Title

DEVELOPMENT OF A PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CHARCOAL FOR THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

DEVELOPMENT OF A PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CHARCOAL FOR THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

Authorship

DEEV, ALEX; JAHANSHAHI, SHARIF

DEEV, ALEX

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JAHANSHAHI, SHARIF

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-22204

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Abstract

Modern integrated iron and steelmaking processes utilising fossil carbon theoretically permit the substitution of 30% or more of coal or coke by charcoal without the need for substantial technological modification. However, in the majority of regions, the replacement of coal or coke by renewable carbon made from biomass (charcoal) is restricted by the limited availability and high price of charcoal. The development of an efficient pyrolysis technology capable of making large quantities of metallurgical charcoal from low-grade wood has the potential to improve this situation. A desirable new process also needs to be continuous with high level of automation, operatable in the reactors of broad size range, achieve high charcoal yield and be capable of capturing the value of by-products (bio-gas and bio-oil). A series of laboratory-scale experiments has been carried out under well-controlled conditions to identify the optimal process parameters for producing metallurgical charcoal from woody biomass at high yields. In this study the main process parameters were varied in a systematic manner and their effects on charcoal yield were quantified. The data obtained have enabled the judicious choice of a base concept for the development of an efficient process for continuous pyrolysis of biomass.

Modern integrated iron and steelmaking processes utilising fossil carbon theoretically permit the substitution of 30% or more of coal or coke by charcoal without the need for substantial technological modification. However, in the majority of regions, the replacement of coal or coke by renewable carbon made from biomass (charcoal) is restricted by the limited availability and high price of charcoal. The development of an efficient pyrolysis technology capable of making large quantities of metallurgical charcoal from low-grade wood has the potential to improve this situation. A desirable new process also needs to be continuous with high level of automation, operatable in the reactors of broad size range, achieve high charcoal yield and be capable of capturing the value of by-products (bio-gas and bio-oil). A series of laboratory-scale experiments has been carried out under well-controlled conditions to identify the optimal process parameters for producing metallurgical charcoal from woody biomass at high yields. In this study the main process parameters were varied in a systematic manner and their effects on charcoal yield were quantified. The data obtained have enabled the judicious choice of a base concept for the development of an efficient process for continuous pyrolysis of biomass.

Keywords

Integrated iron and steelmaking; Biomass pyrolysis; Charcoal; Process optimisation.

Integrated iron and steelmaking; Biomass pyrolysis; Charcoal; Process optimisation.