1

Biomass torrefaction
for energy application
Quang-Vu Bach1, Khanh-Quang Tran1, Øyvind Skreiberg2
1 Department of Energy and Process Engineering, NTNU, Trondheim
2 SINTEF Energi AS, Trondheim
2

Outline
• What is torrefaction?
• Why torrefaction is needed?
• How biomass is torrefied?
• Which properties are achieved after torefaction?
3

What is torrefaction?
4

Why torrefaction is needed?

• Drawbacks of biomass used as fuel
– Low heating value
– Low combustion efficiency
– Unstable operating condition in a combustor

Direct combustion of raw biomass causes

smoke and environment issues
5

Why torrefaction is needed?

• Drawbacks of biomass used as fuel
– Low bulk density
– High moisture content (10-20% or more)

Tranport raw biomass:

transport a low mass but a big vol
tranport >20 wt% of water
6

Why torrefaction is needed?

• Drawbacks of biomass used as fuel
– Poor grindability: consume a lot of energy to grind biomass
7

How biomass is torrefied?

H2O, CO2, ~30 wt%
CO, H2, CH4,
…
200-300°C, no Oxygen

~70 wt%

Raw biomass Torrefied biomass

Atmospheric pressure, 30-60mins
8

How biomass is torrefied? A real process

9

Which properties are achieved?

• Torrefaction offers treated biomass with:
– Lower moisture content (<3%)
– Greater heating value (~ low rank coal)
– Better grindability
– Hydrophobicity
– Stable and less emission in combustion (eg. low CO2, NOx)
10

Which properties are achieved?

– How moisture content get lower H2O, CO2,
CO, H2, CH4,
…

~70 wt%
Torrefied biomass

𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 ~
Heating value:
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬
11

Which properties are achieved?

• Hydrophobicity: water resistant
12

Which properties are achieved?

• Better grindability: lower energy need for grinding

Raw biomass

Torrefied biomass
13

Taking-home words

• Torrefaction: not only for coffee but also for biomass

• Hydrophobicity: water resistant
• Grindability: indicates how much energy need for grinding
• Pelletisation: press the biomass powder to produce pellets

• Torreffied biomass
– Looks like coal
– Acts like coal
– But does not pollute like coal
14

Acknowledgement
STOP project:
STable OPerating conditions for biomass
combustion plants

Industrial partners
Vattenfall Research and Development AB Norsk Protein AS
Akershus Energi AS Avfall Norge
Norges Skogeierforbund Norges Bondelag
Agder Energi AS Oslo Kommune Energigjenvinningsetaten
NTE Holding AS Vattenfall AB Nordic Heat
Hafslund ASA Energos AS
Statkraft Varme AS Granit Kleber AS
Norske Skogindustrier ASA Jøtul AS
Cambi AS
15

Thank for your attention !