Methods for Producing Biomass-Based Fuel With Pulp Processing Equipment

Abstract

A method for mitigating the costs of establishing a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant includes identifying an existing pulp processing plant, obtaining permission to access and convert the pulp processing plant, and converting the pulp processing plant for manufacture of biomass-based pellets. Converting the pulp processing plant may include installing a pellet mill in the pulp processing plant, re-routing output from a pulp digester, such that the output enters the pellet mill, and bypassing unnecessary equipment. Biomass-based pellets may be manufactured in the converted pulp processing plant by liberating lignin from biomass-based feedstock via pulp digester and pelletizing the biomass-based feedstock and the liberated lignin to form the biomass-based pellets.

1 . A method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets comprising:
 liberating lignin from biomass-based feedstock via pulp digester; and   pelletizing the biomass-based feedstock and the liberated lignin to form the biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 1 , wherein steam explosion is absent from the liberating and the pelletizing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 1 , comprising adding supplementary lignin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 1 , comprising adding chemicals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 4 , wherein the chemicals comprise sodium sulfate, caustic soda and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 1 , wherein the pulp digester has been converted for use in the manufacture of biomass-based pellets. 
     
     
         7 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 6 , comprising introducing a biomass-based slurry into a vessel of the pulp digester through a chemical treatment operation;
 ceasing supply of the biomass-based slurry to the pulp digester;   allowing the biomass-based slurry to cook in the pulp digester for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature, creating a cooked biomass-based material;   removing the cooked biomass-based material from the pulp digester;   delivering the cooked biomass-based material from the pulp digester to a pellet mill; and   pelletizing the cooked biomass-based material to form biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         8 . The method of manufacturing biomass-based pellets of  claim 6 , comprising continuously introducing a biomass-based slurry into a vessel of the pulp digester through a chemical treatment operation;
 allowing the biomass-based slurry to cook in the pulp digester for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature, creating a cooked biomass-based material;   continuously removing the cooked biomass-based material from the pulp digester;   delivering the cooked biomass-based material from the pulp digester to a pellet mill; and   pelletizing the cooked biomass-based material to form biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         9 . A method for converting a pulp processing plant to a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant, comprising:
 installing a pellet mill in the pulp processing plant;   re-routing output from a pulp digester, such that the output enters the pellet mill; and   bypassing unnecessary equipment.   
     
     
         10 . The method for converting a pulp processing plant to a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 9 , comprising removing the bypassed equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The method for converting a pulp processing plant to a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 9 , comprising:
 converting the pulp digester for use in the manufacture of biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         12 . The method for converting a pulp processing plant to a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 11 , wherein converting the pulp digester comprises:
 removing equipment used for lignin removal.   
     
     
         13 . The method for converting a pulp processing plant to a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 12 , wherein converting the pulp digester comprises:
 removing equipment used for chemical treatment.   
     
     
         14 . A method for mitigating the costs of establishing a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant, comprising:
 identifying an existing pulp processing plant;   obtaining permission to access and convert to the pulp processing plant;   converting the pulp processing plant for manufacture of biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         15 . The method for mitigating the cost of establishing a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 14 , comprising:
 identifying an existing source of biomass-based feedstock near the pulp processing plant;   obtaining permission to access and use the biomass-based feedstock for manufacture of biomass-based pellets.   
     
     
         16 . The method for mitigating the cost of establishing a biomass-based pellet manufacturing plant of  claim 14 , comprising:
 identifying an existing source of biomass-based feedstock;   obtaining permission to transport the biomass-based feedstock from the existing source to the pulp processing plant.