JP6766693B2 - Manufacturing method of solid biomass fuel - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a solid biomass fuel by reusing wood waste in a palm palm plantation.

Palm (Arecales Bromhead) is a plant belonging to the monocotyledonous palm family, and there are more than 3,300 species mainly in the tropics. Among these palms, palm palm (oil palm: Elais) is a species that is cultivated mainly for the purpose of producing coconut oil. Palm palm is a general term for plants classified into the genus Oil palm of the family Palmaceae, and two species are known: the American oil palm (Elaeis oilifera) native to the tropical regions of Central and South America and the guinea oil palm (Elaeis guineaensis) native to West Africa. ing. In addition, some cultivars are hybrids of African oil palm and American oil palm.

Oil palms can be collected from the pulp of fresh fruit bunches (FFB: Fresh Fruit Bunch) and palm palm nuclei, respectively, and are cultivated for the purpose of producing such oils and fats. The amount of oil and fat obtained per unit area of palm palm is extremely large among plants, and large-scale cultivation (plantation agriculture) is carried out as a commercial crop, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Fruits harvested from palm palms, which are cultivated on a large scale industrially today, are used in the production of soaps and edible vegetable oils. Palm oil is obtained from the flesh (pericarp) of the fruits of the fresh fruit bunch (FFB), and palm kernel oil is obtained from the palm kernel in the center. The quality of palm oil and palm kernel oil are different. Palm oil is mainly used for cooking, and palm kernel oil is mainly used for processed foods. In recent years, palm oil and palm kernel oil have been used as biomass fuels. Is being used as a substitute for diesel fuel.

In recent years, palm coconut shells (PKS: Palm Kernel Shell) obtained as a by-product when palm oil of palm coconut or palm kernel oil is collected have been used as a raw material for such biomass fuel. In particular, recently, the supply of thinned wood, which is a raw material for biomass, has tended to be insufficient, and the amount of palm coconut shell (PKS) used has been increasing.

In the palm oil industry, which collects palm oil and palm kernel oil from palm palm, in addition to the above-mentioned palm palm shell (PKS), empty fruit bunch (EFB: Empty Fruit Bunch) and old palm tree (OPT: Oil Palm Trunk) , Palm branches and leaves (OPF: Oil Palm Front) and the like are generated as by-products.

Here, in the empty fruit bunch (EFB), since the fruit is steamed when the fruit is collected from the fresh fruit bunch (FFB: Fresh Fuel Bunch) of the palm palm, the water content of the empty fruit bunch (EFB) is generated by the steam at this time. Since the amount is 65% or more, it is not suitable as a fuel for combustion. For this reason, most of the empty fruit bunches (EFB) are returned to the farm and discarded, but some are burned in a boiler together with palm fiber (Fiber) and palm palm shell (PKS), and the burned ash is used as fertilizer. It's being used.

In addition, palm palm trees are cut down and replanted with new trees because the economy becomes low when the trees are about 25 years old. At this time, old palm trees (OPT) will be generated. Here, the amount of this old palm tree (OPT) generated is about three times that of the palm coconut shell (PKS). In the above-mentioned old palm wood (OPT), since the structure is fragile, it is not suitable for normal wood processing, and only a part of the outermost layer is used as a plywood material. In addition, since it occurs depending on the age of palm palm trees, the supply amount may vary from year to year.
Recently, for example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, a technique has been proposed in which old palm trees (OPT) are squeezed and ethanol or lactic acid is produced from the sugar contained in the obtained sap. Has been done.

Japanese Patent No. 4065960 Japanese Patent No. 4418871 Japanese Patent No. 4665257

By the way, palm branches and leaves (OPF) are cut down when the fruit bunches of palm palm are harvested, and two palm branches and leaves are cut down when one fruit bunches are harvested. This palm branch and leaf (OPF) has a fragile tissue and a large water content of about 77%, so that it has no use and is currently left on the farm. At the local farm, it is used as a habitat for snakes to exterminate wild rats as a countermeasure against wild rats aiming at the fruit clusters of palm palms.

However, the amount of this palm branch and leaf (OPF) generated is about 10 times that of the palm palm shell (PKS), and it is required to effectively utilize the palm branch and leaf (OPF). In addition, since palm palm is cultivated in the tropical rainforest region, palm branches and leaves (OPF) can be stably supplied throughout the year, so it is possible to obtain a great effect by using it as a biomass fuel. ..

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a solid biomass fuel that enables effective utilization of palm branches and leaves (OPF) as a biomass fuel.

In order to solve the above problems, the solid biomass fuel production method of the present invention is a solid biomass fuel production method performed in an unused biomass resource recovery plant installed adjacent to a palm plantation and a palm oil mill. Then, a harvesting step of separating and harvesting the fruit bunches and palm branches and leaves growing around the fruit bunches from the palm coconut tree, and a squeezing step of squeezing the palm foliage and separating it into a squeezed liquid and a first solid residue. , A biofuel production process of fermenting the juice to produce biofuel, a first energy generation process of generating first operating energy using the biofuel, and using the first operating energy as an energy source. It is used in a fuel pellet manufacturing process for producing a fuel pellet having a water content of 12% or less, which is composed of a compression molded product of the first solid residue and is semi-carbohydrated, and a fruit is removed from the fruit cluster. , A fruit removal step of separating the fruit into an empty fruit bunch after fruit removal, a first oil pressing step of squeezing the fruit and separating it into crude palm oil and a second solid residue, and after adding water to the crude palm oil. The oil-water separation step of separating oil-water to obtain palm oil and the second energy generation step of generating the second operating energy from the second solid residue are provided , and the juice squeezing step, the biofuel production step, and the above. In the first energy generation step and the fuel pellet manufacturing step, the second working energy is used as an energy source in addition to the first working energy, and in the juice squeezing step, palm leaves are used as the palm branches and leaves. Among the growing leaf part and the leaf stalk that forms the fruit bunch side of the leaf part, the leaf stalk is used, and the leaf part is laid around the palm palm tree .

According to the method for producing a solid biomass fuel of the present invention, a solid biomass fuel is produced using palm branches and leaves (OPF), old palm trees (OPT), and palm coconut shells (PKS), which have not been effectively used in the past. As a result, the entire palm palm tree can be effectively used.
In particular, palm branches and leaves (OPF) are cut down in large quantities when harvesting palm palm fruit bunches, so the supply is large and the supply is stable throughout the year, making it a stable raw material for solid biomass fuel. It becomes possible to supply. In addition, palm branches and leaves (OPF), which have not been effectively used in the past, can be used as solid biomass fuel.

Then, as an energy source required for producing solid biomass fuel, a biofuel is produced by fermenting a squeezed liquid containing a large amount of sugar components obtained in the squeezing process, and the first operating energy using this is used. This will make effective use of surplus energy and enable the production of solid biomass fuel at low cost.

In addition, with the effective use of such surplus energy, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of wood waste and waste liquid containing a large amount of sugar components, which makes it possible to sustainably operate palm palm plantations that are suitable for environmental conservation. Contribute.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a first crushing step of crushing an old palm tree is further provided as a pre-step of the juice squeezing step.

Further, in the present invention, the fuel pellet manufacturing step includes a second crushing step of crushing the first solid residue to obtain a palm foliage crushed product, a drying step of adjusting the water content of the palm foliage crushed product, and semi-carbonization. The semi-carbonized step to be treated, the crushing step of adjusting the semi-carbonized palm foliage crushed product to the input size of the pellet molding machine, and the addition of lignin to the crushed semi-carbonized palm foliage crushed product are described above. It is characterized by including a compression molding step of charging and compression molding with a pellet molding machine to pelletize.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the palm branches and leaves, the trunk of the palm palm tree is further supplied to the juice squeezing step.

Further, in the present invention, the second solid residue contains the palm coconut shell and palm fiber of the fruit after oil extraction, and in the fuel pellet manufacturing step, in addition to the first solid residue, the palm coconut shell, It is characterized in that the palm fiber is further supplied.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the first solid residue, the empty fruit bunch from the fruit removing step is further supplied to the fuel pellet manufacturing step.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the biofuel production process includes a process of producing methane gas by fermentation of a juice juice.

The present invention is also characterized in that the biofuel is methane gas or bioethanol.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first operating energy is at least one of electric power, steam and hot gas obtained by using the biofuel as a driving source.

Further, in the present invention, in the second energy generation step, electric power and steam obtained by burning at least one of the empty fruit bunch, the palm coconut shell, and the palm fiber in a boiler as a driving source. And it is a hot gas.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for producing a solid biomass fuel that enables effective use of palm branches and leaves (OPF) as a biomass fuel.

It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed typically the manufacturing procedure of the solid biomass fuel of this invention. It is a flowchart which showed the manufacturing method of the solid biomass fuel of this invention step by step. It is explanatory drawing which shows each component part of the palm palm. It is a schematic diagram which shows the palm branch and leaf of the palm palm. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cross section of the fruit of the palm palm. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the pellet for fuel which is a solid biomass fuel.

First, the technical background of the present invention will be described.
Biomass is an organic substance derived from plants and grows while absorbing CO ₂ in the atmosphere during its growth process, so it is characterized by being carbon-neutral, which does not emit additional CO ₂ even if it is burned. In general, the drawbacks of wood pellets (white pellets), which are conventional biomass resources, are (1) lower calorific value compared to coal, and (2) poor pulverizability, so the coal co-firing rate is about 3 wt% at maximum. (3) It is easy to generate heat naturally, (4) It is hydrophilic, and when it gets wet due to moisture absorption, its shape deteriorates and its water content is unstable. In particular, considering the use in Japan, there is uncertainty in the stable supply of overseas biomass resources (resource securing, logistic). There is also uncertainty about the sustainability of biomass fuels.

Therefore, the technique for overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks for woody biomass resources is the semi-carbonization technique described in the present invention. The characteristics of semi-carbonized pellets (black pellets) are (1) large calorific value, (2) excellent crushability and co-firing properties, (3) improved handleability due to hydrophobicity, and (4) spontaneous heat generation. It has excellent features such as being able to be almost eliminated depending on the carbonization temperature. However, in the production of semi-carbonized pellets (black pellets), in addition to high material costs, manufacturing costs (energy cost, equipment cost, labor cost, etc.) and transportation costs are incurred, and the selling unit price (calorific value / kg) is high. Due to the rise, it has not been economically viable in the past, and there have been few examples at the industrial level.

Especially in Japan, the amount of biomass resources is small and the production cost is high, so it has been difficult to find the merit of producing semi-carbonized pellets (black pellets) in the past.
The present invention solves various problems such as economic efficiency and difficulty in industrialization related to such semi-carbonized pellets (black pellets).

The requirements for industrialization of semi-carbonized pellets are (A) stable securing of biomass resources (resource securing and logistic), (B) sustainability of economic production of biomass resource-derived products, and (C) technology related to biomass resource-derived product manufacturing. Solving specific issues, (D) building Win-Win relations with the palm oil industry location area and partner countries, etc.

(A) To secure stable biomass resources, a new unused biomass resource recycling plant will be set up adjacent to or at the same location as the existing palm oil mills in Malaysia and Indonesia, which are typical examples of the existence of a large-scale palm oil industry. By doing so, it is possible to stably obtain various biomass resources by collaborating with the existing palm oil industry.

As an example, the amount of biomass resources of the palm oil industry in Malaysia will be illustrated.
EFB ≒ 7 million tons / year, OPF ≒ 25 million tons / year (Petiole only), OPT ≒ 20 million tons / year, PKS ≒ 5 million tons / year, Fiber ≒ 8 million tons / year, POME ≒ 64 million tons / year. For reference, Indonesia is said to have about 1.3 times as much biomass resources as Malaysia.

Of these biomass resources, only PKS and Fiber are used in the existing palm oil mill, and the other parts are not effectively used at present. Therefore, in order to secure resources, biomass resources such as EFB, OPF (including juice), OPT (including juice), PKS, Fiber, and POME are used. In particular, it is possible to add high value to PKS and Fiber. Regarding the stability of the arrival of these biomass resources due to seasonal fluctuations, in Malaysia and Indonesia, where there are no four seasons, although there are slight fluctuations in the amount of arrival due to the rainy season, palm-derived biomass resources are generated extremely stably, so they are stable. Biomass resources can be obtained.

In addition, in collaboration with the local palm oil industry, the existing FFB arrival and product shipment logistics can be used as they are for OPF arrival and product group production at the new unused biomass resource recovery plant. OPT can be received by a local replanting company. Further, due to the location, it is extremely easy to hold EFB, PKS, Fiber, and POME horizontally from the existing palm oil mill, which is highly economical.

(B) As for the sustainability of economic production of products derived from biomass resources, resource prices, logistic costs, manufacturing costs, etc. can be achieved in collaboration with existing local palm oil mills where the palm oil industry is located.
Regarding material costs, for example, in the palm oil industry of Malaysia and Indonesia, EFB, OPF, OPT, and POME are currently wastes, difficult-to-treat materials, and environmentally polluted objects, and are almost worthless as material costs.
PKS and Fiber are heat-utilized as boiler fuel in oil mills, but by using unused biomass such as EFB for alternative combustion, they will be newly valued as fuel for external sale.

Energy cost is the most important point to collaborate with the existing palm oil industry, and EFB, OPF, OPT, POME, which are almost worthless as the material cost mentioned above, and PKS, Fiber, which is expected to be surplus, are used as energy resources. As a result, a large reduction effect can be obtained. For example, (1) EFB (waste from existing palm oil mill): Thermal energy is recovered by dehydration technology + low temperature combustion technology. (2) Juice liquid from OPF and OPT (product from a new unused biomass resource recovery plant): Converted to methane gas and ethanol by fermentation and used as thermal energy and fuel for power generation. (3) POME (waste liquid from existing palm oil mill, environmental pollution target): Converted to methane gas by biomass gas extraction technology and used as thermal energy and fuel for power generation.

PKS, Fiber (product expected to be surplus): If the PKS and Fiber obtained as by-products cannot be used as fuel in the existing palm oil mill, it will be necessary to dispose of them as surplus. In recent years, PKS has become established as a fuel for external sales, but Fiber is basically used up. Therefore, the combustion boilers of existing palm oil extraction plants are not high combustion efficiency boilers, but boiler equipment based on the ability to burn more surplus material is the mainstream.
By introducing a high combustion efficiency type from the current combustion efficiency boiler, the surplus of PKS and Fiber will increase, and it will be possible to sell them as valuable resources.

Regarding the land cost, the existing palm oil extraction factory is installed in the center of the palm plantation of about 10 km square, and the factory land cost is extremely low in Malaysia and Indonesia, for example, compared to Japan, for example.
Labor costs can be centrally managed by collaborating with the local palm oil industry, and the number of new unused biomass resource recycling plants will be the minimum required due to the introduction of technology from Japan. Therefore, the labor cost in the factory production cost is reduced.
As mentioned above, energy can be produced by itself using surplus biomass resources, and water resources are abundant because it is a rainy area.

As for stock costs, as mentioned above, biomass resources are extremely stable and available, so a large stockyard and storage facilities are not required, and storage equipment costs are considerably low. Regarding the cost related to logistics, in collaboration with the local palm oil industry, the logistic of the product shipment including the existing FFB arrival and export is received as it is, and the product group produced at the new unused biomass resource recycling factory. Since it can be used for shipping, it is relatively inexpensive. In addition, local palm oil industries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have established road infrastructure even in rural areas, and the benefits of collaboration will be great. As for port facilities for shipping loose goods, it is expected that PKS shipping facilities shipped from both countries and coal shipping facilities will be used in Indonesia.
Regarding the horizontal holding cost on the unused biomass raw material side, it is possible to install EFB, PKS, Fiber, and POME horizontal holding automatic transportation equipment with the existing palm oil mill, and a large horizontal holding cost will be incurred after installation. do not do.

And it is possible to create a variety of biomass products and energy. Biomass resources supplied from existing palm oil mills and palm plantations include (1) EFB: private boiler fuel, semi-carbonized fuel, potassium fertilizer, and (2) OPF: OPF semi-carbonized fuel, OPF. Carbonized fuel / coke alternative briquette, (3) OPT: OPT semi-carbonized fuel, OPT carbonized fuel / coke alternative briquette, (4) PKS: PKS semi-carbonated fuel (single pellet, mixed pellet, simple semi-carbonated), (5) Faber: Use of Faber solid fuel, mixed fuel of other raw materials, (6) POME: Use of methane gas (private power consumption power generation, power sale, methane gas production), (7) Juice liquid: Use of methane gas production, ethanol production, sugar classification, etc. Can be mentioned.

In addition, there are merits such as backup of utilities, management of workers, and sharing of crime prevention by collaborating with the existing palm oil factory. In particular, the environmental management of the existing palm oil factory is dramatically improved by the collaboration. Expected to improve.

(C) As for technical issues related to the production of products derived from biomass resources, core technological development is progressing at Japanese government agencies, the private sector, and research institutes including universities in local countries (Malaysia / Indonesia). For example, we propose it as a method for producing solid biomass fuel that can be applied to the effective utilization of biomass resources in the palm oil industry in Malaysia and Indonesia.

(D) The win-win relationship with the palm oil industry location area and the partner country can be solved by installing it adjacent to or at the same location as the existing local palm oil mill. (1) Through the collaborative system, it is possible to effectively utilize wastes, difficult-to-treat materials, and environmentally polluted substances in the existing palm oil industry as biomass resources at a new unused biomass resource recovery plant. Environmental conservation by purifying POME, which has become a social problem, will be possible at the new unused biomass resource recovery plant as it is. Therefore, cost reduction, recovery cost and sale cost of the existing palm oil industry are expected, which will lead to an increase in income. (2) It is possible to provide palm palm plantation workers with a new source of income from work such as electricity and heat source supply and OPF recovery. (3) The new unused biomass resource recovery factory itself is a labor-saving factory, but employment such as acceptance, shipping, and operation management is expected, and local collaborative companies and regional revitalization are expected. (4) “Carbon-neutral” deliverables can be obtained by utilizing biomass resources in the partner country and Japan.

The new unused biomass resource recovery plant is expected to be installed adjacent to or in the same location as the existing palm oil mill, but the scope of industrial scale expansion is for relatively transportable OPF, OPT, EFB, for example. If the transportation range is about 50 km one way, it can be recovered from the area of the farm under the jurisdiction of about 20 factories. As an example, in Malaysia, OPF: 1.16 million tons / year is expected to be recovered per new unused biomass resource recovery plant.

Hereinafter, a method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned technical background and problems will be described with reference to the drawings. Each of the embodiments shown below will be specifically described in order to better understand the gist of the invention, and is not limited to the present invention unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view schematically showing a procedure for producing a solid biomass fuel.
Further, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a stepwise method for producing a solid biomass fuel.
In this embodiment, as an example of a method for producing a solid biomass fuel, a method for producing pellets for fuel, which is a pellet-shaped solid biomass fuel, will be exemplified.

The solid biomass fuel production process 10 using palm palm as a raw material is roughly divided into a harvesting and sorting process 11, a fuel pellet production process 12, and a palm oil production process 13. It is preferable that the facilities for performing the fuel pellet production process 12 and the palm oil production process 13 are physically close to each other or integrated.

Palm palm has a hot and humid climate with a range of 17 degrees north latitude to 20 degrees south latitude centered on the equator, annual rainfall of 1500 to 2000 mm, minimum temperature of 22 to 24 ° C, maximum temperature of 29 to 30 ° C, and sunshine hours of 5 hours / day or more. Is a favorable environment for cultivation, and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America are considered to be suitable for cultivation.

Oil palms cultivated in plantations are sprouting from seeds, cultivated in pots for about one to one and a half years, and then planted on the leveled land at a density of about 140 to 150 trees / ha. Three years after planting, the first inflorescence appears at the base of the leaf, and eventually all the inflorescences follow the root of the leaf. There are male and female inflorescences, and the male flowers are yellow and small, and pollen is produced 3 to 4 days after they appear. Female flowers are also yellow flowers, and 10 to 12 inflorescences form one inflorescence, and these inflorescences gather to form an inflorescence. Since the flying distance of pollen is not very long, pollination through insects is performed.

Fruits mature about 150 days after pollination. Harvesting begins three to four and a half years after germination, with trees eight to fifteen years being best harvested. About 11 fresh fruit bunches (FFB) can be harvested annually from one palm palm, and two palm branches and leaves (OPF) are cut down during this harvest. Then, after about 18 years, the yield begins to decrease, so it is usually cut down and replanted in about 20 to 25 years.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing each component of palm palm.
As shown in FIG. 3, the palm palm 1 is a large number of fruits that occur at the roots of the trunk 2 that rises from the ground, the palm branches and leaves (OPF) 3 that branch off from the trunk 2, and the palm branches and leaves (OPF) 3. It has a fruit bunch (fresh fruit bunch) 5 that bears 4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing palm branches and leaves (OPF) of palm palm.
The palm branch leaf (OPF) 3 is composed of a leaf portion (Rachis) 6 on which palm leaves grow and a petiole 7 forming a petiole 5 side of the leaf portion 6.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the fruit of palm palm.
The fruit 4 is composed of an outer pericarp 4A, a flesh (middle pericarp) 4B containing palm oil, and a palm coconut core 4C wrapped in the inner pericarp and containing palm kernel oil.

In the harvesting and sorting process (harvesting step S1) 11, the fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of palm palm cultivated in the palm plantation are harvested. In addition, when harvesting the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) of palm palm, it is necessary to cut down the palm branches and leaves (OPF) growing around the fresh fruit bunch (FFB). When harvesting one fresh fruit bunch (FFB), two palm branches and leaves (OPF) will be cut down.

The palm branches and leaves (OPF) obtained in the harvesting and sorting process 11 are further cut into leaf parts (Rachis) on which palm leaves grow and petioles (Petioles) forming a fresh fruit cluster (FFB) side from the leaf parts. Then, in the following fuel pellet production process 12, petioles are used as palm branches and leaves (OPF). Of course, the leaf portion 12 can also be used in the fuel pellet production process 12. In the palm branch leaf (OPF) 3, the weight ratio of the petiole 7 to the leaf portion 6 is about 50:50. The petiole 7 of the palm branch leaf (OPF) 3 is characterized in that the starch content is particularly high from the root (base) connected to the trunk 2 to the central portion.

On the other hand, the carved leaves (Rachis) are laid around the growing palm palms of the palm palm plantation. By placing a leaf part (Rachis) with such a large number of leaves around the palm palm, a habitat for snakes that prey on wild rats aiming at the fruit cluster of the palm palm is secured, and the palm palm is prevented from being damaged by rats. To do.

By the above harvesting and sorting process (harvesting step S1) 11, the petioles 7 of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and palm branches and leaves (OPF) are obtained. In addition, for example, palm palm 1 that has passed 25 years or more is also cut down and collected as old palm trees (OPT) and remaining palm branches and leaves (OPF).

The trunk of old palm trees (OPT) contains a large amount of sap, and the content of the sap tends to be higher toward the central part, but the average is about 65% to 85%. This old palm tree (OPT) is an excellent sugar solution that is very high in glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Although there are some differences depending on the age of the old palm tree (OPT), the total sugar content immediately after felling is about 7 to 10%. Looking at the same trunk, the distribution of sugar content above and below it is about 20% lower at the bottom, but about the same from the middle to the top.

It is also known that old palm trees (OPT) have a change that can be said to be a ripening phenomenon, in which the sugar content is greatly increased by storing the old palm trees (OPT) for a certain period of time after cutting. For example, it is known that the sap content immediately after felling is 65% to 85% and hardly changes during the storage period, while the sugar content rises up to nearly 15%. Considering that the sugar content of sugar cane juice is about 16% as an example, old palm trees (OPT) may become a raw material having a sugar content equivalent to sugar cane after an appropriate aging period. .. For this reason, it is also preferable to store the felled old palm trees (OPT) for a certain period of time to increase the sugar content.

The fresh fruit bunches (FFB) that have undergone the sorting process (harvesting step S1) 11 are sent to the palm oil production process 13, and the palm branches and leaves (OPF) are sent to the fuel pellet production process 12.

First, the fuel pellet production process 12 will be described. In the fuel pellet production process 12, the petioles 7 of palm branches and leaves (OPF) are washed. Use water for cleaning. It is preferable that the washing wastewater used for washing the petiole 7 is recycled as reclaimed water by performing a step such as precipitation.

Next, the washed petioles 7 are dehydrated or dried. The petiole 7 is preferably dried in the sun, for example. It can also be dried using a dryer with warm air or the like. It can also be dehydrated using a dehydrator.

Due to the handling in the harvesting step S1, the petiole 7 of the palm branch leaf (OPF) roughly cut to about 1 m is sent as it is to the juice squeezing step S3 described later, but together with the petiole 7, the sorting process (harvesting step S1). The old palm tree (OPT) recovered in No. 11 can also be used by crushing (first crushing step S2). By using such an old palm tree (OPT) together with the petiole 7, it is possible to effectively utilize the old palm tree (OPT), which was difficult to utilize due to insufficient strength as a tree.

Next, juice is squeezed from the old palm tree (OPT) and the leaf stalk 7 crushed in the first crushing step S2, and the obtained juice and the crushed product of the first solid residue (the stalk 7 and the old palm tree (OPT) (for example, for example). The sap is squeezed out from a lump of about 50 mm) and separated (juice squeezing step S3). When squeezing crushed petioles 7 or old palm trees (OPT), for example, a roller press type squeezing machine used for squeezing sugar cane can be used.

The juice juice and the first solid residue can be separated by a separation method such as centrifugation or filtration. The separated juice liquor forms, for example, a yellowish turbid liquid and contains a large amount of sugar components. Biofuel is produced using such a juice (biofuel production step S4).

In the biofuel production step S4, the sugar component contained in the juice is converted to methane gas or bioethanol by fermentation. For example, by alcoholic fermentation (Ethanol Fermentation), sugar components (glucose, fructose, sucrose) are decomposed to produce ethanol (bioethanol) and carbon dioxide. In addition, methane gas (biogas) is produced from this carbon dioxide and hydrogen by methane fermentation (Methanogenesis).

Next, using the obtained bioethanol or biogas as fuel, first operating energy such as electric power, steam, and hot gas is generated (first energy generation step S5). The first operating energy such as electric power, steam, and hot gas obtained here is used as an operating energy source for a process for producing fuel pellets, which will be described later.

The crushed palm foliage is formed by crushing the squeezed cake, which is the first solid residue, obtained in the juice squeezing step S3 described above (second crushing step S6). The pressed cake of the first solid residue may be crushed by, for example, a crusher provided with a rotary blade. The crushed palm foliage obtained thereby has a size of, for example, about 50 mm to 150 mm in the present embodiment.

In the second crushing step S6, the empty fruit bunch (EFB) after the fruit was degreased in the palm oil production process 13 described later and the palm coconut shell (PKS) after the fruit was squeezed were also crushed, and the palm branches and leaves were crushed. Can be added to crushed material.

One of the advantages of semi-carbonization by the semi-carbonization step S7B described later is reduction of crushing power. Since the palm branches and leaves (OPF) and old palm trees (OPT) are fragile, the power load is small for some crushing before the semi-carbonization process S7B, but the power load for crushing the empty fruit bunch (EFB) is before the semi-carbonization process S7B. Crushing power load is large. Therefore, it is economically preferable that the empty fruit bunch (EFB) is crushed to about 50 mm to 150 mm in the crushing before the semi-carbonization step S7B, dehydrated, and then crushed to 15 mm or less after the semi-carbonization step S7B.

Next, using the crushed palm foliage obtained in the second crushing step S6, pellets for fuel, which is a solid biomass fuel, are produced (fuel pellet manufacturing step S7). The fuel pellet manufacturing step S7 includes a drying step S7A, a semi-carbonization step S7B, a pulverization step S7C, and a compression molding step S7D.

In the drying step S7A, the water content of the crushed palm branches and leaves is adjusted using a dryer or the like. In the semi-carbonization step S7B, the palm foliage crushed product obtained in the second crushing step S6 is semi-carbonized by a semi-carbonization furnace. By semi-carbonizing the crushed palm branches and leaves in an atmosphere of, for example, 300 ° C. or lower and less than 10% oxygen, the calorific value can be improved by 20 to 30% and the water resistance can be improved.

The products in the second crushing step S6 have a water content of about 40% in the case of palm branches and leaves (OPF) and old palm trees (OPT), and about 50% in the case of empty fruit bunch (EFB). Therefore, whether the drying step S7A to the semi-carbonization step S7B is performed once or these steps are performed in two steps depends on the equipment, but after the drying step, the water content is usually about 10 to 13%. In the subsequent semi-carbonization step S7B, the water content is 12% or less, preferably around 5% (then, 8 to 10% by moisture absorption).

The semi-carbonization treatment apparatus for performing such semi-carbonization treatment may be, for example, a rotary heat treatment furnace. Using such a rotary heat treatment furnace, the crushed palm foliage is heated to, for example, about 200 ° C. to 350 ° C. and held for 5 to 90 minutes to bring the water content to about 0% to 12%.

As the necessary energy source used in the fuel pellet manufacturing step S7, the first operating energy such as electric power, steam, and hot gas obtained in the first energy generation step S5 is used. In the semi-carbonization step S7B, it is desirable to use the volatile matter (combustible gas) generated by indirect heating during semi-carbonization as the heating heat source, and the problem of blockage due to heavy oil that occurs when the volatile matter (combustible gas) is cooled, etc. Has the effect of reducing. Further, it is also preferable to supply the second operating energy in the palm oil production process 13, which will be described later, to the entire palm oil industry, the production of new solid biomass fuel, and the like.

The amount of squeezed liquid produced in the squeezing process S3, which is the previous step, is relatively large, and if it is discharged as it is, there is a concern about water pollution, but the first energy is generated using ethanol, methane, etc. generated by fermentation of the squeezed liquid. By generating the first operating energy such as electric power in the step S5, it is possible to produce fuel pellets at low cost without introducing fuel or the like from the outside.

Next, lignin derived from palm is added to the semi-carbonized palm foliage crushed product, and then compression molding is performed to pelletize (compression molding step S7D). In the compression molding step S7D, for example, a die extrusion type pellet molding apparatus can be used. It is necessary to adjust the size of the raw material to be charged into the pellet molding apparatus depending on the pellet size to be manufactured. Therefore, it is desirable to install the crushing step S7C for adjusting the raw material dimensions as a pre-step of the compression molding step S7D. Also in the crushing step S7C and the compression molding step S7D, for example, as a drive source for the pellet molding apparatus, the first operating energy such as electric power, steam, and hot gas obtained in the first energy generation step S5, and the energy for operation described later will be described later. The second operating energy in the palm oil production process 13 can be used.

Through the above steps, fuel pellets, which are solid biomass fuels, can be obtained.
The fuel pellet obtained by the method for producing a solid biomass fuel of the present embodiment is a pellet of a semi-carbonized palm foliage powder. As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel pellet 20 has, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a diameter D: 4 mm to 20 mm and a length L: 5 mm to 100 mm. Further, the bulk specific gravity is within the range of 0.65 or more and 0.85 or less.

The fuel pellet 20 obtained by the solid biomass fuel production method of the present embodiment has its water content and volatile components reduced by dehydration treatment and semi-carbonization treatment, and the water content of the fuel pellet 20 is 12% or less. It is adjusted within the range.

Further, in the fuel pellet 20 obtained by the solid biomass fuel production method of the present embodiment, the Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) defined by JIS M 8801 is within the range of 22 or more and 50 or less. ..

Further, in the fuel pellet 20 obtained by the solid biomass fuel production method of the present embodiment, the surface of the fuel pellet 20 has hydrophobicity by the semi-carbonization treatment, and the water resistance is improved. That is, even if the fuel pellet 20 obtained by the method for producing the solid biomass fuel of the present embodiment is immersed in water, the shape is maintained without being easily disintegrated.

Next, the palm oil production process 13 will be described.
In the palm oil production process 13, after washing the fresh fruit bunches (FFB), the fresh fruit bunches (FFB) are steamed and separated into fruits and empty fruit bunches (EFB) (fruit removal step S11). For example, the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) is steamed for about 1 hour with saturated steam of about ³ kg / cm3. Since palm palm contains a lipase enzyme that decomposes oil in the fruit, this lipase enzyme is activated from the moment of harvesting. Therefore, it is necessary to apply heat within 24 hours after harvesting the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) to inactivate the lipase enzyme.

The purpose of steaming these fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) is to inactivate (inactivate) the enzymes that break down oil. Treatment at 55 ° C. or higher is required for such inactivation. Further, by steaming, the fruit is easily separated from the fruit bunch, and the fruit is softened to facilitate oil extraction in the palm oil production process 13. To separate the fruit from the fruit cluster, for example, the fruit cluster is beaten using a fruit remover or the like to separate the fruit from the stem and fruit of the fruit cluster.
After that, in order to efficiently squeeze the separated fruits, the fruits are stirred for about 30 minutes while heating at 95 ° C. to 100 ° C. to form a slurry (digestion).

In such a fruit removal step S11, the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) is steamed using the steam (second operating energy) generated in the second energy generation step S16 generated in the fuel pellet production process 12 described above. be able to. In such a fruit removal step S11, the amount of steam used is the largest in the palm oil production process 13.

Further, the empty fruit bunch (EFB) after fruit removal generated in this fruit removal step S11 is introduced into the second crushing step S6 in the above-mentioned fuel pellet production process 12 after dehydration, and is a part of the palm foliage crushed product. By using it as a raw material for manufacturing fuel pellets, it is possible to reduce wood waste and make effective use of it. This may be an empty fruit bunch EFB alone or mixed with palm branches and leaves.

Next, the fruit slurried in the fruit removal step S11 is squeezed (first oil squeezing step S12). For example, in the first oil squeezing step S12, a screw type oil squeezing machine is used to separate the crude palm oil and the second solid residue which is a fibrous material containing palm palm nuclei by pressure.

Next, the crude palm oil obtained in the first oil extraction step S12 is hydrated, heated to, for example, about 85 ° C. and allowed to stand, and then oil-water separation due to the difference in specific gravity is performed to obtain palm oil (oil-water separation). Step S13). It is also possible to quickly separate oil and water by further removing fibers and water with a centrifuge after water addition.

On the other hand, the second solid residue contains palm coconut kernels, and after the second solid residue is dried and pulverized, the palm coconut kernels and the palm coconut shell (PKS) are separated (palm kernel separation step S14). Such separation can be done, for example, by air flow. Then, the separated palm coconut kernel is squeezed to obtain palm kernel oil (second oil squeezing step S15).

Next, using the obtained bioethanol or biogas as fuel, energy for second operation such as electric power, steam, and hot gas is generated by power generation or heating of water (second energy generation step S16). Of the second operating energy such as electric power, steam, and hot gas obtained here, for example, steam can be used as saturated steam for steaming the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) in the fruit removal step S11. Of the second operating energy, for example, electric power is used as a driving force for the heat treatment furnace in the semi-carbonization step S7B in the fuel pellet manufacturing step S7, or as a power source for the pellet molding apparatus in the compression molding step S7D. Can be used. In addition, the heat gas can be used as a heat source in the drying process.

Further, a part of the palm coconut shell (PKS) separated in the coconut core separation step S14 is introduced into the second crushing step S6 in the above-mentioned fuel pellet production process 12, and is used as a fuel as a part of the crushed palm foliage. It can be used as a raw material for producing pellets for use. In the conventional PKS, the Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) is ≈14, which is equal to or less than that of wood pellets, and although it has water resistance, the water content is not stable and it is difficult to use as a co-firing fuel for coal. In most cases, it is used as an auxiliary fuel for power generation. Therefore, by incorporating it into the fuel pellet production process 12, it becomes a semi-carbonized fuel, which can be used as a higher value-added fuel and can further reduce wood waste.

As described above, according to the method for producing a solid biomass fuel of the present invention, palm branches and leaves (OPF), old palm trees (OPT), oil palm (EFB), and applications that have not been effectively used in the past can be used. By producing solid biomass fuel, for example, fuel pellets, using a small amount of palm coconut shell (PKS), the entire palm coconut tree can be effectively used. In particular, palm branches and leaves (OPF) are cut down in large quantities when harvesting palm palm fruit bunches, so the supply is large and the supply is stable throughout the year, making it a stable raw material for solid biomass fuel. It becomes possible to supply. In addition, palm branches and leaves (OPF), which have not been effectively used in the past, can be used as solid biomass fuel.

In addition, the empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a simple pellet and a semi-carbonized pellet, and has a large amount of potassium component, and the range of use as a fuel is limited. Here, (1) as a mixed fuel of thermal power generation fuel that uses a large amount of coal, it is a semi-carbonized fuel for applications within the range where there is no problem even if potassium is contained, and (2) potassium in the production area. There is an example of use in which it is used as a fuel for low temperature combustion at a boiling point of 774 ° C. or lower and the incinerated ash is commercialized as "ash potassium".

Then, as an energy source required for producing such fuel pellets, the squeezed liquid containing a large amount of sugar component obtained in the squeezing step S3 is fermented to generate methane gas and bioethanol, and the electric power and high pressure using this are used. By using the first operating energy such as steam and the second operating energy using unused biomass, the surplus energy can be effectively used and solid biomass fuel such as fuel pellets can be produced at low cost.

In addition, with the effective use of such surplus energy, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of wood waste and waste liquid containing a large amount of sugar components, which makes it possible to sustainably operate palm palm plantations that are suitable for environmental conservation. Contribute.

1 Palm palm 2 Tree trunk 3 Palm branches and leaves (OPF)
4 Fruit 4A Outer pericarp 4B Flesh (medium pericarp)
4C palm palm nucleus 6 leaf part (Rachis)
7 Petiole
10 Solid biomass fuel production process 11 Harvesting and sorting process 12 Fuel pellet production process 13 Palm oil production process

Claims (10)

A method for producing solid biomass fuel, which is carried out at an unused biomass resource recycling plant installed adjacent to a palm plantation and a palm oil mill.
A harvesting process in which the fruit cluster and the palm branches and leaves that grow around the fruit cluster are separated and harvested from the palm palm tree, respectively.
A squeezing step of squeezing the palm branches and leaves and separating them into a squeezed liquid and a first solid residue.
A biofuel manufacturing process in which the juice is fermented to produce biofuel,
The first energy generation step of generating the first operating energy using the biofuel, and
A fuel pellet manufacturing process for producing fuel pellets having a water content of 12% or less, which is composed of a compression molded product of the first solid residue and has a water content of 12% or less, using the first operating energy as an energy source. ,
A fruit removal step of removing the fruit from the fruit cluster and separating the fruit into an empty fruit cluster after fruit removal.
The first oil squeezing step of squeezing the fruit and separating it into crude palm oil and a second solid residue.
An oil-water separation step of adding water to the crude palm oil and then separating the oil-water to obtain palm oil.
A second energy generation step of generating a second operating energy from the second solid residue is provided .
In the juice squeezing step, the biofuel manufacturing step, the first energy generation step, and the fuel pellet manufacturing step, the second working energy is used as an energy source in addition to the first working energy.
In the juice squeezing step, the petiole of the leaf part on which the palm leaf grows and the petiole forming the fruit bunch side of the leaf part is used as the palm branch leaf, and the leaf part is laid around the palm palm tree. A method for producing a solid biomass fuel. Examples previous step squeezed method of manufacturing an solid biomass fuel of claim 1, wherein further comprising a first crushing step and wherein disrupting the palm old. The fuel pellet manufacturing process includes a second crushing step of crushing the first solid residue to obtain a crushed palm foliage, a drying step of adjusting the water content of the crushed palm foliage, and a semi-carbonizing treatment step of semi-carbonizing. A crushing step of adjusting the semi-carbonized palm foliage crushed product to the input dimensions of the pellet molding machine, and adding lignin to the crushed semi-carbonized palm foliage crushed product and charging with the pellet molding machine. The method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a compression molding step of molding and pelletizing. The method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein in addition to the palm branches and leaves, the trunk of the palm coconut tree is further supplied to the juice squeezing step. The second solid residue contains palm coconut shells and palm fibers of the fruit after oil extraction.
The solid biomass fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the palm coconut shell and the palm fiber are further supplied to the fuel pellet manufacturing step in addition to the first solid residue. Production method. The solid biomass fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein in addition to the first solid residue, an empty fruit bunch from the fruit removing step is further supplied to the fuel pellet manufacturing step. Manufacturing method. The method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the biofuel production step includes a process of producing methane gas by fermentation of a juice. The method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the biofuel is methane gas or bioethanol. The first working energy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first operating energy is at least one of electric power, steam, and hot gas obtained by using the biofuel as a driving source. Method for producing solid biomass fuel. The second energy generation step is electric power, steam, and heat gas obtained by using steam obtained by burning at least one of the empty fruit bunch, the palm coconut shell, and the palm fiber in a boiler as a driving source. The method for producing a solid biomass fuel according to claim 5 , wherein the solid biomass fuel is produced.

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