(36b) Feed System Design Considerations for Biomass and MSW Gasification
AIChE Annual Meeting
2023
2023 AIChE Annual Meeting
Sustainable Engineering Forum
Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium – Understanding Feedstock Variability to Enable Next Generation Biorefineries (Invited Talks)
Monday, November 6, 2023 - 3:49pm to 4:08pm
A major challenge for biorefineries to adopt new and variable feedstocks is understanding the impacts on the ability to convey those new feedstocks to the reactor. Feeding a consistent feedstock requires ample design considerations that perform well for a single feedstock and single set of specifications. However, when the feedstock changes, the existing feed system design may not function as intended, requiring equipment or feed processing modifications. In this talk, we highlight approaches to test the feedability of different solids from biomass or municipal solid waste streams, like isolated feed testing under relevant conditions. Since biomass and landfill-bound feedstocks have considerably differing characteristics, we made and tested a variety of feed screw prototypes to understand the most important design features for effective material conveyance.