Torrefaction of pine in a bench-scale screw conveyor reactor

Numerous works are reported in the literature regarding the torrefaction of biomass in batch processes. However, in industrial applications, continuous reactors and processes may by more interesting as this allows for the integration of continuous mass and heat flows. To shed light on the operation of continuous torrefaction processes, this work presents the findings of continuous, bench-scale (2.5 kg h−1) torrefaction experiments using pine wood particles as a feed material in a screw conveyor reactor. The shifts in product mass yields were in line with theoretical expectations for changes in reactor temperature and reactor residence times whereas the degree of filling within the screw reactor and the flow of the nitrogen purge gas were found to be negligible. The process allowed for the measurement of the particle surface temperatures throughout the length of the reactor and significant temperature differences where measured between the wall of the reactor and the reactor screw. The proximate composition and the higher heating value of the torrefied biomass were found to be correlated to the ratio of the mass of dry biomass feed to the mass of the torrefied biomass produced. Important observations regarding the operability of such a process, also relevant to larger-scale processes, include the need to prevent the occurrence of torrefaction vapour condensation (which leaves the torrefaction reactor in the form of a saturated vapour) in the presence of fine, solid particles as this leads to rapid particle agglomeration and process blockage.