Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2016.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104263 |
| _version_ | 1811077359963471872 |
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| author | O'Brien, Megan Lynn |
| author2 | Alexander H. Slocum. |
| author_facet | Alexander H. Slocum. O'Brien, Megan Lynn |
| author_sort | O'Brien, Megan Lynn |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2016. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T10:41:42Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/104263 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T10:41:42Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1042632019-04-11T09:01:20Z Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel O'Brien, Megan Lynn Alexander H. Slocum. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2016. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 143-149). Significant volumes of biomass waste are generated each year as a result of agricultural practices in India. Despite the negative environmental impacts, in-situ incineration of crop residues is common practice for disposal of this waste. Transportation of raw biomass accounts for a significant portion of the cost of biomass conversion processes due to its low energy density and high bulk volume. The use of raw biomass also reduces the overall efficiency of thermochemical conversion processes due to high moisture content, over-oxidation of the fuel resulting from high oxygen content, and the relatively high oxygen to carbon ratio. There has been much recent interest in improving the properties of biomass prior to gasification and pyrolysis through densification, drying, and mild thermochemical treatments. One approach is a process known as torrefaction, which is a mild pyrolysis process that is shown to produce an energy-dense fuel with improved transport, storage, and feedstock characteristics. Particularly in the Indian context, there is a need for the development of a small-scale system which can densify and upgrade the properties of agricultural residues after harvest. This thesis presents the design and preliminary testing of a lab-scale moving-bed torrefaction reactor. Key learnings from the assembly and testing of this machine are identified and recommendations for improvement are made. A rudimentary model evaluating the heat transfer in packed bed of biomass is developed to provide a framework for analyzing future reactor designs. The functional requirements of a labscale screw conveyor torrefaction reactor are developed based on this analysis and a preliminary reactor architecture is proposed. Multiple studies are recommended to improve the reliability of the heat transfer model. Recommendations are made for future design iterations of the lab-scale screw conveyor torrefaction reactor. by Megan Lynn O'Brien. S.M. 2016-09-13T19:18:50Z 2016-09-13T19:18:50Z 2016 2016 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104263 958160035 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 150 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Mechanical Engineering. O'Brien, Megan Lynn Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title | Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title_full | Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title_fullStr | Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title_short | Design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in-situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| title_sort | design of a mobile torrefaction reactor for in situ conversion of agricultural waste to solid biofuel |
| topic | Mechanical Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104263 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT obrienmeganlynn designofamobiletorrefactionreactorforinsituconversionofagriculturalwastetosolidbiofuel |