Pilot Studies
Pilot Studies are performed to: demonstrate proof of concept, obtain design data, obtain usage data, and test materials of construction. They can also be used to manufacture product batches for customer evaluation. Both patent applications and environmental permits use such data to establish claims and/or document instrumentation capabilities.
Such studies typically involve the use of government or university labs. Toll manufacturers and equipment vendors also rent their units along with providing other support for a set of runs spelled out in the Scope of Work Agreement.
The example Pilot Study is work that was performed to define proof of concept for the benefits of treating storm debris in an inerted oven prior to landfill disposal. Idaho National Labs had performed a similar study in the past and was thus qualified to set up the experimental runs, measure the data, and operate their unit in a safe and reliable fashion.
The work along with hours set aside for documentation were quoted by the vendor and paid by the client according to a negotiated schedule.
The program to commission the unit, validate its results since its previous campaign was followed by a sequence of runs that were blocked off by feed material and temperature program. Such details go hand-in-hand with lining up equipment and other resources. With it, the process development program has a path forward. In addition, results are tied to the table and a report-out discusses trends, questions, problems that arose, and learnings so that the next round of experimentation can build on these.
FINAL PROJECT REPORT
Prepared in partial fulfillment of:
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
Effect of Torrefaction Process Conditions on Debris Physical Properties
Dr. Judith Oppenheim, Debris Diversion Solutions, Principle
Dr. Jordan Klinger, Idaho National Laboratory, Researcher
Mr. Sergio Hernandez, Idaho National Laboratory, Researcher
Mr. Brad Thomas, Idaho National Laboratory, Researcher
Finalized: August, 2019
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Table of Contents_______________________________ 1
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1. Executive Summary____________3
2. Project Overview._____________3
3. Project Materials and Methods.___5
4. Results.____________________15
Table of Figures
1. Laboratory splitters____7
2. Los Angeles Testing Machine for Abrasion Testing___11
3. W.S. Tyler Ro-Tap analytical sieve separation system____12
4. Diagrams and schematics of the inert thermochemical pretreatment oven____13
5. Raw samples used in this work____17
6. Photographs of pine (+) during stages of torrefaction processing___18
7. Relative temperature profile of the experiments___18
8. Pine Residues Product yield____20
9. OSB Product yield___21
10. Concrete Product yield____22
11. Collage of select sample photographs____23
12. Liquid collected from torrefaction runs___25
13. Filtered Liquid collected from torrefaction runs___26
15. Bulk density (loose and tapped) of OSB samples___27
16. Results of pine hardness testing for the raw and most severely treated pine material___27
17. Results of OSB hardness testing for the raw and most severely treated material___29
18. Results of Concrete hardness testing for the raw and most severely treated material___30
19. Results of pine hardness testing for the raw and torrefied samples____32
20. Results of OSB hardness testing for the raw and torrefied samples___34
21. Results of Concrete hardness testing for raw and torrefied samples___35
22. Water uptake with submersion with for pine___36
23. Water uptake with submersion with for OSB__37
24. Water uptake with submersion for concrete aggregate___38
Table of Tables
1. List of Run Conditions__4
2. Oven Run Conditions___14
3. Torrefaction performance of pine__19
4. Torrefaction performance of OSB___21
5. Torrefaction performance of Concrete__22
6. Proximate and ultimate composition of samples___40
7. Distribution of inorganic species of samples___41
8. pH of liquid products ___42
1. Executive Summary
2. Project Overview.
Debris Diversion Solutions (DDS) defines process technology for the waste disposal sector. Along the Gulf Coast, damage from severe wind storms and flooding associated with large amounts of rain create occur on an increasing frequent basis. This problem creates a demand for MSW landfill resources beyond what would be traditionally required for population centers across the region. In 2017, Construction and Demolition (C+D) debris represented 20% of the total tonnage in the 156 Texas Landfills that accept these materials. This number is the second largest category of debris (MSW is first at 65% total tonnage). Given recent weather records (last five years), this number is expected to grow.
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At the same time, there are several landfills in the Greater Houston area whose remaining capacity is less than 10 years. In the Texas Hill Country where land prices are the highest in the state, tipping fees have escalated to the point that regional Materials Recycle Facilities have expanded recently adding large capacity grinding machines, automated sorting systems, and solids screening equipment.
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C+D Debris consists of several different types of materials. These include those with organic content such as asphalt roofing, wood (treated and untreated), and cellulose insulation. Concrete, fiberglass insulation, drywall, brick, tile, and gypsum represent debris that contain inorganic content such as silica and limestone. Each type of debris has its own mineral composition, water content, and hardness.
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Brush and untreated wood recycling supports two markets: mulch/ compost and biofuel. While the former uses only grinding and screening, the latter depends on a torrefaction step. This step serves to remove moisture and low boiling volatiles from the biomass, thereby, increasing the fuel value of the residual solids. This process step is performed by heating the solids to temperatures less than 300 o C in an atmosphere without free-oxygen. Typical units run with oxygen depleted air, under partial vacuum, or with superheated steam. While such conditions serve to keep the biomass out of the flammable envelope, they also yield more friable solids (more readily size reduced), and certain conditions can facilitate pellet formation.
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of torrefaction on the physico-chemical properties of common materials found in C+D debris. Such results will be used to develop process technology to both qualify solids for use in new applications and establish more cost-effective disposal practices.
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INL has ten years of experience in the testing and evaluation of torrefaction technology to convert biomass to biofuels, densified pellets, and bioproducts. Their bench scale unit is a 5-shelf convection oven that can process approximately 2-3 kg per batch (based on density of pine wood chips) and an upper temperature of 285 C. Optional online offgas measurements include CO, CO2 , CH4 , H2 , and other HC. Together with solid feed and product samples, a post-experiment mass closure can be calculated to provide a quantification of error and product mass balance distribution/closure. Additional common tests can include fuel properties,