"ACompleteandComprehensiveOverview

ofTorrefactionTechnologies"

R.A.WALTONandDRSINGB.G.VANBOMMELDECEMBER2010

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TableofContentsAbstract.............................................................................................................................................5

Introduction/History........................................................................................................................5

Overview........................................................................................................................................5

History...........................................................................................................................................5

PatentspublishedorpendingregardingTorrefactionofBiomass(incomplete):..........................6

DefinitiveDescriptionofTorrefiedBiomassPellets........................................................................15

CalorificValue..............................................................................................................................16

Grindability..................................................................................................................................17

Hydrophobicity............................................................................................................................19

Durability.....................................................................................................................................20

ChemicalComposition/Homogeneity........................................................................................20

VanKrevelenDiagramofTorrefaction............................................................................................21

TheScienceofTorrefaction.............................................................................................................22

EconomicsofTorrefaction/UltimateProductCost....................................................................25

TechnologyDevelopers/Promoters...............................................................................................27

4EnergyInvest.............................................................................................................................30

3RAgrocarbon.............................................................................................................................30

Agri-Tech......................................................................................................................................30

ArgonautBioenergy.....................................................................................................................31

Atmosclear/AirlessSystems.......................................................................................................31

BiocharEngineeringCorporation................................................................................................32

BiogreenEnergy...........................................................................................................................32

BiomassEnergyHoldings.............................................................................................................32

BiomassEnergyResources..........................................................................................................33

BTG..............................................................................................................................................33

CanadianBio-Coal........................................................................................................................34

ChemmecoInc.............................................................................................................................34

CockerillMaintenanceandIngenierie.........................................................................................34

CNFBiofuels.................................................................................................................................35

CreeIndustries.............................................................................................................................35

DGEngineering.............................................................................................................................36

EarthCare....................................................................................................................................36

EBESAG/Andritz.........................................................................................................................36

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ECN..............................................................................................................................................37

EcoFuels.......................................................................................................................................37

Foxcoal.........................................................................................................................................38

G&RTechnologyGroup.............................................................................................................38

Gazprom......................................................................................................................................38

Hi-TechAgro................................................................................................................................39

HM3.............................................................................................................................................39

IFP................................................................................................................................................39

IntegroEarthFuels......................................................................................................................40

InternationalTorrefactionSystems.............................................................................................40

JFBiocarbon................................................................................................................................40

KeyFlame....................................................................................................................................41

Lantec/Idema.............................................................................................................................41

Matric..........................................................................................................................................41

NewBiomassEnergy...................................................................................................................42

NewEarthRenewableEnergy.....................................................................................................42

RenewableFuelTechnologies.....................................................................................................43

RiverBasinEnergy.......................................................................................................................43

Rotawave.....................................................................................................................................43

Sea2SkyCorporation...................................................................................................................44

Stramproy-Green.........................................................................................................................44

SubCoal........................................................................................................................................45

SunCoal........................................................................................................................................45

TerradyneEnergy.........................................................................................................................45

TerraGreenEnergy......................................................................................................................46

ThermogenIndustries..................................................................................................................46

ThermyaSA..................................................................................................................................46

TKEnergiAS.................................................................................................................................47

Topell...........................................................................................................................................47

TorkapparaterAB........................................................................................................................47

Torrcoal........................................................................................................................................48

Torrsys/Bepex............................................................................................................................48

TransnationalTechnologies.........................................................................................................49

VegaPromotionalSystems..........................................................................................................49

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VerdantEnergySolutions............................................................................................................49

ComplimentaryTechnologies..........................................................................................................50

UniversityResearchers....................................................................................................................51

IndustryAssociations.......................................................................................................................52

ExistingOperationsWorldwide.......................................................................................................53

Europe.........................................................................................................................................53

NorthAmerica.............................................................................................................................53

Whowillsucceed?.......................................................................................................................53

Whowillfail?...............................................................................................................................54

Conclusions......................................................................................................................................55

GLOSSARY....................................................................................................................................55

References...................................................................................................................................56

PostScript........................................................................................................................................56

AbouttheAuthors.......................................................................................................................56

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Abstract

Atpresent,theWoodPelletmarketisabout13milliontonnesperyear,ofwhichEuropeconsumedmorethan8milliontonnes.Thiswasproducedatsome400+pelletmills,whicharethe“add-on”marketforthetorrefactionreactortechnologysuppliersordevelopers.

Newprojectionsofseveralinstitutes,(AEBIOM,DEPV,PelletAtlasetc,)marketanalysisproviders(RotterdamPort,ArgusBiomass,ForestEnergyMonitoretc)andEU-powercompanies(RWE,Vattenfall,Electrabeletc)havemadepredictionsthatin2020,thismarketwillbeabout130milliontonnesperyear,a10foldincreasefromwhatitistoday.Thismeansasustained,stronggrowthof20%year,whichisalsoaGreenfieldopportunityformanystartersinthesolidbiomassfuelbusiness,includingtorrefactiontechnologyprovidersandcompanies.

Introduction/History

Overview

GlobalEnergydemandisforecasttoincreasedramaticallyoverthenextdecades,andgiventheconcernssurroundingtheuseofFossilFuels,solutionsaredesperatelyneeded.Biomassiscurrentlytheworlds4thmostimportantsourceofEnergy.Photosynthesisstoresabout8timesasmuchEnergyannuallyinBiomassthanisconsumedgloballyfromallsourcesofEnergy,andcouldthereforeconceivablybecomethemainsourceofEnergy.TherearehoweversignificanthurdlestoovercometomakeBiomassamuchmoresignificantpartoftheEnergySolution.First,sustainabilityandpotentialcompetitionwithFoodcropsarehighonthatlist,butalsothefactthatBiomasshasarelativelylowenergydensity,highmoisturecontentandthatespeciallywoodybiomassisveryfibrousandtough-whichmakesitdifficulttohandle,transportandultimatelyuseasFuelforPowerStations.ThechallengeistomakeBiomassahomogenous,friable,sustainablefuelwithlowmoisturecontent,increasedEnergydensityandlowparticleemissions.Scientiststheworldoverhavebeenlookingforsolutionstotheseproblemsforsometime,andtheTorrefactionofBiomasshasemergedasthemostpromisingmethodofconditioningBiomasswhileincreasingenergydensity,vastlyimprovinghydrophobicity,reducingthemassofthebiomasswithoutlosingenergycontentandcreatingaproductthatisstillabletobepelletized,vitalfortransportacrossgreatdistances.

History

ThepartialdecompositionofBiomass,mainlywood,athightemperaturesintheabsenceofOxygentocreateaFuelofhighEnergydensityhasbeenpractisedbyhumansfor1000’sofyears.ThistraditionalwaytocarbonizeWood(pyrolysis)howevertakesthewoodfarbeyondthenarrowperimeterswhichdefineitasanidealfuel.Experimentsweremadetoimprovethecharacteristicsof

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thefuel,andmuchwaslearnedfromtheTorrefactionofCoffeeandRootsasCoffeesubstitute.TorrefactionissimilartoPyrolysis,butisconductedatmuchlowerTemperatures.WhileTorrefactionwasusedforCoffeeproductionortheproductionofCoffeesubstitutessuchasChicoryasfarbackasthe17thCentury,itwasadaptedtofacilitatetheConversionofBiomassforFuelnotuntiltheearly20thCentury.

Currently,therearecloseto100patentsand/orpatentspendingrelatingtotheTorrefactionofBiomass,thefirstdatingbacktothe15thofJanuary1901.

PatentspublishedorpendingregardingTorrefactionofBiomass(incomplete):

Reference# Date Title

Inventor

CH20332 15/01/1901 FourdeséchageetdeTorréfaction

AlbertComteDillondeMichero

FR538040 02/06/1922 AppareildeséchageetdeTorréfaction

FortinPierre-Honore

FR574507 12/07/1924 AppareildeTorréfaction ScrivePaul

FR29060 20/05/1925 AppareildeTorréfaction ScrivePaul

FR686708 30/07/1930 Fourrotativeàaxeinclinépourleséchage,laTorréfactionetlacuissondesmatériauxminérauxouorganiques

BeauAlfred

FR39349 12/10/1931 Fourrotativeàaxeinclinépourleséchage,laTorréfactionetlacuissondesmatériauxminérauxouorganiques

BeauAlfred

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CH153757 15/04/1932 Fouràtambourrotativeàaxeinclinépourleséchage,laTorréfactionetlacuissondesmatériauxminérauxetorganiques

EtablissementsPolietChausson

FR839732 11/04/1939 Perfectionnementsauxfoursatorréfierlebois

BouteilleJoseph

US2159027 23/05/1939 Processandapparatusforroasting

JalmaMichaelM,HenriCoutinho

BE444413 09/02/1942 Perfectionnementapportésauxprocédésd’agglomerationdemétierscombustibles,notammentpourgazogènes

SenezeMarcel

FR872164 01/06/1942 Procédéd’agglomérationdeproduisobtenusavecdupoistorréfiéeanalogues

BethenodJoseph,BouteilleJoseph,KoehlerMarcel

FR886071 04/10/1943 Systemedecarbonisation,deséchageetdetorréfactiondesbois,etdispositifpourlamisenoeuvredusysteme

BrissetAlfred

FR906950 25/02/1946 Procédédetraitementthermiquedesmatiéresvégétalesenvuedeleurséchage,torréfactionoudistillation

MansonIsak

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FR933026 08/04/1946 Procédéd’obtentiondecombustibles,delubrifiantsetdeproduitsdiversàlaaidedematièresligno-cellulosiques

FR953004 29/11/1949 Procédédetraitementduboisenvuedel‘obtention,paragglomération,dproduitsmoulés

PinelAdrien

FR976640 20/03/1951 Procédéetinstallationpourleséchage,latorréfaction,lacarbonisation,ladistillationdubois,delatourbe,ettoutesautrematières

DumesnilAndré

FR977529 02/04/1951 ProcédéetAppareilpourséchage,torréfactiondeboisouautrematièresligneuses

SantenoyGaston-Francisque

FR993131 26/10/1951 Perfectionnementapportésauxprocédésdefabricationd’aggloméréscombustiblesetauxappareilsdemoulageutilisés

BarrierHenri

FR55506E 01/09/1952 Perfectionnementsauxfoursàtorréfiélebois

BouteilleJoseph

US3950143 13/04/1976 ProcessforproducingsolidIndustrialFuel

Pyle

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DE3041627 09/06/1982 VerfahrenzumAufbereitenvonZellulosehaltigenBiomassenbzw.BraunkohleundLignitzueinemeinheitlichen,starkreaktionsfähigemStaubförmigenBrennstoff

GreulArthurRichard

FR2512053 01/09/1982 Processforthetransformationofcellulosicmaterialbyroasting,andproductobtainedbysaidprocess

SchwobYvan

DE3211590 13/10/1983 ProcessandequipmentforthebertinisationofBiomass

GreulArthurRichard

FR2525231

21/10/1983 Procédédepréparationd’uncombustibledenatureLignoucellulosiqueetcombustibleobtenu

SchwobYvan

US4787917 04/12/1986 MethodforproducingTorrefiedwood,productobtainedthereby,andapplicationtotheproductionofEnergy

LeclercdeBussyJacques

FR2591611 01/01/1987 Thermallycondensedligno-cellulosematerial,processandovenforobtainingit

BourgeoisJean-Paul

DE3721006 22/12/1988 ApperatusforlowTemperaturpyrolysisofBiomass

VölskowPeter

FR2624876 23/06/1989 MethodeandDevicefortheTorrefactionofVegetable

GerardRoger,CimetiereJeanPaul

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LigneousMaterial

DE19614689 16/10/1997 Processandapparatusforde-oilingoilandgreasecontainingmaterials

BauknechtMaximilian,LutzeHans

FR2757097 06/10/1999 Apparatusandprocessfortheheattreatmentoflignocellulosicmaterial

UnternahrerRoland

ChautempsCyrille

BernonJean-Pierre

FR9901718 01/27/2000 Reactorforwoodretification GuillinDominique;

FR2786426 02/06/2000 Methodofthermaltreatmentofligneous-cellulose(wood)materialwitheliminationofOxygeninthegaseousphase

BouvierJeanYves

DE19932822 25/01/2001 Devicefordegassingorganicmaterials,e.g.wood,comprisesheatedpyrolysisChamberthroughwhichpyrolysismaterialisconveyedusingscrewconveyorfrominletsidetooutletside

HochreiterJohann

US2003221363 04/12/2003 Processandapparatusformakingadensified,torrefiedfuel

ReedThomas

NL1025027 21/06/2005 MethodandSystemforthetorrefactionofmaterials

BergmanPeter

ChristiaanAlber;

BoersmaArjen

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Ragusa;

ZwartRobinWillem;

Rudolph

KielJacob;

HendrickArnold

DE102004038730 23/02/2006 Roastingdeviceforplantbulkmaterialandmethodforoperatingaroastingdeviceforplantbulkmaterial

LangeStephan;

JansenGerhardA;

Möller-WillenbergUwe

NL1029909 09/03/2007 WerkwijzeeninrichtingvoorhetbehandelenvanBiomassa

PelsJanRemmert;

BergmanPeter

ChristiaanAlber

CN1935941 28/03/2007 Biomassgradedtemperaturecontrolslowpyrolysisprocessandit’ssystem

LVFengjieZhang

EP1969099 09/07/2007 ProcessanddevicefortreatingBiomass

BergmanPeter

ChristiaanAlber

US2007220805 27/09/2007 MethodforproducingahomogenousBiomassfuelforgasificationapplications

LevesonPhilipD.;

GausJohannP.;

EP1852491 07/11/2007 Mildpyrolysisofcarbonbasedenergycarriermaterial

O’ConnorPaul

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US2007266623 22/11/2007 Methodandapparatusforbiomasstorrefaction,manufacturingastorablefuelfrombiomassandproducingoffsetsforthecombustionproductsoffossilfuelsandacombustiblearticleofmanufacture

PaoluccioJohnA

NL1032001 17/12/2007 Preparationbytorrefactionofasolidfuelusefulasfuelforcoal-firedpowerplants,involvesheatingastartingcompositioncomprisingasecondaryrecoveredfuelmaterialindirectlyatspecific

masstemperature

RuitersGerard;

HubertJoseph

EP2027233 21/12/2007 Methodforthepreparationofsolidfuelsbymeansoftorrefactionaswellasthesolidfuelsthusobtainedandtheuseofthosefuels

RuitersGerard;

HubertJoseph

FR2903177 03/01/2008 MethodandsystemforroastingaBiomassfeedstock

GuyomarcHRaymond

CN201015789 02/06/2008 Energysavingtypeformworktorrefactioncarriage

GuojiongSi

US20080223269 18/09/2008 Methodandapparatusforbiomasstorrefactionusingconductionheating

Paoluccio,JohnA

US20080263891 30/10/2008 Processfortreatinglignocellulosicmaterial,andapparatustocarryoutthesame

BrunetAndre

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EP1990399 12/11/2008 Methodforthetreatmentoftheemptyfruitbunch(EFB)materialofPalmOilTrees,particulatetorrefiedEFBproductanduseofsuchproductasauxiliaryfuelinapowerplan

CoxConstantijn

WO2009124286 10/08/2009 Autothermalandmobiletorrefactiondevices

Hopkins,ChristopherB;

JohnsonJohnE;

GB2009001672 07/07/2010 Microwavetorrefactionofbiomass

Budarin,Vitaliy,Lvovich;

Milkowsky,Krzysztof,Jakub;

Shuttleworth,Peter;

Lanigan,Brigid;

Clark,James,Hanley;

Macquarrie,Duncan,James;

Wilson,Ashley;

US20100083530 08/04/2010 Systemandmethodfordryingandtorrefaction

WeisselbergEdward;

BevacquaJoseph;

BorreRobert

US20100101141 29/04/2010 Deviceandmethodforconversionofbiomasstobiofuel

SchulenbergerArthurM.;

WechslerMark;

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ThefirsteverknownPatentisheldbyAlbertComteDillondeMichero,butmostmodernReactorsarebasedontheworkofJacquesLeclercdeBussy,(MethodforproducingTorrefiedwood,productobtainedthereby,andapplicationtotheproductionofEnergy).

TheEnergyCenteroftheNetherlands(ECN)isbasingtheirtechnologyonthepatentsbyPeterBergman;Agri-TechProducersuseatechnologythatisvirtuallyidenticaltothepatentbyRogerGerard,publishedin1989,whileTorr-CoalisusingtheprocesspatentedbyGerardRuitersandJosephHubert.Inearly2010,WyssmontpatentedtheirTechnology(US20100083530,EdwardWeisselberg,JosephBevacqua&RobertBorre)byconvertingtheirDryerintoatorrefactionreactor,andearlierthatsameyearthefirstpatentforthetorrefactionofbiomassusingMicrowaveswaspublished.

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DefinitiveDescriptionofTorrefiedBiomassPellets

Oneofthegreatestareasofmisunderstandingswithrespecttotorrefiedwoodisexactlywhattorrefiedwoodis.ThereisavastarrayofproductsthatarepromotedasTW,butveryfewthatmeettheneedsofpowerstations.MuchofthefocushasbeenplacedontheTechnology,andverylittleattentionorfocushasbeenplacedontheProduct.Asaconsequence–virtuallytheentireproductavailabletodayislessthanperfect–inoneormanyways.

Torrefiedwoodiscompletelydesiccatedbiomass,withdevolitilisedhemicellulose,whichhasnotyetreachedthepointof“char”.Thatistosay–thatpyrolysis,inanyform,hasnotyetcommenced.

Whenthecriticalsurfacemoisturecontentoftheparticleisreached,theevaporationisassumedtotakeplaceinsidetheparticleinthemovingfrontbetweendryandmoistregions.Inthenextstagethesurfacetemperatureoftheparticleneverexceedsthepyrolysistemperature.Inthiscase,itmeansthatthedryingisothermreachesthecentreoftheparticleandvanishesbeforethepyrolysisisothermappearsattheparticlesurface.

ItisfairtosaythatTWisbestdefinedbyitsperformancecharacteristics.Thereare5distinctaspectsthatseparateitfromnaturalwood,andfromcharcoal:

1) CalorificValue2) Grindability3) Hydrophobicity4) Durability5) ChemicalComposition/Homogeneity

EachoftheabovesolvesoneparticulardrawbackthatisproblematicforPowerStations.BychangingthePhysical/Chemicalpropertiesofnaturalwood,amoresuitablefueliscreated.TheChemicalandphysicalcharacteristics,andultimatelytheirsuitabilityforco-combustion,needtomeetaverynarrowbandofspecifications.Belowisonestandardthatiscurrentlybeingutilised.Ultimately–thestandardwillbesetbytheManufacturer’sofTorrefiedWood,asdeterminedbyonespecificUtility.Thatistosay–thereisno“Single”definition–asitisspecifictotheneedsoftheend-user.

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CalorificValue

Theessenceofanyfuelistheabilitytobetransportedlongdistances.AsmostCountriesarenotblessedwithendlesssuppliesoffeedstock,incloseproximitytourbanareas,fuelneedstohaveashighanenergydensityaspossible,sothattransportcosts(whetherbyRoad,railorship)are

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minimised.Naturalwoodproducts(forestresiduesandcropresidues)tendtoberelativelylightand“fluffy”,andhaveverylowenergydensitiesperunitvolume.

ThedirectrelationshipbetweenMoistureContentandCalorificValueareshownbelow.

Grindability

Asthelargestmarketfortorrefiedwoodisforco-firingwithcoal,theBio-CoalneedstoexhibitpropertieswithsimilarcharacteristicsintermsofHandlingandGrinding.Currently,mostpower

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Net calorific value of biomass vs. moisture content

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stationsburnbiomass(asmandatedunderseveralCarbonReductioncommitments)eitherinverylowratios(5-7%)orbycompletelyseparatestorage,handling,grindingandinfeedsystems.Ideally,Bio-Coalwouldhavesimilargrindingcharacteristicstofossilcoal,sothatitcouldbeprocessedinexistingsystems.ThemostimportantcharacteristicisGrindability.

TheHardgroveGrindabilityIndexhasbeentheempiricalstandardindeterminationofgrindabilitysincethe1930’s.Itmeasurestherelativegrindabilityofcoals,tobeusedinPCIburners.OneofthedifficultieswiththistestingprocedureisthatdifferentOrganisationsmethodsproducecommerciallydifferentresults.ThemostsignificantofthesedifferencesisthatvaluesusingASTMprocedurecanbehigherthanvaluesusingASprocedureonthesamesample.Nonetheless,itisagoodcomparativemeasure.

Abettercomparativemeasureistherelativegrindingenergyrequiredtoproducesimilarsizeparticlestocoal.BelowisagraphshowingtherelationshipbetweenTorrefiedBiomassandCoal:

ThisgraphindicatestheSpecificPowerconsumptionwhenmillingbiomass,driedbiomass,torrefiedbiomassandcoal.Fortorrefiedbiomass,thetorrefactiontemperature(230-270°C)andthetorrefactiontime(32min)areindicatedbetweenbrackets.(1)

Asyoucansee,Grindabilityoftorrefiedbiomassispredominantlyafunctionofprocesstemperature.Oncethefeedstockhasreachedcompletedesiccation,andthehemicellulosehadbeencompletelydevolitilised,anyimprovementingrindabilitysacrificesEnergybalanceastheCelluloseandligninstarttobeaffected.

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TheHardgroveGrindabilityIndexisalsoinfluencedbythe%ofvolatilemattercontainedinthefinalproductandrawmaterial.

(ChartCourtesyBioTorTech)

Hydrophobicity

HydrophobicityisacharacteristicofTorrefiedBiomass,whichpreventsitfromabsorbingmoisturewhenstoredoutside.ThemechanismofHydrophobicityisapredominantlyfunctionoftheVolatilesreleasedduringtorrefaction.TheseincludeH2O,Organics,sugars,polysugars,acids,alcohols,furans,ketones,Lipids,terpenes,phenols,fattyacids,waxes,andtanninasliquidfractions;andH2,CO,CO2,CH4-CxHy,tolueneandbenzeneasgasfractions.

ThemainexplanationforHydrophobicityisthat,bythedestructionofmanyOHgroupsinthebiomassthroughdehydrationreactions,torrefiedbiomasshaslostthecapabilitytoformhydrogenbondingwithwater.Inaddition,moreunsaturatedstructuresareformedwhicharenon-polar.Thelowwatercontentandthehydrophobicnaturelargelypreventthetorrefiedproductfromrotting.

Oncethepracticalthresholdhasbeenreached(andthisis+/-6%moistureuptake)thereislittletonobenefittocontinuingthetorrefactionreaction.ThecostintermsofenergyandmasslossfarexceedthebenefitofgreaterHydrophobicity.

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Durability

ThethirdmostimportantcharacteristicofTorrefiedBiomasspelletsistheirdurability.Again,thischaracteristicisafunctionofCV,butisalsoheavilyaffectedbyparticlesize.Forfinepowders,thenumberofcontactpointsbetweenparticlesishigherthanitwouldbeforlargeparticles;furthermore,becausethefinerthepowder,thelargerit’sexposedsurfacearea;thesurfaceenergyperunitweightalsoincreaseswiththesizereductionofthepowder.Inastudyinvestigatingthemechanicalpropertiesofpellets,itwasconcludedthatparticlesizehadasignificanteffectonthepelletdensityofallfeedstocksexceptforwheatstraw.

Thereisnodoubtthatanincreaseinappliedpressurewillincreasethedensity;however,themechanicalstrengthofthepelletsisnotsoeasilypredicted.Aboveanoptimumpelletisingpressure,fracturesmayoccurinthepelletsduetoasuddendilation.Foragivendiesizeandstoragecondition,thereisamaximumdiepressurebeyondwhichnosignificantgainincohesion(bonding)ofthepelletcanbeachieved

Ligninisthenaturalbinder(presentinallwoodybiomass)anditsconcentrationisincreasedduringtorrefaction,(toapoint).Whenligninmelts(temperaturesabove140°C)itexhibitsthermosettingproperties.Thereisaverywell-definedtemperaturepoint(265°C),beyondwhichtheligninstartstodevolitilise.Abovethistemperature,theligninstartstodevolitilise.Bythetime300°Cisreached,regardlessofresidencetime,theligninhasallbutcompletelydisappeared,makingitvirtuallyimpossibletopelletisetheTWwithoutbinders.

Thereisathirdfactorthatenterstheequation–andthatisExplosionsafetyinhandling.Thesethreeaspectsarediametricallyopposed:

Smallerparticlesizescreateamoredurablepellet(atanyCV)–butincreasetheexplosionhazardofthedustgeneratedduringhandling.

LargerparticlesizesbecomeincreasinglydifficulttopelletiseasCVincreases;butcreatealowerexplosionhazard,eventhoughthedurabilityislower(anddustgenerationishigher).

HigherCV’s,combinedwithsmallerparticlescreatethemostdangerousandunstablefuel.LowerCV’s;witharangeofparticlesizesprovidetheoptimumsolution.

ChemicalComposition/Homogeneity

ThefourthimportantcharacteristicofTorrefiedBiomassisitsChemicalComposition.WhiletorrefactiondoespositivelychangetheChemicalcompositionofrawbiomass;therearesomeinorganicconstituentsthatareunaffected.TwoofthemostproblematicaretheElementalcompoundsPotassiumandChlorine.

Virtuallyallbiomasscontainstheseelementstoonedegreeoranother.TheirconcentrationishighestinLeaves,needlesandBark.HerbaceousBiomass(Miscanthus,ReedCanaryGrass,Elephantgrass,etc)hassignificantlyhigherlevelsthan“woody”biomass.

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Thepotassiumrequirementforoptimumplantgrowthisinthe1-5%drymatterweightrange,dependingonspecies,whilethepotassiumconcentrationinmatureplantsgenerallydoesnotexceed2%ofdrymatter.Potassiumischaracterizedbyitshighmobilityinplantsatalllevels,includingbetweenindividualcells,betweentissues,andinlong-distancetransportwithintheplant.

Chlorineisanaturallyabundantelementandistakenupbyplantsintheformofchlorideion,Cl-.Chlorineinplantsoccursmainlyasafreeanionorislooselyboundtoexchangesites.Similartopotassium,chloridehashighmobilitywithintheplant,andaveragechlorinecontentinplantsrangesfrom0.2-2.0%ofdryplantweight.

Occurrenceofinorganicconstituentsinbiomass(%dryplantmatter)

Constituent Occurrence(%)

Silica 0.5-15%

Potassium(a) 1–2%

Calcium(b) 0.1-5.0%

Sulphur 0.1–0.5%

Chlorine 0.2-2.0%

NOTES–(a)Inyoungplantshoots,upto5%potassiummaybefound,(b)inmatureleaves,calciummightreachmorethan10%(2)

Alkaliintheashofannualcropbiomassfuelscreatesseriousfoulingandslagginginconventionalboilers.Full-ScaleTestswereundertakenattheNationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory(USA)todeterminetheextent,natureandoccurrenceofdepositsformedfromcombustionofherbaceousBiomass.TheResultswereasfollows:

SinteredorfuseddepositswerefoundongratesandinagglomeratesinFluidisedBeds.PotassiumSulphatesandChlorideswerefoundcondensedonupperfurnacewallswhereitmixedwithflyash.ConvectiontubeswerecoatedwithAlkaliChlorides,CarbonatesandsulphatesmixedwithSilicaandAlumina.

Needlesstosay–untilsuchtimeasanaqueous(solvent)pre-treatment(posttreatment)processcanbedesigned,theutilisationofthisfeedstockwillbeavoidedathighco-firingratios.

VanKrevelenDiagramofTorrefaction

BoneDryAgro-Biomasshasanaveragecompositionof42%cellulose,33%hemicellulose,22%lignin,3%ash.Therestispredominantlyfats.ComparedtoBoneDryWood-ForestryBiomassitdiffersmainlyinhigherashcontent.Elementalnon-torrefiedbiomasseshave45.1%C,6.0%H,48.5%O,0.3%N,and0.1%S.AfterTorrefaction(at270C)thenumberofOandHatomsratiosisreduced,throughreactionsinthehemicellulosedecomposition,to56.5%C,5.4%H,36.1%O,0.9%Nand0.1%S

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Needlesstosay,duringthetorrefactionprocesstheatomicratioinbiomasschanges.ExpressedintheofH/CandO/C,resultingvalue0.95H/Cand0.45O/C(seebelow).

TheScienceofTorrefaction

Torrefaction,asaprocess,isrelativelystraightforward.Itcanbedefinedbyasingleequation:

Q=k·A·ΔT,

WhereQ-theamountofheatpassingthroughtheinterfaceperunittime;

k–Heattransfercoefficient,[W/m2K];

A-Theheattransfersurface,[m2];

ΔT–Temperaturegradient,[K](3)

ItisfurtherdefinedbythefollowingGraphic:

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(4)

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Finally–theprocessisdefinedbythefollowingGraph:

(5)

Basedontheabove,itwouldappearthatTorrefactionisarelativelyslowandgradualprocess.Inreality–therearetwoschoolsofthoughtonthis.

1) Thattheprocesscanbeundertakenveryrapidly,attheupperendofthetorrefactiontemperatureregime.OR

2) Thattheprocesscanbeundertakenrelativelyslowly,atthelowerendofthetorrefactiontemperatureregime.

Thechoiceofwhichprocesstoundertakebecomes,inreality,aquestionofthetypeandqualityofthevolatilesthataredrivenoff.ThecurrentTorrefaction“leader”(Topell)hasasystemthatundertakestheprocessinlessthan2minutes;at300°C.thisiscurrentlytheONLYbatchprocessthatattemptstoachievethisinsuchashorttimeperiod.Thegreatchallengewiththisprocessisthatitreliesonrelativelyconsistentparticleshapeandsizetoperformoptimally.Devolatilisationis

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affectedby2aspects–TimeandTemperature.However–thesevariablesdonothavethesameeffect.Alargeincreaseintime,foranygiventemperature,willhavesmalleffect.Alargeincreaseintemperature,foranygiventime,willhavesignificanteffect.Thereistherealriskof“overprocessing”somepiecesand“underprocessing”otherswithsucharapidandharshtemperature/airflowregime.Asthesetemperaturesarewellintothepyrolysisrange–smallerparticlesarelikelytobepyrolized,ratherthantorrefied.

Ontheotherhand,alowertemperature(250°C)regimerequiresamuchlongerresidencetime(typically–30minutes)buthasthenet-effectofcompleteandthoroughtorrefaction–withouttheissueofpyrolysisbeinginitiated.Essentially–oncetheparticlereachesitstorrefactiontemperature–furtherdevolatilisationdoesnotcontinue.Inthisway–abroadrangeoffeedstockshapesandsizescanbeaccommodated–withouttheconcernforoverorunderprocessing.

Thethirdfactorthatenterstheequationistherelativeamountsofcondensableandnon-condensablegassesthatareevolvedduringtorrefaction.Itiswelldocumentedthatthehigherthetemperature–themore“liquid”fractionisproduced.Astheentireprocessdependsontheevolvedcombustiblegassestoprovideprocessenergy–itisbesttocreateasmanycombustible,non-condensablegassesaspossible.

Eachdifferentfeedstockhasadifferentchemicalmake-up,andaveryspecificsetofprocessparameters.Evenwoodchipsofsoftwooddifferenoughfromhardwoodchipstorequireslightmodificationsinprocessparameters.(MostlyasafunctionoftheirrelativeXylancontent)

EconomicsofTorrefaction/UltimateProductCost

ThegenerallyacceptedthresholdfortorrefactionTechnologyis€500,000.00pertonne-hourofproductioncapacity.Thatistosay–a5tonneperhour(40kilotonneperyear)reactorshouldcostnomorethan€2.5million.ThispriceisstillsignificantlylowerthanthevastmajorityofSystemscurrentlyonthemarket.Ofcourse–severalotherparametersaffecttheequation.Theseare:

1) Processefficiency.a. Energyconsumptionisamajorcostinanypelletmanufacturingprocess,and

representsupto8%oftheoverallcost.Thekeytotorrefaction–istocreateaprocessthatisabletoutilisealloftheenergydrivenofftofeedtheprocess.Inaperfectworld–thiswouldrequireasupplementalenergyof10%ofthefeedstocktobalanceouttheEnergyrequirements.

2) FeedstockConversion/Cost.a. Manysystemsrequire3oreven4tonnesoffeedstocktoproduce1tonneof

finishedproduct.(Although–atthatlevelitismorelikelyBio-CharratherthanBio-Coal).Withfree,orvirtuallyfreeinfeedproduct–thisisofnoconsequence–however,therealityisthatthereisacostassociatedwiththefeedstock,andlong-

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termsuppliesoflow-costfeedstockwillnotbesustainable.AsthedemandforBiomassgrowsglobally–upwardpressureonpriceswillstabiliseat“Commodity”values,ratherthan“SpotMarket”values.Consequently–anysupplychainthatdoesnotaddressthisisdestinedtofailureveryrapidly.OneonlyhastolookattheinitiativesbeingundertakenbyRWE(Georgia);Electrabel(BritishColumbia);etc.toappreciatethataccesstofeedstock,onalong-temsupplycontractisoneofthekeyingredientstosuccess.

3) Distancetomarket.a. Onesupplychainmodel(PGE–Boardman)specifiesaTorrefactionfacilitycloseto

thepointofconsumption,utilisinglocallygrownfeedstock.ThefinishedproductisthenutilisedinthePowerPlant,whichisashortdistancefromthefacility.ThismodelcertainlyoptimisesthesupplychainLogistics,andcosts,whichwouldallowforamoreCapitalIntensiveinstallation.

b. Asecondsupplychainmodelspecifiessourcinglow-costfeedstocksfromDistantlands(SouthAmerica;Australasia,etc.)andexploitstheeconomicsavingsmadethroughloweroperatingoverheadsandtheincreasedmassandenergydensityofthefinishedproduct.

4) Operatingcosts.a. Operatingcosts(labour)representlessthan3%oftheoverallcostofproduction.

Thereiscertainlyabenefittolocatingthefacilityinanareaoflowerwagesandtaxes,however–thesetypicallycarrythepenaltyofgreatertransportcosts.

GenerallySpeaking–thecostbreakdownforasupplychainfromSoutheastAsiatoEuropeisasfollows:(Expressedasapercentageoffinishedproductsellvalue)

Feedstock–44%Transport–21%CapitalCost/Carryingcost–10%OperatingLabour–3%Utilities–3%Royalties–7%Other–1%Thisprovidesforagrossmarginof10%,whichistheminimumreasonablereturnthatcouldbeexpected.Muchhasbeensaidaboutthe“value”ofTorrefiedBiomass.Pricesrangefromtheridiculouslylow(<€100.00pertonne)totheridiculouslyhigh(>€400.00pertonne).Therearethosethatinsistthat“substitutionary”costsshouldbeincludedinthevalueofTorrefiedFuel.Thatistosay–whenconsideringtheoverallvalue–oneneedstolookatthesavingsmade,throughnotspendinghugesumsonMaterialhandlingandstoragefacilities(asyouwouldwithwhitewoodpellets)aswellasthe“avoidance”oftaxesandlevy’simposedasaconsequenceofnotintroducingarenewablefuelintothefossilfuelsupply.

Certainly–therearesignificantbenefitstotorrefiedBiomass,however–thesearetheReasonsforitsdesirability,andnotjustificationtopaymorethanabaselineprice.Thatistosay,nomatterwhat,

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UtilityCompanieswillpay“CoalplusCarbon”valuefortheproduct.Otherwise–itissimplymoreeconomicaltoburnCoal,andpaytheEnvironmentalLevies;RenewableObligationLevies,ClimateChangeLevies,etc.

Intoday’smarket–Thatpriceis€165.00pertonne,CIFARA.Thistranslatesintoacostof+/-€7.00perGj.ThecurrentMarketforWhitewoodpellets(November,2010)is€110.00pertonneCIF,ARA(€6.21/Gj).Thispriceislowerthanthehistoricalaverage–andreflectsthecurrentglutofproductonthemarket.Inevitably–itwillincreaseovertime.Projectionsfor2011indicatealevelof€128.00/tonne(€7.23/Gj)forWhitewoodpellets–whichwouldbe€165.00forTorrefiedPellets.

TechnologyDevelopers/Promoters

Company Location Principal Website 4EnergyInvest Belgium YvesCrits http://www.4energyinvest.com/

3RAgrocarbon Hungary EdwardSomeus http://www.3ragrocarbon.com/

Agri-Tech USA JosephJ.James http://www.agri-techproducers.com/

AlternaBiocarbon Canada LeonardLegault http://alternabiocarbon.com/

AirlessSystems Latvia DuncanKiel http://www.airless-systems.co.uk/

ArgonautBioenergy USA ScottDixon http://www.argonautbioenergy.com/s

ervices.htmlBiocharEngineeringCorporation

USA JimFournier http://www.biocharsystems.com/

BiogreenEnergy France MrOlivierLepez http://www.biogreen-energy.com/appli.html

BiomassEnergyHoldings

USA Mr.IrwinKatso http://www.biomassenergyholdings.net/

BiomassEnergyResources

USA CharlesCotter http://www.biomassenergyresources.com/

BTG Netherlands http://www.btg-btl.com/index2.php

CanadianBio-Coal Canada JohnBennett http://canadian-biocoal.com/

ChemmecoInc. Indonesia TaraFK http://cmc-indo.blogspot.com/CockerillMaintenanceandIngenierie

DidierLeboutte http://www.cmigroupe.com/nesa/fsol.html

CNFBiofuels USA JohnPaoluccio http://www.cnfbiofuel.com/

CreeIndustries USA JohnOlsen http://www.creeind.com/

DGEngineering Germany KlausLimberg http://www.dgengineering.de/Rotary-

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Kiln-Processes-Torrefication.htmlEarthCare USA Andrew

Livingstonhttp://www.ecpisystems.com/wcms/index.php?Torrefaction

EBESAG/Andritz Austria MichaelWild http://www.ebes.at/

ECN Netherlands J.H.A.Kiel http://www.ecn.nl/home/

EcoFuels USA AllenSharpe http://ecofuelsinc.net/about/

Foxcoal Netherlands Walter

Nonnekeshttp://www.foxcoal.nl/

G&RTechnologyGroup

Germany ReinhardLehner http://www.grgmbh.de/

Gazprom/InternationalForestProducts

Thailand AdrianBoodt http://www.gazprom-mt.com/

Hi-TechAgro India AbhayKhater http://www.hitechagro.org/default.aspx

HM3 USA HiroshiMorihara

http://hm3e.com/index.php

IFP France Jean-PascalDejean

http://www.ifp.com/l-ifp/l-ifp-en-bref

IntegroEarthFuels USA WaltDickenson http://www.integrofuels.com/

InternationalTorrefactionSystems

USA http://internationaltorrefaction.com/

JFBiocarbon Canada JohnFlottvik http://cmc-indo.blogspot.com/2010/07/jf-biocarbon-carbon-chemmeco-from.html

KeyFlame USA JacobRheuben http://www.keyflame.com/

Lantec/Idema Spain D.RomanMonasterioLarrinaga

http://www.lantec-ing.com/

MagnoliaBioPowerLLC USA JohnSwan http://www.magnoliabiopower.com/ Matric-MidAtlanticTechnologyResearchandInnovationCentre

USA http://www.cpac.washington.edu/Activities/SI/SI10/Presentations/Tuesday/Pauley_SI_2010.pdfhttp://www.matricresearch.com/

NewBiomassEnergy USA IrwinKatso http://www.newbiomass.com/NewEarthRenewableEnergy

USA AhavaAmen http://www.newearth1.net/

RenewableFuelTechnologies

USA MarkWechsler http://renewablefueltech.wordpress.com/

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RiverBasinEnergy USA DianneWyss http://www.riverbasinenergy.com/

Rotawave UK BobRooney http://www.rotawave.com/

Sea2SkyCorporation USA EricOdeen http://www.sea2skyenergy.com/

Spirajoule France http://www.spirajoule.com/

Stramproy-Green Netherlands IjsbrandGalema http://www.stramproy.nl/

SubCoal Netherlands MohammedNafid

http://www.qlyte.com/

SunCoal Germany http://www.suncoal.de/en/home/TerradyneEnergy USA MarkLowe http://terradyneenergy.com/ready.sw

f

TerraGreenEnergy USA ThomasCauser http://www.terragreenenergy.com/

ThermogenIndustries USA BobPayne http://thermogenind.com/index.html

ThermyaSA France HerveChauvin http://www.thermya.com/en/index_thermya.php?id=6#

TKEnergiAS Denmark ThomasKoch http://www.tke.dk/TKE_simple.asp?p

ageid=99Topell Netherlands Ewout

Maaskanthttp://www.topell.nl/

TorkapparaterAB Sweden UlfBojner http://www.torkapparater.se/

Torrcoal Netherlands RogerRuiters http://www.torrcoal.com/

Torrproc USA RobertBrown http://torrproc.com/Torrsys/Bepex USA KevinGrotheim http://www.torrsys.com/

TransnationalTechnologies

USA JamesArcate http://www.techtp.com/

VegaPromotionalSystems

USA MichaelK.Molen

www.vegabiofuels.com

VerdantEnergySolutions

USA ChrisPollatos http://www.verdantenergysolutions.com/

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4EnergyInvest

“4EnergyInvestisaBelgianbasedrenewableenergycompanythataimsatcreatingandmanagingaportfolioofsmalltomiddle-sizedlocallyembeddedprojectsthatvalorisebiomass,directlyorindirectly,intoenergy.

Thecorebusinessof4EnergyInvestconsistsinturningnon-contaminatedwoodbiomass,whichareattheirend-of-lifeintheforestrysector,intoenergy,eitherdirectlythroughcogenerationtogenerateheatandelectricity,orindirectlythroughtorrefactiontoproducerenewablesolidfuelssuchasBioCoal.”

4EnergyInvests’currentoperationsreliedheavilyonthecommercialisationoftheStramproyGreenTechnologyfortheiroperations.InJune2010,afterfailingtoCommissiontheTorrefactionReactoratAmel,theEPCContractwithS/Gwasterminated.4Energyarenowlookingforasolution.

3RAgrocarbon

“The3REnvironmentalTechnologyGroupisaSwedishinitiativeintechnologyResearch,technicalDevelopmentandindustrialEngineeringforthemanagementofproducts&ServicesforEco-IndustryandAgricultureintherapidlydevelopingandgrowingEUandUSABio-EconomyandEco-IndustrialMarkets.

The3RTechnologyisoneoftheworldleadersinappliedscientificdevelopmentandindustrialengineeringdesignofthermaldesorption,pyrolysisandlowtemperaturecarbonisationtechnologies.”

ThistechnologyisPyrolysis,andnottorrefaction,asitappliestotheproductionofPowerStationfuels.

Agri-Tech

“Agri-Techaremanufacturingtorrefactionmachines,throughourpartnershipwithKustersZimaCorporation(KZC),andarebothsellingsuchequipmenttoavarietyofcustomers,aswellasdeployingtorrefactionequipmentinprojectsoftheirownandincertainjoint-ventures.

Inadditiontoproducingandsellingtorrefactionequipment,ATPintendstodevelopandoperateafewtorrefaction-basedprocessingplants,inconjunctionwithkeystrategicpartners.ATPintendstobecomeinvolvedintheplantingandharvestingofhigh-densitybio-crops,whichcanbetreatedbyitstorrefactionprocess.Inaddition,ATPwillcontinuetoexplorethecreationofmobiletorrefactionequipment,thankstoagrantfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,aswellasexplorewaysinwhichitstorrefactionprocesscanpromoteeconomicdevelopmentandjobcreationindistressedrural

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communities.ATPcanalsoproduceabiochar,forsoilenhancementpurposes,andacookingfuel,fortheThird-World,whichcanreducede-forestationpressures.”

ATPhasdemonstratedtechnologydevelopedatNorthCarolinaStateUniversitybyDr.ChrisHopkins.ItisbasedonaMulti-screwfeeder,encasedinsideasecondheatingchamber.Hotaircirculatingthroughtheouterchamberheatstheinnerchamberwalls–wherethewoodchipscomeincontactwithit,causingthetorrefactionreaction.

At40%moisturecontent(rawfeedstock)theReactorrequires3tonnes(ormore)ofrawbiomasstoproduce1tonneoftorrefiedwood.Thisresultsinaconversionefficiencyof55.5%(1.8BDTfeedstockgenerates1BDTTorrefiedWood).Atthisconversionrate–onlythelowestcostfeedstockwouldallowforfinancialviability.Ataverage“marketrates”($50.00/BDT)thefeedstockcostwouldbevirtually100%ofthefinishedfuelvalue–i.e.$150.00/tonneexworks.EstimatedcostfortheTorrefactionsystemisUS$3Millionfor5tonnesperhour.

ArgonautBioenergy

“Argonautwasfoundedin2006toaddressanextremesupplyanddemandimbalancepresentwithinthewoodpelletindustry.Despitenearlyonemilliontonsofadditionalcapacitycomingonlineinthepast3years,thisimbalancestillexists.”

ArgonautBioenergyhasbeenveryactiveinthedevelopmentofwhitewoodpellets,andiscurrentlyincludingtorrefactionintheirR&DEfforts.Todate,thereisnoindicationofCommercialInstallationDevelopment.

Atmosclear/AirlessSystems

“AirlessSystemsoffersarangeofindustrialservicesthatincludetorrefaction,carbonizationandairlessdrying.Torrefactionistheprocessbywhichanobjectisdriedoffusingheat,removingvolatilematerialsinitsimultaneously.ThetorrefactionprocessbyAirlessSystemscanbeusedintheproductionofBioCoal.

BioCoal,anenhancedwoodfuel,canbeusedforhome,industrialandcommercialapplications.Itcanbeusedalongwithpulverizedcoalforthegenerationofelectricity.WiththehelpofthetorrefactiontechniqueutilizedbyAirlessSystems,amoisturecontentof3percentcanbeachieved.TheBioCoalproducedretains90percentofitsoriginalenergyandhasa30percentreductioninitsoverallmass.TheheatingvalueoftheBioCoalhasbeencalculatedat22,560kJ/kg.

TheBioCoalfromAirlessSystemscanbeutilizedasafeedstockfortheproductionofotherbiofuels.Municipalandlocalgridscanuseitforthegenerationofelectricitythroughadirectgasificationmethod.Forapplicationsinthehome,commercialandindustrialsectors,theBioCoalisusedintheformofpelletsorbriquettes.Anadvantageofthisproductisthatitcanbepulverizedaccordingtotherequirementsoftheapplication.”

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AtmosclearAirlessSystemsarecurrentlybuildingareactorinLatvia.Likemostotherdevelopers–theyarestrugglingwiththeissueoftarevolution,andhaveapproachedthisbyengagingthe“bestFlue-gasmanagementCompanyintheWorld”.Undoubtedlythisstrategywillultimatelysucceedinproducingthedesiredendproduct.However–theeconomicsofsuchasystemmaymakethecostsprohibitive.

BiocharEngineeringCorporation

“BECfoundersincludeoneoftheworld'spreeminentexpertsonbiomassgasificationandourCEOhasbeeninbiocharforoverfiveyears.Weunderstandthefullspectrumofthermalconversionapproachesfromtorrefaction,pyrolysis,updraftanddowndraftgasificationtofluidizedbedsandfastpyrolysis.”

Astheirinformationstates,theyareexpertsinthefieldofPyrolysisandBio-Char.Theirmainfocusisontransportable(Containerised)systems,tobeimplementedonadecentralisedbasis.TheTechnologyisclassicpyrolysis,andwouldnotbesuitableforTorrefaction,astheFeedstockconversionrateputsitoutoftherealmofeconomicsensibility.

BiogreenEnergy

“Biogreencanbeusedforbiomasstorrefaction,amongothertreatments.Torrefactionisoneofthewaystocreatedensificationoftheenergycontainedwithinaproduct.Treatmentisachievedwithinafewminutesat200°Cto300°Cinananaerobicenvironment.Biomasswillloseweight(around30%),andbecomecrumbly.Thispreparesittobecrushedorgasified.Torrefactionalsoproducesamorehomogeneousproduct,withalowhygroscopicitythatiseasytostore.”

Biogreenusesthe“Spirajoule”pyrolysistechnology.ThisisessentiallyascrewaugerinsideanenclosedPipe,whichhasaheat-exchangeronthejacket.ThePyrolysisGassesarecondensedintoBio-Oilforfurthermanufacturing.Thereisnorecirculationofthenon-condensablefractionoftheTor-Gas,andthesystemwouldbequiteEnergyDemanding.

BiomassEnergyHoldings

“NewBiomassEnergyisagreenenergydeveloperthatfocusesonhighqualityrenewableenergyopportunitiesthatofferimmediatecontributionstothegreeneconomy.TheCompany’sfocusisontorrefactionofwoodtobeusedbycoalburningpowerplantstosupplementthecoalandtherebyenhancethegreenaspectsoftheplants.

NewBiomassEnergy’currentdevelopmentsincludetorrefactionprocessingplantsinsoutheastUnitedStatesandCanada.Workingwithlocalgovernmentalauthoritiesandpremierengineersand

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advisersaswellasutilizingcapitalmarketsfinancinghasbroughttheseprojectsintotheearlydevelopmentstage.Baseduponcurrentplansthefirstofthetorrefactionlinesshouldbeinoperationbythethirdquarterof2010.”

BEHappearstobeaCompanyinvolvedinthedevelopmentofTorrefactionsystems,butthereislittleinformationavailabletosubstantiatetheirOperations.TheirwebsitelinkstoanarticleintheUniversityofNorthCarolina’snewsletter–thatspeaksaboutUNCwantingtousetorrefiedwoodasasubstituteforcoal.AsDr.ChrisHopkins(ThedeveloperoftheAgri-techsystem)isfacultyattheUniversity–itwouldbereasonabletoassumethatthereisaconnectionbetweenthetwo.

BiomassEnergyResources

“BiomassEnergyResourcesproducesanenvironmentallyfriendlycoalsubstitutesuitableforconsumptionbyexistingandnewcoal-basedpowergenerationfacilities.Asanenvironmentallyfriendlycoalsubstitute,BERBioCoalproducedinvolumewillsetthestandardforbiomass-based"cleancoal."

Ourproductwillenablepowergenerationclientsto:PreserveandextendthelifeoftheircoalfiredplantassetsAvoidthecarbontaxunderaCarbonCap&TradesystemMeettherenewableenergygenerationmandatesBERwillprovideBioCoalsamplesaswellasProximate,Ultimate,andAshChemistryanalysesuponrequesttoprospectivepowergenerationclients.”

Todate,wehavebeenunabletoacquireanysamplesofproduct,orsubstantiateanyclaimsmadewithrespecttooperations.

BTG

“BTGdevelopstechnologyfortheconversionofawiderangeofbiomassfeedstocksintoawiderangeofusefulproducts.ThesetechnologiesareindifferentstagesofdevelopmentrangingfromR&Dactivitiestocommercialapplication.”

BTG/BTLisafastpyrolysisCompanythatfocusesontheconversionofBiomasstoLiquidsandGaseousproducts.AlthoughtheydopromoteTorrefaction,thereislittleindicationofanyOperatingPlantsorPilot/CommercialScaleinstallations.

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CanadianBio-Coal

“CanadianBio-Coalareinvolvedinthepreparationofhigh-gradebiocharthroughthecontrolled,lowtemperaturemicrowaveactivationofbugkilledwoodandwastematerialsprovidinganemissionfreetechnologyfortheproductionofbio-masschar,marketingandtransportationservices.”

ThiscompanyisbasedontheRotawaveTorrefactionTechnology,whichwasdevelopedattheUniversityofYorkbyDr.JamesHClark(http://www.yorkshireconcept.org/downloads/Case%20Studies/CP5274%20-%20YC_A0%20Poster_Ref%2020_Conversion_York_V3.pdf).

Thusfar,onlya1kglaboratorytestunithasbeenoperated.Fromatechnicalpointofview–theideathatyoucanuseelectricitytoheatwoodparticles;initiatethepyrolysisreactions;reclaimtheTor-Gastocleanandthencombustinaboilertomakesteam;whichisthenusedtoturnaturbinetomakeelectricity;togeneratethemicrowavesfortheprocessseemsquiteinefficient.

Thefactofthematteristhatregardlessofthesource,aspecificamountofinputenergyisnecessarytoundertakethereaction.Inaddition,conversionratesfromthermaltoelectricarerelativelylow(30%orso).Asaconsequence,webelievethatthistechnologywillbesimplytooexpensiveandenergyinefficienttogainwideacceptanceandimplementation.(Eveniftheresidualheatisrecyclestopre-drythefeedstock)

ChemmecoInc.

“Chemmeco,IncistherepresentativeofJFBioCarbon,Ltd,CanadatomarketthecontinuouspyrolysistechnologyandbusinesssystemsforIndonesiaandSoutheastAsiaRegion.Chemmeco,Incisacompanythatconcernsinthefieldofrenewableenergywithcontinuouspyrolysistechnology.”

AlthoughChemmecocalltheirfinishedproductBio-Coal,itismuchclosertoBio-Char(Charcoal).(See–JFBiocarbon)

CockerillMaintenanceandIngenierie

“Thecarbonisationprocessinvolvestheproductionoffinequalitycharcoalfrombiomass.Itisbasedonthedecompositionoforganicmatterintovolatilematterandfixedcarbon(char).TheNESAMultipleHearthFurnaceconsistsofaseriesofcircularhearthsplacedoneabovetheotherandenclosedinarefractory-linedsteelshell.Averticalrotatingshaftthroughthecentreofthefurnacecarriesarmswithrabblebladeswhichstirthechargeandmoveitinaspiralpathacrosseachhearth.Materialisfedtothetophearth,andrabbledacrossittopassthroughdropholestothehearthbelow.Itpassesinthiswayoverandacrosseachhearthtothebottomwheretheproductisdischargedthroughoneormoreports.Heatedgasesflowcounter-currentlytoheatthechargetoreactiontemperatureandtocarryoutthedesiredreaction.”

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Thistechnology,inmanyrespects,isthesameasWyssmont.Whilethetransfermechanism(fromtraytotray)variesbetweenthetwo,theconceptualdesignisessentiallythesame.ItisunlikelythatthissystemwillrealizeCommercialViabilityastheNatureoftheTorrefactionProcessrequirements(temperatureregimes)willinevitablyleadtosignificanttaraccumulationinsidethereactor.

CNFBiofuels

“InventiveResources,Inc.isinthedesignanddevelopmentstagesofbuildingapilotbiomasstorreficationprocessingplant.Currentdesignisforlaboratorysizeproductionratesfortestingandevaluation.Laterpilotdesignsincludeproductionratesor3tonsperhouranduptoonetonofprocessedfuelperminute.”

Wedon’tunderstandthesomewhatconfusingstatementontheirHomePage.Onetonneofprocessedfuelperminutewouldbe31.5Milliontonnesperyear.(Thisisquiteaclaim)

ThefirstissuewiththistechnologyisthatitisbasedonstartingwithAlreadyPelletisedmaterial.ThesepelletsarethenputthroughanImmersionprocess,inahotparaffinicliquidtoundertakethetorrefactionprocess.Itisclaimedthat“Thebiomasscompositioncontinuestotakeinheatwithoutachangeintemperature”.Otherthanthisdefiesthebasiclawsofboththermodynamicsandkinetics–itiscontrarytothebasictorrefactionprocess.Thepointis–thatitistheΔt(Changeintemperature)thatcausestorrefaction.Aftertorrefaction,theirprocesstheninvolvesGrindingtheTorrefiedPellets;RunningthemthroughaGasifier;cleaningthesyngas;(aportionofwhichisrecycledforprocessenergy);andfinallyburningtheminaGasTurbinetomakeElectricity.Theyalsostatethattheirproductcanbedensifiedto“70poundpercubicfoot”.Thistranslatesinto1126kg/m3–andissignificantlyhigher(by40%)thanacceptedindustrystandardsfortheBESTpellets.

Wedonotknowhowmuchoftheprocessreliesonthefeedstockalreadybeingpelletised(flow-abilitycharacteristics–forexample)butifthisisamandatedrequirement–thenthissystemwillbequiteinefficient,bothintermsofcostandEnergyBalance.

CreeIndustries

“CreeIndustriesisaNativeAmericanownedandoperatedmanufacturerofbiomasslogextrusionsandanexporterofbiomassmanufacturingandshapingequipment.

Withover400manufacturingsiteslocatedthroughouttheU.S.andCanada,Creeispositionedtosupplyclean&attractivefireplacelogsthroughoutNorthAmerica.”

CreeIndustriesisastart-upCompanyintheTorrefactionRealm.Theyarecurrentlylookingatavailabletechnologies,andhaveplanstobuildaLargeCommercialFacilityinFloridaintheFuture.TheirbusinessisbasedontheSalesofBriquettepresses,whichproduceavarietyofproducts.

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DGEngineering

“Ournetworkprovidesalotofexperiencesindesign,manufacturingandoperatingofrotarykilnpyrolysisplants.Ourrotarykilnpyrolysisplantsareas(wild)pigsareomnivoresandgivealotofsolutionsforsimultaneousdisposalofhazardouswasteandsupportingwithenergy.Suggestiveandeconomicisthistechnologywithmono-fractions(likePE,PET,Reifen,PVC,Tetra-Pack-Fluff,Kabelreste...).Inthiscaseyougotbyusingthecorrectparametersoneormoresellableproducts.”ThePrimaryfocusoftheDGEngineeringsystemistheoutputofenergy(Steam,HotWater,warmairetc.)ratherthanBio-Coal.TheirTechnologyisanexternallyheatedrotarykiln,whichtransfersheattothebiomassbyconvection.ThissystemisunlikelytobesuitableforCommercialBio-Coalproduction.

EarthCare

“EarthCareProducts,Inc.providesEngineeredBiomassSolidFuels(EBSF)plant.AnEBSFplantisanalogoustoarefineryasitproducesmultiplebiomass-derivedfueltypes,meetingthespecificationsoftheenduserwhileoptimizingprocessefficiency.Weconductedthenation'sfirstandlargesttestburnoftorrefiedwoodinacoal-firedpowerplant.ECPI'storrefiedwoodfuelis"ACTOF."Torrefiedwoodistheanswertotheneedforareliablealternaterenewablefuel.”Thegreatestissuewiththeirclaimsisthattheirwebsitepromotes“their”equipmenttoundertaketorrefaction;theproductusedinthe“nation’sfirsttestburn”wasmanufacturedatacharcoalfacility(GarnetwoodProductsinBrandsville)usingavertical,4-hearthCharcoalKiln.TheotherissuewiththisburnwasthattheproductcostUS$29,000.00for50tonnes(US$580.00pertonne).SincethishighlypublicizedeventinAugust2009,nofurtherdevelopmentshavecomefromthisCompany.HavingreviewedallofthedataforthisCompany’sproduct,weconcludethatitischarcoal–andnottorrefiedwood.

EBESAG/Andritz

“EBESAGwasfoundedin2004andisaleadingsupplierofbiofuelsontheworldmarket.Nomatterwhatfueltheyneed,solidorliquid,wefindasolutionforyouanddeliverwhereveryouwish.

EBESAGisapartnerforbothone-timedeliveriesandforlong-termsupplycontractswithaprecisedeliveryschedule.”

InconjunctionwithAndritz(AlargePelletisationEquipmentManufacturer)EBESaredevelopingaTorrefactionsystemthatincorporatesarotary-Kilndesign.Theirfocusisonthemass/Energy

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balanceoftheprocess,andtheyareincludingTor-gasrecyclingintheirsystem.ThePilotplantiscurrentlybeingbuiltandtestedinAustria,andwillbecomingon-linebyQ4,2010.

Byallaccounts–thisisonetowatch.

ECN

“ECNdevelopshigh-levelknowledgeandtechnologyforasustainableenergysystemandtransfersthemtothemarket.”

ItcouldbearguedthatECNarethepremiereresearch/developmentOrganisationintheworldwithrespecttoTorrefaction.VirtuallyalloftheCurrentTechnologiesbeingdevelopedarebasedontheworkofthetwoprincipalscientists(JaapKielandP.C.A.Bergman).

Earlierthisyear,ECNsignedacooperationagreementwithVattenfall/Nuontobuilda“Demonstration”CommercialReactor.ThisdevelopmentwilllaythefoundationsfortheCommercialisationofFutureReactorsworldwide.

Thetechnologymeetsthe4basicrequirementsofaTorrefactionreactor:

1) EconomicAffordability2) Flexibility(offeedstock)3) Durability4) Simplicity

Undoubtedly–thistechnology(andotherslikeit)willbetheonesthatachievethemostsuccessinthefuture.

EcoFuels

“Thecompanyhasbeenengagedinthedevelopmentofitstorreficationtechnologyforthepastyear.ThisperiodofresearchanddevelopmenthasenabledtheCompanytodevelopthemostenergyefficientprocessandcommerciallyviabletorreficationtechnologyintheworld.”

EcoFuelsisadevelopmentCompanythatpurchaseapatentedtechnologyfromtheEstateoftheCanadianInventor.Theyhaveundertakenpreliminaryengineeringandconstructionofapilotplant.Essentially–thetechnologyisidenticaltotheAgri-TechReactor(whichwasdevelopedattheUniversityofNorthCarolina)

Inaddition,theyareinvestigatingtheopportunitytopartnerwithalargeEngineeringFirm(AMEC)toengineeranddesign/constructacommercialreactor.

TheconversionRatiooftheirmachineisstatedat2.5tonnesinputper1tonneofoutput.ReactorCostisestimatedatUS$5.7millionfor100kilotonneperyearoutput.

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Foxcoal“Newenergyresourcesinstabbing,materialsandmanpower.Or,re-useinthebroadestsense.ItisimportanttousatFoxCoal.Sowegiveanewdimensiontotheconceptofrecycling.FoxCoalclaimthedomainofJoulesRecycling.RecyclingJouleswiththehighcalorificcontentoftheresiduesusedwherethematerialitselfdoesnotrecycle.WithFoxCoaltechniqueweareabletogeteverythingoutofitwhat'sinside,bymakingfulluseoftheenergywecontributetoacleanerworldinwhichefficiencyisproduced.Wellsogreen!”(Note–thisisaliteraltranslationfromtheOriginalDutch)FoxCoalisaNetherlandsCompanythattookthe“leastCost”approachtodeveloptheirtechnology.Theirintentistoincorporate“widelyusedandproventechnologies”toconstructtheircommercialoperation.Byallaccounts–itisoneofonly2commercialtorrefactionsystemscurrentlyoperating.

G&RTechnologyGroup

“In2010thetimeisripe.InRegenstauf,Bavaria,thefirstplantforaCO₂-neutralcoalextractioninaccordancewithabiomassconversionprocesscalledHTC(hydrothermalcarbonization)willbebuilt.GreenCoalorvegetablecoalisanalternativetobiogas;windmillsetc.ThecalorificvalueofGreenCoalcorrespondstotheenergeticcharacteristicsofbrowncoal.”

AstheirAbstractsays,theyutilisetheHydrothermalCarbonisationprocess(verysimilarresultstotorrefaction)astheirprimarytechnology.ThisprocesswasdevelopedattheMaxPlanckinstitute,http://www.mpikg.mpg.de/english/cont_issues/news/index.htmlandisoneofthecompetingandcomplementarytechnologiestoTorrefaction.

Gazprom

“GazpromMarketing&Trading(GM&T)isaUK-registeredwholly-ownedsubsidiaryofGazpromGroup,theworld'slargestgascompany.GM&TwascreatedtooptimiseGazprom’senergycommodityassetsanddownstreamexpansionthroughitsglobalmarketingandtradingnetwork.GM&Thasthefullbenefitbehinditofahugegasreservesbase,transportationnetworkandintellectualcapital.”

Therehasrecentlybeenalotof“hype”createdaboutafacilityinThailandthattheUKBiomassManagerforGazpromhascreated.Inspiteofrepeatedrequestsforsamples,andofferstopurchaselargevolumesofproduct–nothingwasforthcoming.ItwouldappearthatthisiscurrentlylittlemorethanjustbuildingexcitementintheMarketplace.Noneoftheclaimsmadecouldbesubstantiated.

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Hi-TechAgro

“WhatdistinguishesHi-techAgrofromothermanufacturersistheirunderstandingofthetechnologyandabilitytosupplyintegratedwasteprocessingplantsratherthanjusttheindividualequipments.

TheexperiencewithHi-techAgrohastilldatebeenagoodone.”

TheonlyreferencetoTorrefactionisanoticethatMr.AKKhaterwouldbepresentingapaperon“TorrefactionandDensification:ThePursuitofOptimalFuelQuality”attheInternationalBioenergyConference&Expo2010.

Thecompanyhasalonghistoryandalargenumberofinstallationsworldwideofbriquettingsystemsforbiomassfeedstocks.

HM3

“HM3Energyhasdevelopedaproprietaryprocesstoturnbiomassintocleanfueltoreplacecoalincoal-firedpowerplants.Existingpowerplantsdesignedtoburncoalcanco-firebiomasswithcoal,ordirectlyusetorrefiedbiomassinplaceofcoal,drasticallyreducingcarbonandotherharmfulemissionssuchasmercury,sulphurandnitrousoxides.”

HM3areaGovernmentsupportedandfundedorganisationthatareworkingonCommercialisationofTorrefaction.Currently–aUS$241,000.00Grantwillbeusedtodevelopapilotplant.TheirProductismarketedundertheBrand“TorrB”.Theyhaveundertakentrialco-firingtests(although–itwasonlywithafewkilogramsofproduct)whichwereverysuccessful.Verylittleisknownaboutthistechnology,andthedeveloperisunwillingtopublishanyinformation.

IFP

“IFPisworkingwithsomeofthelargestutilitiesinEuropetodevelopinnovativesupplychainrelationshipstosourcetraditionalandnewbiomassfeedstockandaccreditedliquidbiooils.Inanimmaturebutrapidlydevelopingmarketplace,IFPaimstoachievesustainableanddependablesupplyofconsistentqualityproducttomeetcustomerneedswithintheframeworkofgovernmentlegislation.IFPisabletosupplybiomassforindustrialco-firing;regionalcombinedheatandpowerprojects(CHP),andEnergyServiceCompany(ESCO)conceptsforresidentialheatandpowerschemes.”

InternationalForestProductspromote,ontheirwebsite,“torrefiedWoodPellets”asoneofthecommoditiestheyhandle.Atthispoint,althoughtheyhaveundertakensomeresearch;theyhavenotdevelopedatechnology,eitherontheirown,orinconjunctionwithatechnologyPartner.TheydonothaveanycommercialquantitiesofTorrefiedwoodavailable,andarenotlikelytoointheforeseeablefuture.

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IntegroEarthFuels

“IntegroEarthFuelshasdoneextensiveworkwithUKandSouth-easternUSutilitiesandcombinedheat-and-poweruserspresentingtestmaterialsandthemeritsoftorrefiedbiomass.Thecompanyisfinalizingdesignofitsfirstcommercialfacilityandisintheprocessofbringingitonline.Thatfacilitywillhaveinitialcapacitytoproduceupto50,000tonsannually.Currently,Integroisfinalizingoff-takeagreementswithEuropeanutilitiestoprovidethemwithamajorityofIEF’ssupplybeginningin2010.IEFwillbuild10additionalfacilitiesoverthenext6yearstomeetthedemandfromcoal-firedelectricityproducers.”

IntegrowasoneofthefirstCompaniestoannouncethattheyhave“theWorld’sFirstCommercialTorrefactionReactor”inNovemberof2008.Infact–whattheyhadwasapilotscaleWyssmont“Turbo-Dryer”.Thetestfacilityoperatedforoverayear,andthePilotScalereactorwasthenreturnedtoWyssmont.Duringthattime,theywereunsuccessfulintheirDevelopmentprogrammeand,asofyet,havenotconstructedaCommercialScalefacility.Therearehowever,otherCompaniespromotingtheWyssmontTechnologyas“proven”,butthisremainstobeseen.

InternationalTorrefactionSystems

“InternationalTorrefactionSystemssuppliestorrefiedwoodproductionsolutionsworldwide.Ourgoalistoprovidethemeansforthegenerationofresponsiblerenewableenergy.Webelieveinprovidingrenewableandconscientiousenergysolutionstoday,whilecontinuingtoevolveforthefuture.”

Otherthanaverybasicwebsite,thereislittleinformationavailableaboutthisCompany.Theonlyinformationthatitprovidesisanaddress:

4320GreenPl

Wilson,WY83014USA

JFBiocarbon

“JFBioCarbon-Chemmecoisasustainable,renewablesolutionfortoday'sorganicwasteproblems:

-Fullyintegrated,self-powered,selfcontainedwastemanagementsystem

-Revolutionarycontinuousprocesspyrolysistechnologyconvertsorganicmaterialintomarketableproductsincludingbiochar,torrefiedwood,biooilandsyngas

-MaintaincarbondioxideneutralemissionJFBioCarbonCarbon-Chemmecoaprivatecompany,offeraninnovative,environmentallyfriendlywastemanagementsystemwithasimplesolutiontoworld

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ecologyandeconomy.Theeasytooperate,lowmaintenance,costeffectivesystemdoesnotdisposeof,butconvertsorganicresiduetosellableproducts.”

TheJFBiocarbonprocessorstartedoutasaBio-Charproductionsystemhasbeenapparently“converted”intoatorrefactionsystem.Unfortunately–thetwoprocessesaresosignificantlydifferent,thatitishighlyunlikely.Certainly–theMachinecanmakeBio-Char,butthisisyetanotherexampleofthepromoters“muddyingthewaters”betweenBio-CoalandBio-Char.Asasmallprocessingunit–itisonparwiththeAgri-TechEquipment,andmostlysuitablefor“infield”operations.

KeyFlame

Afterafewmonthsofwebpresence,thatincludedlinkstovarioustorrefactionarticlesinthepress;Keyflame’swebsiteseemstohavedisappeared.Itwouldappear,atleastforthetimebeing,thattheyhaveleftthetorrefactionrealm.

Lantec/Idema

Lantec/IdemaareaSpanishEngineeringGroup.InSeptemberof2009,theypurchasedanon-exclusivelicensetobuilda2.5tonneperhourTORSPYD™reactor.TherewasatremendousamountofPressandPresencewhenthedealwassigned,however-Asofthedateofpublication(December2010)–therehasbeennofurtherprogressreportsissued.Ourunderstandingisthatithastakenthislongtoreceiveplanningconsentforthefacility,andthatConstructionwillbegininQ4,2010.Thisisonetowatch.

Matric

“TheMid-AtlanticTechnology,ResearchandInnovationCentreareagroupofabout150staff,includingresearchscientistsandengineers.ItwasformedaftertheDownsizingofaUnionCarbideFacility.MATRIChasafocusondevelopingintellectualpropertiesforcommercialandindustrialcustomersandaddingvaluethroughoutthetechnicalservices,research,development,engineeringandcommercializationprocesses.”

Thisorganisationhasdesignedlargepyrolysissystems,anda100,000tonneperyeartorrefactionsystem,specificallytailoredtoproducetorrefiedpelletsfortheEuropeanMarket.ThebasicprincipleoftheirreactoristhesameasECNandThermya–thatis–agravityfed,counterflow,packedbedreactor.Althoughtherearefewdetails,onecouldreasonablyassumethattheconfigurationissimilartotheir“CascadingBafflePyrolysisReactor”.

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AtananticipatedcostofUS$12Millionfora40ktoutput–itiswellabovetherealmofeconomicreality;however–thiswillchangewitheconomiesofscale.

NewBiomassEnergy

“NewBiomassEnergyisagreenenergydeveloperthatfocusesonhighqualityrenewableenergyopportunitiesthatofferimmediatecontributionstothegreeneconomy.TheCompany’sfocusisontorrefactionofwoodtobeusedbycoalburningpowerplantstosupplementthecoalandtherebyenhancethegreenaspectsoftheplants.

NewBiomassEnergy’currentdevelopmentsincludetorrefactionprocessingplantsinsoutheastUnitedStatesandCanada.Workingwithlocalgovernmentalauthoritiesandpremierengineersandadvisersaswellasutilizingcapitalmarketsfinancinghasbroughttheseprojectsintotheearlydevelopmentstage.Baseduponcurrentplansthefirstofthetorrefactionlinesshouldbeinoperationbythethirdquarterof2010”.

IfthisCompanyhasundertakenanyactualdevelopmentofatorrefactionsystem–thenitisoneofthebestkeptsecretsinthetorrefactionWorld.AttemptstofindaPhoneNumberoremailaddresshavebeenunsuccessful,andenquiriessentthroughtheirwebformhavegoneunanswered.TheManagingDirectorisaBillionaireRabbiwithinternationalbusinessholdings.

NewEarthRenewableEnergy

“NewEarthRenewableEnergyisaprivatelyheld,Seattle-based,renewableenergycompany.Wehaveaproprietarytechnology,EcologicalPyrolysis-Torrefaction(EPT)thatfullytapsthepotentialinbiochar.Throughthistechnology,weproducetworenewable,carbon-negativealternativestofossilfuel:biochar(E-Coal),andbiocrudeoil(E-Oil).Unlikemostfuelsofthefuture,oursarereadyforglobaldeploymenttoday.”

Ifevertherewasanawardfor“SmoothTalkingandFastWalking”thenthisCompanywouldwinithandsdown.18Monthsagoitstartedpromotingitsproduct(Bio-Coal)underthename“Eco-PyroTorrefaction”.Then–itdecidedthatithadtranscended“oldfashioned”torrefaction–whichmadeonly“one”product–foritsNEW“EcologicalPyrolysis-Torrefaction”thatgivesyou“three”products.

Inreality–thisprocessisANYTHINGbutnew.ItisbasedonaCanadianPyrolysisTechnology(Pyrovac)thatwasmothballedseveralyearsago.Unfortunately–thephysicalplanthasbeensubsequentlycannibalised,andisn’tanywherenearoperationalstatus.

TheshiftfromTorrefiedPelletstoBio-CharisjustthemostrecenttransitionoftheCompanies“appearance”afterbeingexposedintheTorrefactionworld.

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RenewableFuelTechnologies

“RenewableFuelTechnologiesisanenergycompanythatsellscarbonneutralsolidfuel–BioCoal–tocoalplantsthathaveexistingpowerpurchaseagreements.

ThecompanyhastheproprietarytechnologyandengineeringexpertisetodevelopBioCoalprocessingequipmentthatcanbemassproducedfromcommerciallyavailablematerialsandprocesses.”

RFTappearstobeyetanotherCompanythatisatthisjuncturelongonHype–andshortonsubstance.Their“systems”consistofassembling“BioCoalprocessingequipmentthatcanbemassproducedfromcommerciallyavailablematerialsandprocesses.”Everyattempttodothisinthepasthasresultedinfailure.Thereisnoreasontobelievethatthiswillbeanydifferent.Theapplicationofauniqueprocessintotheofftheshelftechnologywouldbethegamechangerforthem.

RiverBasinEnergy

“RiverBasinEnergy,Inc.isheadquarteredinDenver,Coloradoandwasfoundedin2008.ThecompanyiscommercialisingitsprocessforbiomassandlowrankcoalandisventurebackedbyEmeraldTechnologyVentures,aglobalcleantechinvestorbasedinTorontoandZurich.”

BeingbackedbyaLargeClean-TechFundcertainlyhasitsadvantages,especiallywhenthatFundhasdirectconnectionstoaUtilitylikeOntarioPowerGeneration.TheyhaveaDemonstrationPlantthatisoperatinginWyoming,andhas,accordingtoreports,“successfullydehydratedavarietyofrawfeedcoalsandbiomasschips”.TheirDemonstrationunitprocesses200Kilogramsperhour,andtheyarecurrentlyaccumulatingvolumesoftorrefiedproductfortesting.Theyare“adapting”their10,000tonperyearcoalprocessingplanttohandlebiomass.ThisCompanyisalsopreviouslymarketedunderthename“FMINEWCOAL”http://www.fmifuel.com/index.html

Rotawave

“RotawavewasestablishedintheUKin2002asanSME.Thecompanyspecializesinthecreationanddevelopmentofnewtechnologyforproducingaddedvalueproductsandenergyfromawidevarietyofsolidorganicwastesandlowvaluefeedstocks.Thenewtechnologyisbasedoncontinuesfeed,flexiblemicrowaveprocesses.Currentbusinessactivitiesincludethetreatmentandrecoveryofvaluableproductsfromdrillingmudsfromoilfeeds.Achievementsincludethedevelopmentandcommercialisationofanewsmokelessfuelmanufacturingoperation,expandingthenewbusinesstoaturnoverof£1.5millionperannumin3years.“

Toproducethebio-coal,thecompanywillusetheRotawaveTargetedIntelligentEnergySystem(TIES),whichisapatented,microwave-based,closed,continuousfeedprocess,developedand

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ownedbytheUK-basedEnergyEnvironmentalGroup.TIESisusedforthelow-energy,high-volumetorrefactionofforestandotherbiomass.Theclosedsystemprocessgenerateslimitedemissions.Thetotalproductionofbio-coalwillamounttoabout120,000tonnes/yearandisalreadypre-soldtoaninternationalbroker.It’sestimatedthatupto500,000cubic-metres/yearoffibrewillberequiredforthefacility.

Atfirstglance,theRotawaveTechnologyappearstomakeinfinitesense.Afterall,Microwavesareaveryefficientwaytoimpartenergyintoamoisturecontainingsolid.Theissuehowever–isthattheprocessconvertsenergyseveraltimestomaintainitsenergybalance.Ineffect;BiomassisheatedbyMicrowaves,whichproducesVolatiles,whichareburned,tomakesteam,todriveagenerator,topowerthemicrowaveunit.WebelievethatthistechnologywillgothewayoftheMicrowave/VacuumKilnthatwastobethe“next”generationofLumberandtimberdrying.Inaddition,atanaveragefeedstockpriceof£25.00pertonne,andaconversionrationof4.16:1,thisputsthefinalproductoutoftherealmofcommercialreality,foranythingotherthanfreeorverylow-costfeedstock.Aftermuchpressearlieronthisyear,aboutanewfacilityinTerraceBC,allhasgonequiet.

Sea2SkyCorporation(NottobeconfusedwithSea2SkyEnergyUKLtd.)

“Sea2SkyCorp.(OTCBB:SSKY)isadevelopment-stagerenewablebio-energycompanyheadquarteredinSeattle,Washington.TheCompany’sprimaryfocusistodeliveralternativeenergysolutionstoFortune1000companies,governmentalagenciesandcountriesaroundtheglobe.Sea2SkyintendstobeamanufacturerofbiomassenergyproductsforindustrialuseinNorthAmericaandWesternEuropeancountriesasafuelandenergyalternative.”

Althoughthereisagreatwebpresence,andthisCompany“appears”tobewellalongitsdevelopmentpath;itislittlemorethanaStockplayor“pumpanddump”.AsofQ2,2010,virtuallytheentireboardofDirectorsresigned;allagreementswerecancelled,andtheCompanyhadsignificantdebtagainstnoincome.ThelatestreportsmadevaguecommentsaboutnegotiatingasaleoftheCompanytoanotherfirm,whosenamewassogenericthatitwasimpossibletoverifyorvalidate.AsoflateNovember2010,Sea2SkyCorporation“purchased”ecoTECHEnergyGroup.ThispurchasewasmadewithexistingS2SShares–andendedupbeingareversetakeoverbyecoTECH.Nofurtherdetailshavebeenannouncedonfutureprojects.

Stramproy-Green

“StramproyGroup,originatingfromMachinefabriekStramproy,isaninnovativeandleadingcompanywithanextensiveexperienceofmorethan35years.

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Weareactiveinmultidisciplinaryprojectsinabroadmarketandfocusonthedesign,engineeringandrealisationofsystems,machinesandequipmentforindustrialprocessesandonthedevelopmentofvariousprocesstechnologies.”

StramproyGreenTechnologiesmadeseveral“gamechanging”announcementsin2009.TheyhadsecuredanEPCContractwith4EnergyInvesttobuildatorrefactionreactorat4Energy’sAmelpowerStation;theyhadstarteddevelopmentoftheirownCHPplant(withtorrefactiontechnologyinstalled)inSteenwyck;andtheyhadenteredaContracttoSupplyRWEwith90,000tonnesperyearofBio-Coal.Unfortunately–thesystemfor4Energywasneversuccessfullycommissioned,andtheEPCContractwascancelledinJuneof2010.TherehavebeennofurtherannouncementsfromtheCompanysincethen.

SubCoal

“TheSubcoal®technologyconcernsseveralproprietaryandstate-of-the-artprocessandapplicationtechnologiestoconvertandprocesscellulose/plasticfractionsintohigh-qualityalternativefuelsforsustainableenergyrecovery”.

TheSubcoalproductsaredevelopedtobeco-combustedincoalorgasfiredindustrialfurnaces.Theproductsareideallysuitedforco-combustionin,Cementkilns,Limekilns,andPowerplants.http://www.managenergy.net/download/nr41.pdf

WhilenotspecificallyTorrefaction,theSubCoalprocessutilisesamulti-stepprocess,toconvertresidueandwasteproductsfromPaperSludgeintoHigh-energypelletsforco-firingwithCoal.Theprocessinvolvesdewatering;dryingandcompaction,tolessthan7%moisturecontent–andresultsinapelletwithaCVof23.7GJ/tonne.

SunCoal

“Thecompanydevelops,builds,andoperatesplants(Biomass-to-Coalplants)thatprocessbiomasstoacarbon-rich,drysolid.SunCoalcanbeefficientlyburnedorfurtherrefinedtodiesel.Alternatively,itcanalsobeusedasasourcematerialfortheindustrialproductionof,forexample,tires,fertilizer,waxandantifreeze.”

TerradyneEnergy

“Heat-LockTechnologycaneasilybeadaptedtoyourCompaniesthermalgenerationfurnace.Wearecurrentlydevelopingatorrefactionprocesstoreplacecoalasanenergysource”.

Likemany“promoters”,TerradyneEnergyhasjumpedontheTorrefactionBandwagon.Theirangleistopromotethebenefitsoftheirproduct–withoutprovidinganysubstantiationoftheirprocess.

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Requestsforsamples,whichweretobesentaschips,ratherthanpellets,(presumablybecausetheywereunabletopelletisetheproduct)resultedonlyinpromises,butnotdelivery.Byallaccounts–theirproductischarcoal–andnottorrefiedwood.

TerraGreenEnergy

“TerraGreenEnergy,LLCisatorrefactiontechnologylicensingcompany.

TerraGreenIndustries,LLCisthebuilder,ownerandoperatoroftheCommercialTorrefactionDemonstrationFacilitythatisbeingbuiltinMcKeanCounty,Pennsylvania.Thisteamhasbeenworkingontorrefactionsinceearlyin2008.”

TerraGreenisapromoteroftheWyssmont“Turbo-Dryer”asatorrefactionReactor.LikeIntegroEarthFuels(whotestedWyssmont’sPilotplantforoverayear)itishighlyunlikelythattheywillsucceed.Thegreatestchallengeistheremovalofaccumulatedtarsinthetor-gas,whichcondenseinsidethereactor.

ThermogenIndustries

“ThermogenIndustriesisoperatedbyCateStreetCapital,Inc.,aPortsmouth,NewHampshire-basedinvestmentfundandoperatingcompanyspecializingin“green”technologiesandenvironmentallysustainabledevelopmentprojects.ThermogenIndustriesisamulti-facetedmanufacturingcompanythatutilizescuttingedgetechnologytoproducebio-basedproductsforenergygenerationandcommercialapplications.Environmentallyresponsibleproductsandmanufacturingpracticesareattheheartofourcompanyandthecoreofourbusiness.AtThermogen,weworkwithtoday’stopindustryleadersandscientiststocontinuouslyimproveandrefineourgreenandenvironmentallysustainablelineofproducts.”

ThisCompanyappearstobeamarketingarmfortheAgri-Techsystem.BothCompaniesareutilisingthesamemultiscrew-feedtorrefactionreactortechnology,whichwasdevelopedatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity.Publishedinformationindicatesa3:1conversionratio(feedstocktofinishedproduct)whichisindicativeofabio-charproduction–buttoocost-intensiveforatorrefactionprocess.

ThermyaSA

“THERMYAisanengineeringcompanydedicatedtodesign,developandbuildplantstoproduceCarbonandenergyfrom“distillation”oforganicsolids.THERMYAoffersinnovativeandenvironmentally-friendlyalternativesfortherecoveryorrecyclingofwood,viscose,bagasse,chickenlitter,etc...”

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ThermyahaveaverywelldesignedandtestedpilotplantinBordeaux.TheirtechnologymirrorsthatofECNandMATRIC,insofarasitisapackedbed,verticalcolumn,whichutilisesacounterflowofhotgassestodrivetheprocess.

Theirtechnologyishighlylikelytosucceedinthemarketplace–however–theircurrentfinancialsituation(theywereputintoreceivershipinSeptemberof2009)isabarriertotheirsuccess.Certainly–oncetheirfirstLicensee(Lantec/Idema)completestheCommercialReactor–theywillbeabletorollitoutworldwide.ItmeetsalloftherequirementsofAffordability,Durability,flexibilityandfunctionality.

TKEnergiAS

“DuringmanyyearsTKEnergihasobtainedahighlevelofexperienceinfindingsolutionstodesignandmanufactorycomplexthermochemicalequipmentsuchasgasification,torrefactionandhandlingsystemsforbiomass,wasteandothermaterialswithcarboncontent.TKEnergycanalsoofferhandlingsystemsincludingPre-Handling,Drying,TorrefactionandPressurizedFeeding”

TKEnergyisacompanyheadedupbyThomasKoch.WhiletheirwebsitepromotestheimplementationofTorrefaction;furtherdiscussionshaverevealedthattheybelieveittobetoocostlyandinefficientaprocesstobeeconomicallyviable,andarenowpromotingthedryingofwoodchips,atthepowerstation,utilisinglow-gradesurplusheat.

Topell

“TopellEnergyisaDutch,privatelyfunded,cleantechnologycompanywhichhasdevelopedacuttingedgeprocessfortheproductionofhighvaluesolidbio-fuelfromwoodybiomass.Thisprocessisgenerallyknownastorrefactionandthesolidbio-fuelisusuallyreferredtoastorrefiedbiomass.”

TopellwereamongthefirstCompaniestoreceivefundingbyamajorUtility(RWE)forthedevelopmentoftheirtechnology.ItisbasedonworkdonebyPolowEnergySystems,utilisingtheBritishdesigned“Torbed”dryer.TopellhavenowbrokengroundonaCommercialFacility(again–inajoint-venturewithRWE)andwilllikelyhavethatfacilityoperationalinthenext12to16months.Theyhaveassembledahighlycredentialedteamofexpertstoassistthemwiththedevelopment,andwillundoubtedlysucceedinmakingBi-Coalinlargevolumes.Theonlyquestionthatremainsunansweredistheeconomicviabilityofthesystem,asitcarriesasignificantCapEx.

TorkapparaterAB

“Torkapparateroffersturn-keysystemsfordrying,cooling,pyrolysisandotherthermalprocessingofsolidmaterials.

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Since1937wehavedeliveredathousandplantsadaptedtoahundreddifferenttypeofmaterial.Ourcustomersarefoundinmostbranches,aroundtheworld.Welcometoourslowlyrevolvingworld!”

Thistechnologywasrecentlyreleasedat“WorldBioenergy2010”.Itutilisesalargedrumdryingunit,whichhasbeenspecificallyadaptedtooperateataround300°Ctotorrefywoodchips.

Withalonghistoryinthedryingindustry,thisCompanyisonethatmayverywellsucceedincrackingthecodefortorrefaction.

Torrcoal

“TheideabehindTorr®Coalisabundantinbiomass,butbecauseoftheirphysicalandchemicalpropertiesisnotsuitableasabiofuelsuitableforpowergenerationand/orforuseinindustry.

ThebusinessphilosophyofTorr-CoalGroupischaracterizedbyconcernfor

• aminimalenvironmentalimpact• maximumreuseofvaluableresources• maximumutilizationoftheenergycontent• minimizationandoptimizationoftransportation”

TorrCoalisoneofonlytwocommercialoperationsinexistence.TheirprocessconvertsSRF(SolidRecoveredFuel)intoapowderthatcanbeburnedinPowerStations.Certainlytheyhaveproventheconcept,buttheirtechnologyhasnot,asofyet,receivedwidemarketacceptanceandimplementation.

Torrproc

Torrsys/Bepex

“Torrsysisadevelopmentstagespin-offcompanyofBepexInternationalthatisworkingwithutilities,rawbiomasssuppliers,andinvestorstobringtomarketindustrial-scalebiomasstorrefactionanddensificationproductionplantsthatwillproducebiocoal,acarbonneutralsolidfuelthatcanbeusedbyexistingcoalpowerplants.ThegenesisofTorrsysbeganwithinBepexInternational,a100-year-oldMinneapolis-basedprocessdevelopmentandindustrial-scaleprocessequipmentcompany,whoseclientsincludesomeoftheworld’smostwell-knownfood,chemical,polymerandrenewablecompanies.Sinceearly2007,wehavebeendevelopingandrefiningtheprocess,andtodayweareagloballeader,witha1.44ton/day,continuous-phasebiomasstorrefactionanddensificationpilotplant.Combinedwehaveproduced30tonsofbiocoalandhavesuccessfullyconductedpilotscalepulverizedcoalcombustiontrialsat10%and30%co-firingratios.”TorsyssistheMarketingBrandforthetechnologyDevelopedbyBepex.Extensiveworkwasconductedduring2008-2009todesign,developandtestasemi-commercialreactorsystem.While

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thereisalotofdataavailableabouttheresultsoftheirtests(http://www.xcelenergy.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/docs/BepexInternational-RD3-4-Milestone1Report.pdf)thereislittleinformationavailableaboutthetechnology.Initialinquiriesrevealedthatthecostoftheirsystem,for100ktperyear,wouldbeintherealmofUS$25million.

TransnationalTechnologies

“JamesArcate,owner&managerofTransnationalTechnologyLLC,hasbeenpromotingTorrefiedWoodasarenewablefuelforenergyrecovery,wasteminimizationandareplacementforfossilfuels.”

ThisisyetanotherCompanythatispromotingtheuseoftheWyssmont“Turbo-Dryer”asatorrefactionreactor.Liketheothers–itishighlyunlikelytosucceed.

VegaPromotionalSystems

“VegaBiofuels,Inc.wasformedtopursuetheproductionandsaleofbiofuelproductsthroughouttheworld.“

Therewasgreatfanfarecreatedinlate2009aboutVegautilising“SpecialTorrefactionTechnology”inChina.Theyannouncedtheestablishmentof10Bio-CoalproductionfacilitiesinconjunctionwithunverifiableChineseCorporation.Thisisanothercaseofvague“pressreleases”thatcannotbesubstantiatedinanyway.

VerdantEnergySolutions

“VerdantEnergySolutionsprovides"Bio-Coal",a100%renewablefuelalternativetofossilcoalusedforelectricgeneratingutilitiesworld-wide;substantiallyreducingCO2andotherharmfulgreenhousegasemissions.

LegislativelymandatedCO2reductionshavecreatedamarketneedforourproduct.NotechnologycurrentlyexiststoremoveCO2fromsmokestacks.SwitchingtocleanburningBio-Coal,providescompatibilitywithtoday'sexistingenergyinfrastructureandtheopportunitytomeettomorrow'sincreasinglystringentemissionreductiontargetsinacost-effectivemanner.

VerdantEnergySolutionsiscurrentlydevelopingitsBio-Coalproductioncapabilityinbiomass-richregionssuchasBrazil,toservethegrowingneedforanon-fossilfuelalternativethatcanbeco-firedwithcoal,toachievereductionsinCO2emissions.”

VerdantEnergySolutionshaveanexcellentwebsitethat“talksthetalk”verywell.Unfortunately–thereisnosubstancebehindit,andlittlevalidationoftheirprocessorproducts.Again–itwould

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appearthattheyarejustanother“metoo”Company–thathasjumpedontheTorrefactionBandwagon.

ComplimentaryTechnologies

WhilenotspecificallyTorrefaction,theTechnologieslistedbelowarecomplimentary,andincludeHydrothermalCarbonisation;Pyrolysis,SteamExplosion,etc.Theyareincludedinthisreportforcomparativeanalysis.

Polow www.polow.nl Jacques Poldervaart

multiple torbed (Torbed)

NL j.polfervaart@polow.nl T +31 70 362 6921 Best Energies www.bestenergies.com James Schreck

more pyrolysis & biochar

AUS

BioWare http://www.bioware.com.br

more pyrolysis & biochar

BRA bioware@bioware.com.br

Next step bio fuels www.nextstepbiofuels.com Kevin Dretzka

power pellets

USA -NEBRASKA Bio Coal India www.biocoalindia.com Ramit Plyush

biocoal

INDIA ptp@bom5.vsnl.net.in

York Energy http://www.yorkenergy.ca/ Matthew Fox

?

CANADA - OT matthew.fox@yorkenergy.ca

andy piers

CDS-group http://www.cds-group.co.uk/ Graham Bird

Fluid Bed reactor (Arcate SH steam) UK graham.bird@cds-group.co.uk

Genesis Industries http://egenindustries.com/ John Gelwicks

more biocarbon BIOCHAR

USA - CALIFORNIA john.gelwicks@egenindustries.com T +1 310 399 9775

Biochar Systems LLC http://www.biocharsystems.com/ Jim Fournier

more biocarbon BIOCHAR

USA - COLORADO testing@biocharengineering.com

Carbon Char Group http://www.carbonchar.com/

more biocarbon BIOCHAR

USA - NORTH CAROLINA

Biochar Products http://www.biocharproducts.com/

more biocarbon BIOCHAR

USA - OREGON

EcoTechnologies Group LLC http://www.ecotechnologies.com/ Steve Parker

?

USA - PENSYLVENIA Info@EcoTechnologies.com T

R&A Energy Solutions LLC http://www.randaenergysolutions.com/ Joel Keller

more biocarbon BIOCHAR

USA

hydro thermal carbonisation

20.000 tpa / 2011 GERMANY info@suncoal.de

T +49 3375 566005

mike klienert

BioLake http://www.biolake.nl/index_en.html Hans Bais multiple screw reactor (DiscoTherm) NL Bio3D http://www.bio3d.eu/index2.php Sébastien Roux

?

FR

Buehler-Aeroglide http://www.aeroglide.com/biofuels-dryers-coolers.php

rotary reactor

SWISS

Ava-Co2 http://www.ava-co2.com Jan Vyskcoil

hydro thermal carbonisation

SWISS contact@ava-co2.com

+41 41 727 09 70 thomas klausli

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UniversityResearchers

UniversityofGeorgiahttp://www.biorefinery.uga.edu/biomasspreprocessing.html

PacificNorthwestNationalLaboratoryhttp://www.pnl.gov/

IdahoNationalLaboratoryhttps://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=255&mode=2

EindhovenUniversityofTechnologyhttp://w3.wtb.tue.nl/en/

LeedsUniversityhttp://www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/erri/people/jones/jones.shtml

UniversityofNorthCarolinahttps://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/News/DetailsNewsPage.cfm?id=4193&menu=cetv

UniversityofJyväskylähttps://www.jyu.fi/it/en

EnergyCentreoftheNetherlandshttp://www.ecn.nl/home/

UmeåUniversityhttp://www.umu.se/english

DukeUniversityhttp://www.duke.edu/

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IndustryAssociations

DutchTorrefactionAssociationhttp://www.dutchtorrefactionassociation.eu/(InDutch)

InternationalTorrefactionAssociationhttp://www.internationaltorrefactionassociation.com

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ExistingOperationsWorldwide

Europe

Torr-coal–OperatingCommercialFacility

Fox-Coal–OperatingSemi-CommercialFacility

ECN–Pilotplant

THERMYA–PilotPlant

Topell–PilotPlant–CommercialPlantinConstruction

Stramproy-Green–CommercialPlant–non-operational

4EnergyInvest–CommercialPlant–Nonoperational

NorthAmerica

Integro–PilotPlant–nolongeroperational

RiverBasin–PilotPlant

EarthcareProducts–ConvertedCharcoalKiln

Whowillsucceed?

Topell–theirplantwillultimatelygetupandrunning.Theyhavemorethanenoughmoneybehindthem(courtesyofRWE)tomakeithappen.

AirlessSystems–withabillionaireinvestorbehindthem,Airlesswillundoubtedlysucceedingettingtheirtechnologytowork.Itishighlyunlikelythatitwillbeadopteduniversally–asthecostswillfarexceedanycommercialsensibility.

ECN–WithVattenfall/NuonfundingthedevelopmentofaDemonstrationReactor,thiswillultimatelysucceed.Itisalsoamongthetop3tobeimplementedonawidespreadbasis.

Thermya–Inspiteoftheircurrentfinancialdifficulties,ThermyahavethepotentialtobeamajorplayerintheTorrefactionIndustry.

MATRIC–WithasimilarprocesstoThermyaandECN,MatricwillbeoneoftheleadersintheIndustry.

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Whowillfail?

MostotherCompanieswillfailtoachievewidespreadsuccess.Thisispartlyduetotheirapproachtotorrefaction,butmostlyduetoalackofunderstandingofthebasicmechanismsinvolved.

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Conclusions

TheInvestmentCommunityiscurrentlyinastateofmassconfusionwithrespecttothistechnology.Thisisbroughtaboutbysomanyclaims,fromsomanyCompanies,thatitisvirtuallyimpossibletoknowwhatisreal,andwhatisanillusion.

Uncertaintyoverbasicinformation–suchasthedifferencebetweenBio-CoalandBio-Char,onlyexacerbatesthesituationfurther.Inadditiontothis,therehavebeenseveralclaimsofthe“World’sFirst”Commercialtorrefactionreactor(Integro;Earthcare,etc.)AfterseveralfalsestartsintheIndustry,therewasgreatpromiseheldfor4EnergyInvest/StramproyGreenTechnologies.Thesimplefactremainshowever,thatalthoughtheSystemsweretobeoperationalinDecember,2009–theyareyettobefullycommissionedandoperationalayearlater.Topell/RWEiscontinuingtheirdevelopmentpath–andwillultimatelyproducecommercialvolumesofproduct–thecostoftheirtechnologyhowever–issuchthatthevalueofthefinishedproductmaywellexceedsensibleeconomiclevelsinthelong-term.

TheUltimatewinnerswillbethoseCompaniesthatareabletogettheirproductvalidatedbytheMajorUtilitieswhowillbetheirCustomers.ManyCompaniesrightnow,aresofocussedongettingtheirsystemstoworkinaneconomicalmanner,thattheyforgetthefactthattheproducttheyaremakingneedstomeetsomefairlystringentspecifications.

ThoseCompaniesthataretakingascientificapproachtotheprocessandultimateproductwillendupastheLong-TermWinners.Thosethatfocussolelyon“systemdesign”withoutconsideringProductSpecificsaredestinedtofailure.

GLOSSARY

ACTOF “AblazingCleanTorrefiedOrganicFuel”

ASTM AmericanSocietyforTestingMaterials

AS AustralianStandard

BDT BoneDryTonne

CV CalorificValue

Gj Gigajoule

Kg/m3 Kilogramspercubicmetre

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PCI PulverisedCoalInjection

Tor-Gas GasFractionevolvedduringTorrefaction

TW TorrefiedWood

References

(1) TorrefactiontoimprovebiomassfuelpropertiesBy:JaapKielandPatrickBergman,ECNNovember29,2004

(2) MANAGINGASHCONTENTAND-QUALITYINHERBACEOUSBIOMASS:ANANALYSISFROMPLANTTOPRODUCTRobertR.BakkerandH.W.Elbersen,WageningenUniversity&ResearchCentre(WUR)

(3) GlebBagramovECONOMYOFCONVERTINGWOODTOBIOCOAL,Lappeenranta,2010

(4) Torrefactionforbiomassupgradingintocommodityfuels–JaapKielIEABioenergyTask32workshop“Fuelstorage,handlingandpreparationandsystemanalysisforbiomasscombustiontechnologies”,Berlin,7May2007

(5) TorrefactionforBiomassCo-firinginexistingCoal-firedpowerstations.“BIOCOAL”P.C.A.BERGMAN;A.R.BOERSMA;R.W.R.ZWART;J.H.A.KIELECNJuly2005

PostScript

AbouttheAuthors

RichardWaltonisaprofessionalEngineerwhohasworkedaroundtheglobeintheForestry,Lumber,timberandBuildingIndustry.Forthepast2yearshehasbeenintimatelyinvolvedintorrefaction,ataglobalscale,andisconsideredbymanytobeoneoftheleadingexpertsinthefieldofCommercialisationandImplementation.Detailscanbefoundatwww.sea2skyenergy.co.uk

GeorgevanBommelisahighlyexperiencedEngineerandSystemsintegrator,withenormousworld-wideexperienceintheenergyandcommodityBusiness.HisCompany-BioTorTech(BiomassTorrefactionTechnologies)orBTTisanindependentspecialistconsultingfirmforbiomassconversiontechnologies.Theirmissionistoenableourclientstousethebestavailabletorrefactiontechnologiesforleveragingtheirbiomasspotential.Georgecanbereachedatinfo@biotortech.comorthroughhiswebsite-www.biotortech.com

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