Title:
A Process Modeling and Simulation Study for Urban Forest Waste Torrefaction
Author(s):
da Silva Gonzales, T., Rodrigues, P.P.O., Cruz Lamas, G., Moreira, M.G., Barcelo, R., Monteiro e Silva, S., Silveira, E.A.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Torrefaction is a promising thermochemical pretreatment of biomass, aiming to improve its energy properties as a solid biofuel. The torrefied product possesses coal-like properties and optimized characteristics to replace coal in sustainable energy and heat generation. In this context, this work built a biomass torrefaction model, which can provide essential information on pursuing waste-to-energy solutions, i.e., future exergetic analysis. Experimental data from a blend of urban forest waste (UFW) from the forest ecosystem of Brasilia was chosen as input for simulations. The model established within Aspen Plus® software was validated in different scenarios for a torrefaction temperature range of 225–275.°C, demonstrating good agreement with reported experimental data. The torrefaction module was successfully modeled by one RYield reactor, which was used with the two-step kinetic reaction model for the decomposition of biomass. The model was capable of i) presenting in detail the distribution of the products and by-products of the biomass torrefaction process and ii) predicting important fuel properties such as proximate and elemental analyses. Furthermore, energy performance properties and overall energy consumption can be estimated from the model. Depending on process conditions, drying accounted for 73–89% of the total heat demand.
Keywords:
sustainability, thermochemical conversion, renewable energies, biochar, Aspen Plus®, tree pruning residues
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Intermediate Bioenergy Carriers and Sustainable Biofuels
Subtopic:
Pyrolysis
Event:
31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5BV.10.7
Pages:
966 - 972
ISBN:
978-88-89407-23-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/31stEUBCE2023-5BV.10.7
Price:
FREE
