a gas which has been energised by microwaves to convert it to plasma. The system will be based on microwave induced plasma torch technology, which LJMU have been developing. LJMU's primary objective in this project will be to investigate the use of different plasma gases to make the torrefaction system as economical as possible, and this may require refinements to the current technology. They will also assess the properties of the plasma produced and the temperatures achieved inside the reactor to maximise its interaction with the wood pellets. The long-term performance of the plasma as part of a continuous industrial process will also be investigated.