TORBED process reactor technologies

Torftech*TORBED is a registered trade mark of Mortimer Technology Holdings Ltd

*

ENERGY PRODUCTS FROM WOOD WASTE

A PRESENTATION TO TAPPI EPE CONFERENCE MEMPHIS TN

OCTOBER 14th 2009

The TORROIDAL Fluidized Bed Reactor process technology

comprises two generic types:

•Compact Bed Reactor (CBR)

•Expanded Bed Reactor (EBR)

The Compact Bed Reactor (CBR)

The toroidal motion of the bed in this 300mm diametercold model is very clear

Expanded Bed Reactor

EBR PILOT PLANT FINE PARTICLE RETENTION

Combustion of Chicken Litter

Reactor Process Characteristics

Fast and precise process giving consistent product

Handles widely graded and irregularly shaped

particles

Low pressure drop allowing easy process gas

recirculation

Rapid start-up and program change

Small size with easy installation

Simple to operate and easy to automate

Co-current heat transfer

Comparison of various gas/solidreactor technologies

Increasing Expansion

Incr

easi

ng V

eloc

ity

Mean Gas Velocity

Slip Velocity

Mean SolidsVelocity

Gas FlowSolids Flow

ClassicalFluidised Bed

Bubbling

Fast Transport Reactor

CompactTORBEDReactor

ExpandedTORBEDReactor

R Recycle Ratio

Limits forCoventional and

TORBED Reactors

0 < R < 1 1 < R < 10 R > 100 < R < 1 0 < R < 1

Increasing Expansion

Incr

easi

ng V

eloc

ity

Mean Gas Velocity

Slip Velocity

Mean SolidsVelocity

Gas FlowSolids Flow

ClassicalFluidised Bed

Bubbling

Fast Transport Reactor

CompactTORBEDReactor

ExpandedTORBEDReactor

R Recycle Ratio

Limits forCoventional and

TORBED Reactors

0 < R < 1 1 < R < 10 R > 100 < R < 1 0 < R < 1

Some Examples of Commercial Installations

Since the invention of the initial Gas Solids Contactor concept in 1981 as an exfoliator for Vermiculite, more than 150 commercial plants have been installed around the world for applications as diverse as..

Production of industrial minerals

Combustion and gasification of wood waste

Regeneration of catalysts

Scrubbing of smelter exhaust gases

Management of Paper mill sludge

Production of low fat snacks

The largest reactors are the 20 gas scrubbersinstalled in two of the Comalco aluminium smelters in New Zealand and Tasmania..

These EBRs are 6m in internal diameter Expanded Bed Reactors utilising alumina to scrub HFemitted from the smelting pots

1,000mm diameter electric food processor producing 500kg/h of “puffed rice” in New Zealand

TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS FOR ENERGY FROM WOOD WASTE

ENERGY APPLICATIONS

• DRYING: Many wood waste resources have high moisture content (~50%). Drying improves their properties as an energy resource.

• COMBUSTION: The technology is well suited to combust fine materials or materials with diverse sizes

• GASIFICATION: The technology is a very efficient gasifier which can offer high turn-down ratios and which can be used effectively in quite small scale applications

• TORREFACTION: This process “roasts” wood feed to yield a hydrophobic product with increased energy density

DRYING

DRYING

Combustion of wood wastes is commercially applied in Holland

The 1.5m diameter unit shown here is one of two reactors that produce 3MWth each from municipal wood waste. The hot products of combustion are used directly in a drying kiln

6 T/H PAPER MILL SLUDGE COMBUSTOR RECOVERING ENERGY AND FILLER CLAYS FROM 50% MOISTURE SLUDGE

.

.

1 t/h EBR Waste Wood Gasifier Generating a Fuel Gas for use in an

Industrial Rotary Drier1.0 m EBR

.

.

1 t/h EBR Waste Wood Gasifier Generating a Fuel Gas for use in

an Industrial Rotary Drier

.

.

TORREFACTION OF BIOMASS

• Torrefaction or Roasting of Biomass, produces a Brittle Hydrophobic Material with Higher Calorific Value than the Biomass Feed

• Typical Yields from a Biomass Feed on a Dry Weight Basis 80-85% of Feed Mass containing 90-93% of Feed Energy

.

.

Wood ChipsGrassStrawRice husks

Pulverized,Torrefied Wood

250 – 350°C

Atmospheric Pressure;

Reducing Environment

Torrefaction

Torrefied Wood Pellets

TORREFACTION OF BIOMASS

.

.

TORREFACTION (ROASTING) OF WOOD WASTE

WOOD ChipsT4500DRYER

Tri-RingT3500

DEVOLATILIZER & TORRIFIER

To Steam Boiler

T2500COMBUSTOR

Volatiles

Torrefied Wood

18 t/h

Exhaust Steam & Air

8 t/h

Dried Wood Chips

.

.

18 m18 m60’

60’

Torrefaction Plant to be Installed in the Netherlands:

Capacity 80,000 tonnes/year torrefied product

Construction start scheduled for early 2010

Product destined for power plant in Germany

Wood Chips Moisture Fed To Torrefier 10% (Pre dried from 40% Moisture)

T3500 Tri-RingTorrefier

T2500Combustor

TORREFACTION PLANT LAYOUT

THANK YOU

Pilot test facilities where new applications of the reactors are developed