Physical property measurement of slags for biomass processes

在低碳经济中，生物质是一种极具吸引力的绿色能源替代品。炉渣是这种工艺的副产品。我们的目标是确定这些炉渣的成分，使这项技术能够产生零废物。因此，修改产品渣的组成，使其能够容易地从反应堆中去除，并将其转化为可销售的产品(例如，路基或混凝土添加剂)。因此，生物质加工工业合作伙伴Enerkem产生的不同矿渣和衍生产品的粘度、表面张力和密度必须作为组成和温度的函数来确定。有许多方法可以测量这些特性中的每一个。然而，只有两种方法可以从一次实验中提供这样的测量：空气动力悬浮法(ADL)和放电坩埚法(DC)。前者是由德国航空航天中心(科隆，DLR)开发的，后者是由阿尔伯塔大学开发的。由于后者尚未在高温和炉渣上使用，因此建议在本研究中将这两种方法与Brookfield粘度计进行比较。在此之后，将使用DC和Brookfield方法对不同成分和温度的工业炉渣进行一系列测量。因此，DC方法的能力将得到极大的扩展和验证。此外，Enerkem还将能够探索不同的炉渣化学对其工艺效率的影响，以及可以作为双产品生产的炉渣的性质。该项目的成功将促进加拿大生物质的新技术，从而减少加拿大的碳足迹。对于大学来说，DC将成为一种在广泛的温度和材料范围内进行性能评估的经过验证的、高效的和独特的方法。两名研究生将在这个CR&D项目下接受培训。

Biomass is an upcoming attractive green energy alternative in a low carbon economy. Slags are a by-product of such processes. We aim to identify the composition of these slags that enable this technology to generate zero waste. Thus, modifying the composition of the product slags in order to enable them to be easily removed from the reactor and turn them into saleable products (e.g. road beds or concrete additive). Thus, the viscosity, surface tension, and density, of different slags and derivatives generated by Enerkem, a biomass processing industrial partner, must be determined as a function of composition and temperature. There are numerous methods for measuring each of these properties. However, only two methods can provide such measurements from a single experiment: the Aerodynamic Levitation method (ADL) and the Discharge Crucible method (DC). The former was developed by the German Aerospace Center (Cologne, DLR) and the latter at the University of Alberta. Since the latter has not yet been used at high temperatures and on slags, it is proposed that a comparison of the two methods along with the Brookfield viscometer be carried out in this study. Following this, a series of measurements will be made using the DC and Brookfield methods on industrial slags with varying composition and temperatures. Thus, the capabilities of the DC method will be greatly expanded and validated. Also Enerkem will be able to explore the effect of varying slag chemistry on the efficiency of its process and the nature of slag feasible to generate as a bi-product.The success of this project will enhance new Canadian technology in biomass resulting in reducing Canada's carbon footprint. For the University, the DC will become a proven, efficient and unique method for property evaluation over a wide range of temperatures and materials. Two graduate students will be trained under this CR&D project.