Roll press briquetting of coal-biomass mixtures presents a significant opportunity to address feedstock challenges associated with co-utilization of coal and biomass in existing coal-fired facilities. However, several technical and economic barriers require further investigation prior to industrial utilization of coal-biomass briquettes. The scientific contributions presented in this dissertation are intended to address the most critical technical challenges pertaining to coal-biomass briquette feedstocks. As with any product of an agglomeration process, the primary technical challenge regarding coal-biomass briquettes is achieving and maintaining a high level of quality from production to utilization. Several laboratory-scale research investigations were conducted to address this challenge. The first study was conducted to identify, develop and refine methods to characterize the most important physical properties indicative of coal-biomass briquette quality. The outcome of this work is a set of recommendations for novel and refined methods to characterize important coal-biomass briquette properties. The second study was conducted to develop a novel method to identify the optimum water content of coal-biomass blends prior to briquette production. As a result of this study, the Briquette Proctor Test was developed to minimize the time and materials required to identify the optimum water content that corresponds to maximum quality of coal-biomass briquettes. The third study was conducted to evaluate the influence of feedstock variables, additive variables, and roll press operating parameters in the production of coal-biomass briquettes from various coal and biomass types. From this study, the influence of each parameter on the quality of briquettes was determined and optimum conditions were identified for a variety of coal-biomass mixtures. The fourth and final study was conducted to develop and evaluate methods to improve the water resistance of coal-biomass briquettes using wood-derived chemicals. Using these chemicals, the novel coating method developed in this study significantly improved the water resistance and weathered durability of coal-biomass briquettes. / Ph. D.

Metallurgical coke is an important component of the iron and steel industry. It is obtained from high quality coking coals like bituminous coal. However, due to the limited resources and high levels of Green house Gases, alternatives to the product are of high demand. Availability of raw materials is an important factor. The product should have high heating value, strength and lower emissions. Research is being done on form coke technology; to produce high quality substitutes with inexpensive materials like lignite. A biomass-based form coke production process is developed. Two types of raw materials are selected at beginning of process. However, an ideal choice of raw material is evaluated by comparing the quality of the specimens produced from each substance. Various stages of the process are developed and their operating conditions are evaluated. The specimens developed are sent to a test facility to test reactivity and strength after the reaction.

The aim of this master´s thesis was the design of a small hydraulic press for bio-briquettes according to predetermined parameters. The theoretical part presents the current situation in terms of biomass processing, briquette production and a description of briquetting presses. The practical part deals with solutions and detailed structural design of the selected alternatives. Models and drawings were created in the SolidWorks 2011.

The solvent-induced swelling behaviour of Victorian brown coals was examined in detail to probe the bonding mechanisms in very low rank coals (in this case Victorian brown coal). Correlation of solvent properties with differences in observed swelling behaviour were interpreted in terms of the coal structure, and means of predicting the observed behaviour were considered. Modification of the coal structure via physical compression (briquetting), chemical digestion, thermal modification, and functional group alkylation was used to further elucidate those structural features which govern the swelling behaviour of Victorian brown coals. Briquette weathering (i.e. swelling and disintegration of briquettes when exposed to variations in humidity and temperature) was examined by making alterations to briquette feed material and observing the effects on swelling in water. The application of solubility parameter alone to prediction of coal swelling was rejected due to the many exceptions to any proposed trend. Brown coal swelling showed a minimum when the solvent electron-donor number (DN) minus its electron-acceptor number (AN) was closest to zero, i.e. when DN and AN were of similar magnitude. The degree of swelling increased either side of this point, as predicted by theory. In contrast to the solubility parameter approach (which suffers from the uncertainty caused by specific interaction between coal and solvent), the electron donor/acceptor approach is about specific interactions. It was concluded that a combination of total and three-dimensional solubility parameters and solvent electron donor/acceptor numbers may be used to predict solvent swelling of unextracted brown coals with some success. Solvent access to chemically densified coal was found to be insensitive to a reduction in pore volume, and chemical effects were dominant. Thermal modification of the digested coal resulted in reduced swelling for all solvents, indicating that the structure had adopted a minimum energy configuration due to decarboxylation and replacement of hydrogen bonds with additional covalent bonds. Swelling of oxygen-alkylated coals demonstrated that the more polar solvents are able to break relatively weak hydrogen bonded crosslinks. The large difference between the rate and extent of swelling in water (and hence weathering) of Yallourn and Morwell briquettes was shown to be almost entirely attributable to exchanged magnesium. Magnesium exchange significantly increases the rate and extent of swelling of Yallourn coal. It was also shown that the swelling of briquettes due to uptake of water by magnesium-exchanged coals is reduced significantly with controlled ageing of the briquettes. The solvent swelling behaviour of Victorian brown coals is consistent with the notion that coal is a both covalently and non-covalently crosslinked and entangled macromolecular network comprising extractable species, which are held within the network by a wide range of non-covalent, polar, electron donor/acceptor interactions. Solvents capable of significant extraction of whole brown coals are also capable of significant swelling, but not dissolution, of the macromolecular coal network, which supports the view that the network is comprised of both covalent and ionic bonding. Victorian brown coals have also been shown to exhibit polyelectrolytic behaviour due to a high concentration of ionisable surface functionalities.

Densification of biomass is often necessary to combat the negative storage and handling characteristics of these low bulk density materials. A consistent, high-quality densified product is strongly desired, but not always delivered. Within the context of pelleting and briquetting, binding agents are commonly added to comminuted biomass feedstocks to improve the quality of the resulting pellets or briquettes. Many feedstocks naturally possess such binding agents; however, they may not be abundant enough or available in a form or state to significantly contribute to product binding. Also, process parameters (pressure and temperature) and material variables (particle size and moisture content) can be adjusted to improve the quality of the final densified product.<p>Densification of ground biomass materials is still not a science, as much work is still required to fully understand how the chemical composition and physical properties, along with the process variables, impact product quality. Generating densification and compression data, along with physical and mechanical properties of a variety of biomass materials will allow for a deeper understanding of the densification process. This in turn will result in the design of more efficient densification equipment, thus improving the feasibility of using biomass for chemical and energy production.<p>Experiments were carried out wherein process (pressure and temperature) and material (particle size and moisture content) variables were studied for their effect on the densification process (compression and relaxation characteristics) and the physical quality of the resulting products (pellets). Two feedstocks were selected for the investigation; namely, poplar wood and wheat straw, two prominent Canadian biomass resources. Steam explosion pretreatment was also investigated as a potential method of improving the densification characteristics and binding capacity of the two biomass feedstocks.<p> Compression/densification and relaxation testing was conducted in a closed-end cylindrical die at loads of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 N (31.6, 63.2, 94.7, and 126.3 MPa) and die temperatures of 70 and 100°C. The raw poplar and wheat straw were first ground through a hammer mill fitted with 0.8 and 3.2 mm screens, while the particle size of the pretreated poplar and wheat straw was not adjusted. The four feedstocks (2 raw and 2 pretreated) were also conditioned to moisture contents of 9 and 15% wb prior to densification. <p> Previously developed empirical compression models fitted to the data elucidated that along with particle rearrangement and deformation, additional compression mechanisms were present during compression. Also, the compressibility and asymptotic modulus of the biomass grinds were increased by increasing the die temperature and decreasing product moisture content. While particle size did not have a significant effect on the compressibility, reducing it increased the resultant asymptotic modulus value. Steam explosion pretreatment served to decrease the compressibility and asymptotic modulus of the grinds.<p>In terms of physical quality of the resulting product, increasing the applied load naturally increased the initial density of the pellets (immediately after removal from the die). Increasing the die temperature served to increase the initial pellet density, decrease the dimensional (diametral and longitudinal) expansion (after 14 days), and increase the tensile strength of the pellets. Decreasing the raw feedstock particle size allowed for the increase in initial pellet density, decrease in diametral expansion (no effect on longitudinal expansion), and increase in tensile strength of the pellets. Decreasing the moisture content of the feedstocks allowed for higher initial pellet densities, but also an increased dimensional expansion. The pretreated feedstocks generally had higher initial pellet densities than the raw grinds. Also, the pretreated feedstocks shrank in diameter and length, and had higher tensile strengths than the raw feedstocks. The high performance of the pretreated poplar and wheat straw (as compared to their raw counterparts) was attributed to the disruption of the lignocellulosic structure, and removal/hydrolysis of hemicellulose, during the steam pretreatment process which was verified by chemical and Fourier transform infrared analysis. As a result, a higher relative amount of lignin was present. Also, the removal/hydrolysis of hemicellulose would indicate that this lignin was more readily available for binding, thus producing superior pellets.

Densification of biomass is often necessary to combat the negative storage and handling characteristics of these low bulk density materials. A consistent, high-quality densified product is strongly desired, but not always delivered. Within the context of pelleting and briquetting, binding agents are commonly added to comminuted biomass feedstocks to improve the quality of the resulting pellets or briquettes. Many feedstocks naturally possess such binding agents; however, they may not be abundant enough or available in a form or state to significantly contribute to product binding. Also, process parameters (pressure and temperature) and material variables (particle size and moisture content) can be adjusted to improve the quality of the final densified product.<p>Densification of ground biomass materials is still not a science, as much work is still required to fully understand how the chemical composition and physical properties, along with the process variables, impact product quality. Generating densification and compression data, along with physical and mechanical properties of a variety of biomass materials will allow for a deeper understanding of the densification process. This in turn will result in the design of more efficient densification equipment, thus improving the feasibility of using biomass for chemical and energy production.<p>Experiments were carried out wherein process (pressure and temperature) and material (particle size and moisture content) variables were studied for their effect on the densification process (compression and relaxation characteristics) and the physical quality of the resulting products (pellets). Two feedstocks were selected for the investigation; namely, poplar wood and wheat straw, two prominent Canadian biomass resources. Steam explosion pretreatment was also investigated as a potential method of improving the densification characteristics and binding capacity of the two biomass feedstocks.<p> Compression/densification and relaxation testing was conducted in a closed-end cylindrical die at loads of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 N (31.6, 63.2, 94.7, and 126.3 MPa) and die temperatures of 70 and 100°C. The raw poplar and wheat straw were first ground through a hammer mill fitted with 0.8 and 3.2 mm screens, while the particle size of the pretreated poplar and wheat straw was not adjusted. The four feedstocks (2 raw and 2 pretreated) were also conditioned to moisture contents of 9 and 15% wb prior to densification. <p> Previously developed empirical compression models fitted to the data elucidated that along with particle rearrangement and deformation, additional compression mechanisms were present during compression. Also, the compressibility and asymptotic modulus of the biomass grinds were increased by increasing the die temperature and decreasing product moisture content. While particle size did not have a significant effect on the compressibility, reducing it increased the resultant asymptotic modulus value. Steam explosion pretreatment served to decrease the compressibility and asymptotic modulus of the grinds.<p>In terms of physical quality of the resulting product, increasing the applied load naturally increased the initial density of the pellets (immediately after removal from the die). Increasing the die temperature served to increase the initial pellet density, decrease the dimensional (diametral and longitudinal) expansion (after 14 days), and increase the tensile strength of the pellets. Decreasing the raw feedstock particle size allowed for the increase in initial pellet density, decrease in diametral expansion (no effect on longitudinal expansion), and increase in tensile strength of the pellets. Decreasing the moisture content of the feedstocks allowed for higher initial pellet densities, but also an increased dimensional expansion. The pretreated feedstocks generally had higher initial pellet densities than the raw grinds. Also, the pretreated feedstocks shrank in diameter and length, and had higher tensile strengths than the raw feedstocks. The high performance of the pretreated poplar and wheat straw (as compared to their raw counterparts) was attributed to the disruption of the lignocellulosic structure, and removal/hydrolysis of hemicellulose, during the steam pretreatment process which was verified by chemical and Fourier transform infrared analysis. As a result, a higher relative amount of lignin was present. Also, the removal/hydrolysis of hemicellulose would indicate that this lignin was more readily available for binding, thus producing superior pellets.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-11-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:02:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 goncalves_je_dr_botfca.pdf: 4162560 bytes, checksum: 2fca33c2f151fb46cd2ee8664865be71 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este trabalho avaliou energéticamente e ambientalmente briquetes para a geração de energia. Os materiais utilizados para a fabricação dos briquetes foram Rejeitos de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (RRSU) com resíduos madeireiros Eucalyptus grandis e aglutinantes: resíduo lignocelulósico de mandioca e finos de carvão vegetal. As amostras dos RRSU foram coletadas na Usina de Triagem e Compostagem de Lixo de Lençóis Paulista, atualmente descartados em aterro sanitário municipal e os resíduos madeireiros em serrarias do município de Botucatu-SP. Esse estudo teve o objetivo de gerar alternativas para minimizar a quantidade de material destinado aos aterros com responsabilidade social e ambiental. Os briquetes foram fabricados com 15, 16, 17, 18 e 20% de RRSU na mistura com resíduos madeireiros e aglutinantes. Os resultados da análise do Poder Calorífico Superior (PCS) realizadas nos briquetes mostraram que este valor do PCS aumenta na medida em que a porcentagem dos RRSU aumenta. Briquetes de resíduos de madeira apresentaram Poder Calórico Inferior (PCI) de 19544,20 kJ/kg, valor significativamente menor ao encontrado para briquetes com 20% RRSU, o qual foi de 21617,66 kJ/kg. Este fato anterior se deve a influência dos produtos derivados do petróleo que estão presentes nos RRSU, como por exemplo, os termoplásticos, com PCS médio na ordem de 34039,67 kJ/kg. É preciso pesquisar o efeito da porcentagem de RRSU sobre a resistência mecânica dos briquetes. Análises cromatográficas foram realizadas para analisar os vapores produzidos na pirólise dos briquetes, visando caracterizar os produtos formados durante a sua decomposição térmica e avaliar preliminarmente o efeito que poderá causar ao meio ambiente. Os resultados evidenciaram a presença de compostos poluidores provenientes da composição dos RRSU como foi o caso do estireno e outros produtos de alta massa molecular... / This Work evaluates the energy and environmental optimization of briquettes for power generation. The materials used for the production of briquettes were rejects from municipal solid waste (RMSW) wood waste with Eucalyptus grandis and binders: residue lignocellulosic cassava and thin charcoal. Samples of RMSW were collected in the recycling and composting plant waste Lençóis, currently discarded in the municipal landfill and waste wood sawmills in the municipality of Botucatu-SP. This study was to generate alternatives to minimize the amount of material destined for landfills with social and environmental responsibility. Briquettes are manufactured with 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20% RMSW in mixture with waste wood and binders. The results of Higher Caloric power analysis (HCP) held in briquettes showed that the value of HCP increases insofar as the percentage of RMSW increases. Waste wood Briquettes made Lower Calorific Power (LCP) 19544.20 kJ/kg significantly lower the value found for briquettes with 20%, which was RMSW 21617.66 kJ/kg. The fact earlier due to influence of oil-derived products that are present in RMSW, as for example, thermoplastics, which have CPs middle 34039.67 kJ/kg. This result can be improved by adjusting the conditions of operation of briquetting machine such as pressure and temperature. The percentage of RMSW effect on the mechanical strength... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Resumo: Este trabalho avaliou energéticamente e ambientalmente briquetes para a geração de energia. Os materiais utilizados para a fabricação dos briquetes foram Rejeitos de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (RRSU) com resíduos madeireiros Eucalyptus grandis e aglutinantes: resíduo lignocelulósico de mandioca e finos de carvão vegetal. As amostras dos RRSU foram coletadas na Usina de Triagem e Compostagem de Lixo de Lençóis Paulista, atualmente descartados em aterro sanitário municipal e os resíduos madeireiros em serrarias do município de Botucatu-SP. Esse estudo teve o objetivo de gerar alternativas para minimizar a quantidade de material destinado aos aterros com responsabilidade social e ambiental. Os briquetes foram fabricados com 15, 16, 17, 18 e 20% de RRSU na mistura com resíduos madeireiros e aglutinantes. Os resultados da análise do Poder Calorífico Superior (PCS) realizadas nos briquetes mostraram que este valor do PCS aumenta na medida em que a porcentagem dos RRSU aumenta. Briquetes de resíduos de madeira apresentaram Poder Calórico Inferior (PCI) de 19544,20 kJ/kg, valor significativamente menor ao encontrado para briquetes com 20% RRSU, o qual foi de 21617,66 kJ/kg. Este fato anterior se deve a influência dos produtos derivados do petróleo que estão presentes nos RRSU, como por exemplo, os termoplásticos, com PCS médio na ordem de 34039,67 kJ/kg. É preciso pesquisar o efeito da porcentagem de RRSU sobre a resistência mecânica dos briquetes. Análises cromatográficas foram realizadas para analisar os vapores produzidos na pirólise dos briquetes, visando caracterizar os produtos formados durante a sua decomposição térmica e avaliar preliminarmente o efeito que poderá causar ao meio ambiente. Os resultados evidenciaram a presença de compostos poluidores provenientes da composição dos RRSU como foi o caso do estireno e outros produtos de alta massa molecular... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This Work evaluates the energy and environmental optimization of briquettes for power generation. The materials used for the production of briquettes were rejects from municipal solid waste (RMSW) wood waste with Eucalyptus grandis and binders: residue lignocellulosic cassava and thin charcoal. Samples of RMSW were collected in the recycling and composting plant waste Lençóis, currently discarded in the municipal landfill and waste wood sawmills in the municipality of Botucatu-SP. This study was to generate alternatives to minimize the amount of material destined for landfills with social and environmental responsibility. Briquettes are manufactured with 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20% RMSW in mixture with waste wood and binders. The results of Higher Caloric power analysis (HCP) held in briquettes showed that the value of HCP increases insofar as the percentage of RMSW increases. Waste wood Briquettes made Lower Calorific Power (LCP) 19544.20 kJ/kg significantly lower the value found for briquettes with 20%, which was RMSW 21617.66 kJ/kg. The fact earlier due to influence of oil-derived products that are present in RMSW, as for example, thermoplastics, which have CPs middle 34039.67 kJ/kg. This result can be improved by adjusting the conditions of operation of briquetting machine such as pressure and temperature. The percentage of RMSW effect on the mechanical strength... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Alcides Lopes Leão / Coorientador: Maria Márcia Pereira Sartori / Banca: Assunta Maria Marques da Silva / Banca: Claudio Cabello / Banca: Vera Lucia Pimentel Salazar / Banca: Claudia C.Teixeira R. A. Camarinha / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:30:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VEREDIANE SILVA.pdf: 2468184 bytes, checksum: 97ba8847d6960140aa621fbcfd580bb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper discusses the environmental problems caused by the use of wood as fuel for heating poultry houses in the Southwest region of the state of Paraná, and the consequent degradation of the remaining forest areas of the Atlantic Forest Biome, region in which it operates. As proposed for the solution of this problem were studied and raised two alternative ways of generating heat energy: the pellets and briquettes produced from the reuse of waste, which can be urban, industrial or agricultural. The methodological procedures for the development of the objectives of this research were composed of systematic reviews related to power generation and the processes of degradation of forest cover; the application of questionnaires to producers and consumers of wood for energy generation, and field research in aviaries located within the municipality of Francisco Beltran New Hope and the Southwest. The results obtained demonstrate the process of using wood as the primary resource for heat generation in the region currently aviaries, while demonstrating the possibility of moving to another state, the diffusion and dissemination of the use of alternative fuels such as ecological wood, pellet and briquette called for. / O presente trabalho aborda a problemática ambiental causada pela utilização da lenha como combustível para aquecimento de aviários na região Sudoeste do estado do Paraná, e a consequente degradação das áreas de remanescentes florestais do Bioma Mata Atlântica, no qual a região está inserida. Como propostas para a solução desta problemática foram pesquisadas e levantadas duas formas alternativas de geração de energia calorífica: o pellets e o briquete, produzidas a partir do reaproveitamento de resíduos, os quais podem ser urbanos, industriais ou agrícolas. Os procedimentos metodológicos para o desenvolvimento dos objetivos desta pesquisa foram compostos por revisões bibliográficas referentes a geração de energia e os processos de degradação da cobertura florestal; a aplicação de questionários a produtores e consumidores de lenha para geração energética, e pesquisa de campo em aviários localizados no interior do município de Francisco Beltrão e Nova Esperança do Sudoeste. Os resultados obtidos demonstram o processo de utilização da lenha como sendo o principal recurso para geração de calor nos aviários da região atualmente, ao mesmo tempo que demonstra a possibilidade de mudança para outra situação, com a difusão e divulgação do uso de combustíveis alternativos como a lenha ecológica, denominada por pellet e briquete.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:42:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VEREDIANE SILVA.pdf: 2468184 bytes, checksum: 97ba8847d6960140aa621fbcfd580bb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper discusses the environmental problems caused by the use of wood as fuel for heating poultry houses in the Southwest region of the state of Paraná, and the consequent degradation of the remaining forest areas of the Atlantic Forest Biome, region in which it operates. As proposed for the solution of this problem were studied and raised two alternative ways of generating heat energy: the pellets and briquettes produced from the reuse of waste, which can be urban, industrial or agricultural. The methodological procedures for the development of the objectives of this research were composed of systematic reviews related to power generation and the processes of degradation of forest cover; the application of questionnaires to producers and consumers of wood for energy generation, and field research in aviaries located within the municipality of Francisco Beltran New Hope and the Southwest. The results obtained demonstrate the process of using wood as the primary resource for heat generation in the region currently aviaries, while demonstrating the possibility of moving to another state, the diffusion and dissemination of the use of alternative fuels such as ecological wood, pellet and briquette called for. / O presente trabalho aborda a problemática ambiental causada pela utilização da lenha como combustível para aquecimento de aviários na região Sudoeste do estado do Paraná, e a consequente degradação das áreas de remanescentes florestais do Bioma Mata Atlântica, no qual a região está inserida. Como propostas para a solução desta problemática foram pesquisadas e levantadas duas formas alternativas de geração de energia calorífica: o pellets e o briquete, produzidas a partir do reaproveitamento de resíduos, os quais podem ser urbanos, industriais ou agrícolas. Os procedimentos metodológicos para o desenvolvimento dos objetivos desta pesquisa foram compostos por revisões bibliográficas referentes a geração de energia e os processos de degradação da cobertura florestal; a aplicação de questionários a produtores e consumidores de lenha para geração energética, e pesquisa de campo em aviários localizados no interior do município de Francisco Beltrão e Nova Esperança do Sudoeste. Os resultados obtidos demonstram o processo de utilização da lenha como sendo o principal recurso para geração de calor nos aviários da região atualmente, ao mesmo tempo que demonstra a possibilidade de mudança para outra situação, com a difusão e divulgação do uso de combustíveis alternativos como a lenha ecológica, denominada por pellet e briquete.