Biomass Densification for Minimal Drying Energy and Optimised Pellet Quality

该项目将开发一种新的整体生物质造粒工艺，旨在最大限度地减少干燥能量并提高颗粒质量。该系统将包括一个基于太阳能干燥窑等新技术的低碳干燥系统，并结合热回收选项。其目的将是开发亚热带环境，以最大限度地减少干燥所需的能源消耗。将研究将烘烤和造粒与更高水分含量的生物质结合到一个系统中的可能性，以减少干燥和运输要求。此外，还将探索在干燥过程中使用烘干的气态副产品的可能性。将全面确定生物质资源的特征，并在开发整个系统之前调查这一过程每个阶段可用的备选方案。该项目将涉及与工业赞助商进行安置，以了解造粒过程、生产生物质颗粒的环境以及全面运营所涉及的挑战。通过使用生命周期分析(LCA)对系统选项进行评估，可以确定最佳的低能耗流程，并将其与现有系统进行比较。在与工业合作伙伴的合作下，目标将是在项目期间在全尺寸系统上实施新型干燥系统。

This project will develop a novel holistic biomass pelleting process, which will aim to minimise drying energy and improve pellet quality. The system will include a low carbon drying system based around novel technologies, such as solar drying kilns, combined with heat recovery options. The aim will be to exploit the sub-tropical environment to minimise energy consumption for drying. The potential to incorporate torrefaction and pelleting into one system in conjunction with higher moisture contents biomasses will be investigated to reduce drying and transport requirements. Additionally, the potential to use the gaseous co-product of torrefaction in the drying process will be explored. Full characterisation of biomass resources will be conducted, and the options available at each stage of the process will be investigated prior to the development of the full system. The project will involve placements with the industrial sponsor to understand the pelleting process, the environment in which biomass pellets are produced, and the challenges involved in full-scale operations. By assessing the system options with Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), the optimal low energy process can be identified and compared to existing systems. In collaboration with the industrial partner, the objective will be to implement the novel drying system on a full-scale system during the project.