The chemical-physical process of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) converts organic material into a solid, coallike product with a higher calorific value than the raw material.
HTC can present an easy solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a new method to generate electricity from biomass. The method simulates the formation process of lignite - which takes millions of years under natural circumstances - in a technical process of a few hours. While adding water and a suitable catalyst, the biomass is put under pressure and heated to 180–200 °C with the exclusion of oxygen. The activation of the carbonization process is subject to an initial input of energy, but the catalyst shortens the reaction to two to six hours. In total, the exothermal reaction releases more heat energy than needed for the carbonization process and the surplus caloric value can be withdrawn from the process and used otherwise.
Based on the advanced HTC process and with the financial support of DBU, the project partners plan to become pioneers in finding an economic solution for energy generation from vegetable coal of various origins. The research team from the Giessen-Friedberg University for Applied Sciences demonstrated the feasibility of the procedure on the laboratory scale and developed an experimental reactor of 3,5 m3 with a daily production of 1.5 t of vegetable coal. The development of the auxiliary equipment for the reactor was a successful cooperation with Rössner Maschinenbau Company of Alsfeld near Hanover. As of mid- 2009 a quasi-continuous operation will be established. Goal of the project is to bring the HTC procedure to market maturity.
Project Operation
HydroCarb GmbH & Co. KG
Kirtorferstr. 17
36320 Kirtorf-Arnshain
Telefon 06635 - 7410
http://www.hydrocarb.de
info@hydrocarb.de
Willi Schlitt GmbH & Co KG
Kirtorfer Str. 7
Kirtorf-Arnshain
Telefon (06692) 919010
www.willi-schlitt.de
rs@willi-schlitt.de
Cooperation Partner
Rößner Maschinenbau GmbH
Alte Liederbacher Str. 8
36304 Alsfeld
Telefon (06631) 96220
info roessner-maschinenbau.de
www.roessner-maschinenbau.de
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