An Extensive Review and Comparison of Modern Biomass Torrefaction Reactors vs. Biomass Pyrolysis—Part 1

Piotr Piersa, Hilal Unyay, Szymon Szufa, Wiktoria Lewandowska, Remigiusz Modrzewski, Radosław Ślężak and Stanisław Ledakowicz
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Piotr Piersa: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Hilal Unyay: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Szymon Szufa: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Wiktoria Lewandowska: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Remigiusz Modrzewski: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Radosław Ślężak: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Stanisław Ledakowicz: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924 Lodz, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-34

Abstract: Major efforts are currently being made in the research community to address the challenges of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion by using lignocellulosic biomass, agricultural waste, and forest residues as cleaner energy sources. However, its poor qualities, such as low energy density, high moisture content, irregular shape and size, and heterogeneity, make it impossible to utilize in its natural state. Torrefaction, a simple heat treatment method, is used frequently with natural bioresources to improve their thermal characteristics so that they may be used as energy sources in domestic power plants. The quality of the resulting torrefied solids (biochar) is determined by the heat condition settings in the absence of oxygen, and it may be enhanced by carefully selecting and altering the processing parameters. The comprehensive overview presented here should serve as a useful toolkit for farmers, combined heat and power plants, pulp and paper installations, and other industrial plants that use biomass as a substrate for biofuel production. This research focuses on torrefaction product properties, reaction mechanisms, a variety of technologies, and torrefaction reactors. It is impossible to determine which torrefaction technology is superior as each reactor has unique properties. However, some suggestions and recommendations regarding the use of torrefaction reactors are given.

Keywords: torrefaction; pyrolysis; biochar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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