US2013104451A1PendingUtilityA1
Novel systems and methods for producing fuel from diverse biomass
Est. expiryOct 28, 2031(~5.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
C10L 2290/58C10L 5/445C10L 2290/60Y02P30/20Y02E50/30Y02E50/10
34
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Claims
Abstract
Inventive systems and methods for management of fuel production from diverse type of biomass are described. The systems and methods of the present invention are capable of satisfying demands for fuel having a desired fuel property (e.g., a desired value of higher heating value on a dry basis). These systems and methods rely on strong correlations between various fuel properties in a dry, ash-free regime developed by the present invention. These correlations are surprising and unexpected because these fuel properties do not correlate in a dry regime, where fuel properties are typically specified.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis of biomass, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing information regarding a predetermined value of a higher heating value of said fuel on a dry basis or information regarding a predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel; using a microprocessor for computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis from said information regarding said predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel when said information regarding said predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen is obtained from said accessing, or computing said value of said ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel from said information regarding said predetermined value of said higher heating value of said fuel on a dry basis when said information regarding said higher heating value is obtained from said accessing, and said computing said value of higher heating value or ratio of carbon to oxygen according to an expression:
HHV
dry
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
*
[
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
+
A
0
,
dry
(
(
C
O
)
π
-
μ
)
]
wherein HHV dry represents said higher heating value of said fuel having units of kcal/kg on said dry basis,
said A 0,dry represents said amount of initial ash on a dry basis of said biomass having units of percent, by weight,
said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel,
said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel,
said C and O have units of percent, by weight, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis or using said ratio of carbon to oxygen.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said α has a value that is between about 260 and about 261.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said β has a value that is between about 5×10 7 and about 6×10 7 .
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said γ has a value that is between about 5×10 7 and about 6×10 7 .
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said δ has a value that is between about 8200 and about 8300.
6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said μ has a value that is between about 35 and about 36.
7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said ν has a value that is between about 15 and about 16.
8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said π has a value that is between about 57 and about 58.
9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said ρ has a value that is between about 15 and about 16.
10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said amount of carbon and said amount of oxygen in said fuel has units of percent, by weight.
11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said accessing is carried out using a computer interface.
12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said obtaining includes obtaining said value for said amount of initial ash using at least one means selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thereto-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared (IR) spectrometer, a near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and a microwave absorber.
13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said processing is thereto-chemical processing.
14 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining information regarding a predetermined ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel or information regarding a predetermined amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from biomass; using a microprocessor for computing said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen of said fuel from said information regarding said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis when said information regarding said amount of volatile matter is obtained from said Obtaining, or computing said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen when said information regarding said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen is obtained from said obtaining, and said computing said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen or said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis according to an expression:
(
C
O
)
=
μλ
+
v
κ
-
v
VM
DAF
ρ
VM
DAF
+
π
λ
-
ρ
κ
wherein said VM DAF represents said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis and having units of percent, by weight,
said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel,
said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel, and
said C and O have units of percentage, by weight, and
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120,
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25; and
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ratio of carbon to oxygen or said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said κ has a value that is between about 107 and about 108.
16 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said λ has a value that is between about 22 and about 23.
17 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said π has a value that is between about 35 and about 36.
18 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said ν has a value that is between about 15 and about 16.
19 . The process of claim 14 , wherein π has a value that is between about 57 and about 58.
20 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said ρ has a value that is between about 15 and about 16.
21 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said amount of carbon and said amount of oxygen in said fuel has units of molar mass or mass.
22 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said Obtaining is carried out using a computer interface.
23 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said processing is carried out in at least one member selected from a group consisting of a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber and a covered earthen pit.
24 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said processing is thermo-chemical processing.
25 . The process of claim 14 , where said amount of volatile matter of said fuel has units of percent, by weight.
26 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining information regarding a predetermined amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding a predetermined value of yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from biomass; using a microprocessor for computing said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis when said information regarding said yield is obtained from said obtaining, or computing said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said amount of volatile matter when said information regarding said amount of volatile matter is obtained from said obtaining, and said computing said value volatile matter or said yield according to an expression:
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
wherein said VM DAF represents said amount of said volatile matter having units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents yield of said fuel of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass, and
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35.
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said amount of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or said yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis.
27 . The process of claim 26 , wherein κ has a value that is between about 107 and about 108.
28 . The process of claim 26 , wherein λ has a value that is between about 22 and about 23.
29 . The process of claim 26 , wherein said volatile matter has units of percent, by weight.
30 . The process of claim 26 , wherein said M and said M 0 have units of mass.
31 . The process of claim 26 , wherein said processing is carried out in at least one member selected from a group consisting of a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber and a covered earthen pit.
32 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash on a dry basis of biomass, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing information regarding a predetermined value of yield of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis or information regarding a predetermined ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis from said information regarding said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis when said information regarding said ash content of said fuel is obtained from said accessing, or computing said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said information regarding yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, when said information regarding yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis is obtained from said accessing, and computing said value of yield or said ash content of said fuel according to an expression:
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
wherein said M/M 0 represents yield of said fuel,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass, and
said A dry represents said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis having units of percent, by weight, and
said A 0,dry represents said amount of initial ash on said dry basis of said biomass having units of percent, by weight; and
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis or said ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
33 . The process of claim 32 , wherein said accessing is carried out using a computer interface.
34 . The process of claim 32 , wherein said processing is carried out in a torrefaction chamber, an inert muffle furnace, an inert gas-purged oven, an inert gas-purged kiln, a covered inert chamber, or a covered earthen pit.
35 . The process of claim 32 , wherein said M and said M 0 have units of mass.
36 . The process of claim 32 , wherein said ash content of said fuel has units of percent by weight.
37 . The process of claim 32 , wherein said initial ash of said biomass has units of percent by weight.
38 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein the first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
;
said second set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis,
said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 is mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and
wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
39 . The process of claim 38 , wherein said first sot of equations further includes:
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
and said second set of equations further includes:
H
DAF
=
ξ
-
o
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
wherein said H dry represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry basis, said H DAF represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
wherein said group of said predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis, and
wherein said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, and
said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1.
40 . The process of claim 38 , wherein said first set of equations further includes:
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
and said second set of equations further includes:
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
wherein said VM dry represents a value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis, and
said VM DAF represents an amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35.
wherein said group of predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis.
41 . The process of claim 38 , wherein said first set of equations further includes:
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
and said second set of equations further includes:
FC DAF =100− VM DAF
wherein said FC dry represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis,
said FC DAF represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
wherein said group of predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis.
42 . The process of claim 38 , further comprising computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
43 . The process of claim 38 , further comprising computing said amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
44 . The process of claim 38 , further comprising computing said amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
45 . The process of claim 38 , further comprising computing said value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
46 . The process of claim 39 , further comprising computing said amount of hydrogen in said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression:
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
47 . The process of claim 40 , further comprising computing said value of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression:
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
48 . The process of claim 41 , further comprising computing said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression:
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
49 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein the yield equation includes:
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
,
and said second set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
H
DAF
=
ξ
-
o
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
FC
DAF
=
100
-
V
M
DAF
;
and said first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis,
said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dr) ash-free basis, and
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120,
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,
said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and
wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and
processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis.
50 . The process of claim 49 , wherein said obtaining includes analyzing said biomass to determine said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis using at least member selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared spectrometer, a near infrared spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber and a microwave absorber.
51 . The process of claim 49 , wherein said receiving includes receiving said predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from any one of a fuel manufacturer, a biomass processing plant, an energy producer or from a feedback loop in a process control system.
52 . The process of claim 49 , wherein each of said mass of said fuel, said mass of said biomass before processing, said amount of initial ash of said biomass and said ash content of said fuel has units of percent by weight.
53 . A process for facilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis, said process comprising:
obtaining a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; correlating said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; arriving at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; computing using at least one microprocessor a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; facilitating production of said fuel from said biomass using said value for ash content of said fuel; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
54 . The process of claim 52 , wherein said biomass includes one or more types of agro waste, and each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value of volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel is independent of said one or more types of agro waste used in said formulation.
55 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said agro waste is one member selected from a group consisting of wood, guinea grass, rice straw, sugar cane leaves, cotton stalks, mustard stalks, pine needles, coffee husks, coconut husks, rice husks, mustard husks, weed straw, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse, millet stalks, pulses stalks, sweet sorghum stalks, nut shells, animal manure, guar husk, acacia totalis, julia flora, jatropha residue, wild grass, pigeon beans, pearl millet, barley, dry chili, gran jowar, linseed, maize/corn, lentil, mung bean, sunflower, til, oil seed stalks, pulses/millets, black gram, sawan, soybean stalks, cow gram, horse gram, finger millet, turmeric, castor seed, meshta, sannhamp, and hemp.
56 . The process of claim 53 , wherein a computer interface is present at a client computer that is connected to a computer server, and said obtaining includes receiving said predetermined value of said property on said dry basis from said client computer.
57 . The process of claim 56 , further comprising processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said value of ash content of said fuel on a dry basis.
58 . The process of claim 53 , further comprising computing information regarding said fuel on said dry basis by accounting for said amount of ash content in said fuel,
59 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said determining includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio are correlated to a plurality of predetermined values of said property of said fuel.
60 . The process of claim 59 , wherein said property of said fuel is higher heating value, and said value of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to a value of higher heating value on said dry basis according to the following expression:
HHV
dry
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
*
[
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
+
A
0
,
dry
(
(
C
O
)
π
-
μ
)
]
wherein said HHV dry represents said value of higher heating value on a cry basis,
said C represents an amount of carbon,
said O represents an amount of oxygen,
said C and said O have units of percent by weight; and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25.
61 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said correlating includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
62 . The process of claim 61 , wherein said plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of volatile matter on said dry, ash-free basis according to the following expression:
(
C
O
)
=
μ
λ
+
v
κ
-
v
VM
DAF
ρ
VM
DAF
+
π
λ
-
ρ
κ
wherein VM DAF represents said amount of said volatile matter and as units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said C represents an amount of carbon in said fuel,
said O represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel, and
said C and said O have units of percent, by weight,
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120,
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25.
63 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said arriving includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values for said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values for said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
64 . The process of claim 63 , wherein said plurality of values of said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis according to the following expression:
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
wherein said VM DAF represents said value of said volatile matter having units of percent, by weight, of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents said value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass, and
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35.
65 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said fuel property includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of higher heating value on said dry basis, fixed carbon on said dry basis, yield on said dry basis, volatile matter on said dry basis, an amount of carbon on said dry basis, an amount of oxygen on said dry basis and an amount of hydrogen on said dry basis.
66 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said computing includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
67 . The process of claim 66 , wherein said plurality of values of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis relates to said plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis according to the following expression:
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
wherein said A 0,dry , represents an amount of initial ash of said biomass on a dry basis and that is present before said biomass is processed to produce said fuel,
said A dry represents amount of ash content in said fuel on a dry basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
M represents mass of said fuel, and
M 0 represents mass of said biomass.
68 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said fuel is derived from said biomass by subjecting said biomass to a thermo-chemical process.
69 . The process of claim 68 , wherein said thereto-chemical process includes temperature treatment of said biomass in the absence of oxygen.
70 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said value of volatile matter has units of percent, by weight.
71 . The process of claim 53 , wherein said value of yield has units of percent, by weight.
72 . A system for facilitating production of a fuel, said system comprising:
means for obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; means for accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein said first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
;
and said second set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis,
said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 is mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and
wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and
means for facilitating, using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of said fuel and processing said biomass.
73 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing said value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
74 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing said amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
75 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing said amount of oxygen in sad fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
76 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing said value of yield of sad fuel on said dry basis by solving the expression:
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
77 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expressions:
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
and wherein said second set of equations further includes:
H
DAF
=
ξ
-
o
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
and said H dry represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry basis, and
said H DAF represents an amount of hydrogen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
wherein said group of said predetermined value of said property of said fuel further includes said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis, and
wherein said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12, and
said o has a value that is between about 02 and about 1.
78 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising means for computing a value of volatile matter of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression:
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
wherein said second set of equations further includes:
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
wherein said VM dry represents said value of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry basis, and
said VM DAF represents an amount of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
wherein said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120, and
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35.
79 . The system of claim 72 , further comprising computing a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on a dry basis by solving the expression:
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
wherein said second set of equations further includes:
FC DAF =100− VM DAF
wherein FC dry represents said value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry basis,
FC DAF represents a value of fixed carbon of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
80 . A system for facilitating production of a fuel, said apparatus comprising:
means for obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; means for accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; means for using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a first set of equations and at least one equation selected from a group consisting of a second set of equations, wherein said yield equation includes:
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
,
and said first set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
H
DAF
=
ξ
-
o
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
FC
DAF
=
100
-
VM
DAF
;
said first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis,
said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,
said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and
wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and
means for facilitating, using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of consuming said fuel or processing said biomass.
81 . The system of claim 80 , wherein said means for Obtaining used to determine said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of a muffle furnace, a high temperature oven, a solid fuel burner, a thermo-gravimetric analyzer, an infrared spectrometer, a near infrared spectrometer, a gamma ray absorber and a microwave absorber.
82 . The system of claim 80 , further comprising means for processing said biomass to produce said fuel using said desired value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis.
83 . A system for facilitating production of a fuel on a dry basis, said system comprising:
means for obtaining a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; means for determining a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; means for correlating said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; means for arriving at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; means for computing a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
84 . The system of claim 83 , further comprising means for conveying said value of ash content of said fuel on a dry basis to a computer associated with a biomass processing facility.
85 . The system of claim 83 , further comprising means for computing information regarding said fuel on said dry basis by accounting for amount of said ash content in said fuel.
86 . The system of claim 53 , wherein said means for determining includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio are correlated to a plurality of predetermined values of said property of said fuel.
87 . The system of claim 86 , wherein said property of said fuel is higher heating value, and said value of carbon to oxygen ratio on said dry, ash-free basis relates to a value of higher heating value on said dry basis according to the following expression:
HHV
dry
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
*
[
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
v
+
ρ
(
C
O
)
)
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
+
A
0
,
dry
(
(
C
O
)
π
-
μ
)
]
wherein said HHV dry represents said higher heating value on a dry basis,
said C represents an amount of carbon,
said O represents an amount of oxygen,
C and O have units of percent, by weight; and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70, and
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25.
88 . The system of claim 83 , wherein said means for correlating includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
89 . The system of claim 83 , wherein said means for arriving includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values for said yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values for said volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis.
90 . The system of claim 83 , wherein said fuel property includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of higher heating value on said dry basis, fixed carbon on said dry basis, yield on said dry basis, volatile matter on said dry basis, an amount of carbon on said dry basis, an amount of oxygen on said dry basis and an amount of hydrogen on said dry basis.
91 . The apparatus of claim 83 , wherein said means for computing includes using a graph or an electronically stored table where a plurality of values yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis are correlated to a plurality of values of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis.
92 . A system for facilitating production of fuel, said system comprising:
at least one processor; at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at east one network device; and memory; said at least one processor being operable to store in said memory a plurality of data structures; said system being operable to: obtain a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on a dr basis, and a formulation of said fuel being based on biomass; determine a value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis that corresponds to said predetermined value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis; correlate said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis to a value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; arrive at a value for yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis by using said value for volatile matter of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis; compute a value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis that corresponds to said value of yield on said dry, ash-free basis; and wherein each of said value of carbon to oxygen ratio of said fuel, said value for volatile matter of said fuel, said value of yield of said fuel and said value of ash content of said fuel are independent of type of said biomass used in said formulation.
93 . A process for facilitating production of a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formulation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass on said dry basis and said predetermined value of said property of said fuel by solving at least one equation in a first set of equations and at least one equation in a second set of equations, wherein said first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
,
and said second set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 is mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of biomass yield on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300.
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50.
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25, and
wherein said predetermined value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of ash content on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of carbon on said dry basis, and said value of oxygen on said dry basis; and
facilitating, using said value of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of fuel or processing biomass.
94 . A process for facilitating production of a fuel, said process comprising:
obtaining a value for an amount of initial ash of biomass on a dry basis, and a formation of said fuel being produced from said biomass; accessing a predetermined value for ash content of said fuel on said dry basis; using a microprocessor for computing a desired value of a property of said fuel on said dry basis from said value of said amount of initial ash of said biomass dry basis and said predetermined value of said ash content of said fuel by solving a yield equation, at least one equation in a first set of equations and at least one equation in a second set of equations, wherein said yield equation includes:
A
dry
=
100
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
A
0
,
dry
+
1
,
and said second set of equations includes:
HHV
DAF
=
[
-
α
(
C
O
)
*
ln
(
β
(
C
O
)
-
γ
)
+
δ
]
,
C
DAF
=
μ
+
v
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
H
DAF
=
ξ
-
o
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
O
DAF
=
π
-
ρ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
VM
DAF
=
κ
-
λ
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
,
and
FC
DAF
=
100
-
VM
DAF
;
and said first set of equations includes:
HHV
dry
=
HHV
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
FC
dry
=
FC
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
VM
dry
=
VM
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
C
dry
=
C
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
H
dry
=
H
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
O
dry
=
O
DAF
(
100
-
A
dry
)
100
,
and
(
M
M
0
)
dry
=
(
M
M
0
)
DAF
*
(
100
-
A
0
,
dry
)
(
100
-
A
dry
)
;
wherein said A o,dry represents said value of said amount of initial ash content of said biomass on a dry basis,
said A dry represents said value of said amount of ash content of said fuel on said dry basis,
said HHV DAF represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on a dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) DAF represents a value of field of said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis, and
said M represents mass of said fuel,
said M 0 represents mass of said biomass,
said HHV dry represents a value of higher heating value of said fuel on said dry basis,
said C dry represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry basis,
said C DAF represents an amount of carbon in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said O dry represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry basis,
said O DAF represents an amount of oxygen in said fuel on said dry, ash-free basis,
said (M/M 0 ) dry represents a value of yield of said fuel on said dry basis, and
wherein said α has a value that is between about 200 and about 300,
said β has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said γ has a value that is between about 1×10 7 and about 1×10 8 ,
said δ has a value that is between about 7000 and about 9000,
said κ has a value that is between about 80 and about 120
said λ has a value that is between about 10 and about 35,
said o has a value that is between about 0.2 and about 1,
said π has a value that is between about 30 and about 70,
said ν has a value that is between about 5 and about 25,
said ρ has a value that is between about 8 and about 25,
said ξ has a value that is between about 2 and about 12,
said μ has a value that is between about 20 and about 50, and
wherein said desired value of said property of said fuel includes at least one member selected from a group consisting of said value of higher heating value on said dry basis, said value of fixed carbon on said dry basis, said value of yield on said dry basis, said value of volatile matter on said dry basis, said amount of carbon on said dry basis, said amount of oxygen on said dry basis and said amount of hydrogen on said dry basis; and
facilitating, using said value of said property of said fuel on said dry basis, at least one process selected from a group consisting of combustion of fuel or processing of biomass.Cited by (0)
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