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Modeling of Wheat Straw Torrefaction as a Preliminary Tool for Process Design

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Abstract

Torrefaction is considered as a kind of mild pyrolysis that is carried out under inert atmosphere (usually nitrogen) conditions. During this process, the moisture of the initial fuel and a portion of its volatiles are removed from the biomass particles towards the inert atmosphere. The resulted torrefied solid biomass has high energy density, durability and less hydrophilic character. The most beneficial result of torrefaction process is that biomass feedstock logistics cost can be reduced, as less tones of biomass are required for a given amount of energy input. The development of a process model examining basic parameters as reaction temperature and residence time can provide useful information, which can be used for the more efficient design of a torrefaction reactor. This study presents such a process model for a straw torrefaction pilot plant. This model is based on the thermodynamic calculation of a single and/or a two batch reactor, built on the commercial software ASPEN Plus. The calculation of required flow rates of inert gas, cooling medium for a specific biomass feedstock value, is based on relevant results found in literature.

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Abbreviations

Cp :

Heat capacity coefficient (J/kg K)

E:

Activation energy (J/mol K)

M:

Mass yield (kg)

K:

Kinetic rate (1/s)

t:

Time (s)

theat :

Heating time required for achievement of torrefaction temperature (s)

t*:

Critical time at which the second stage of torrefaction begins and dominates over the first one (s)

T:

Temperature (K or °C)

W:

Solid residual mass at each time step (kg)

λ:

Thermal conductivity (W/m K)

ρ:

Density (kg/m3)

CV:

Calorific value (MJ/kg)

ER:

Energy recovery (-)

HHV:

High heating value (MJ/kg)

LHV:

Low heating value (MJ/kg)

0:

Initial properties of biomass at t = 0 s

A:

Biomass properties during the first stage of torrefaction

B:

The intermediate reaction solid product properties

C:

The final torrefied biomass properties

V1:

Properties of volatiles as produced during the first phase

V2:

Properties of volatiles as produced during the second phase

raw:

Raw materials properties

tor:

Torrefaction material properties

1:

Stage 1

2:

Stage 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CERTH/CPERI), Athens, Greece

    N. Nikolopoulos, K. Atsonios, D. Kourkoumpas, A. Nikolopoulos, P. Grammelis & Em. Kakaras

  2. Tambov State Technical University, Tambov, Russia

    R. Isemin, S. Kuzmin & A. Mikhalev

  3. Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    K. Atsonios, A. Nikolopoulos & Em. Kakaras

  4. ARKAT Building, 357-359 Mesogeion Ave., Halandri, Athens, Greece

    N. Nikolopoulos

  5. Clean Energy Ltd., 4th km Ptolemais-Mpodosakeiou, Ptolemais, Greece

    M. Agraniotis

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  1. N. Nikolopoulos
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  2. R. Isemin
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  3. K. Atsonios
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  4. D. Kourkoumpas
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  5. S. Kuzmin
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  6. A. Mikhalev
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  7. A. Nikolopoulos
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  9. P. Grammelis
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  10. Em. Kakaras
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Correspondence to N. Nikolopoulos.

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Nikolopoulos, N., Isemin, R., Atsonios, K. et al. Modeling of Wheat Straw Torrefaction as a Preliminary Tool for Process Design. Waste Biomass Valor 4, 409–420 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-013-9198-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-013-9198-y

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