The Agri-Therm Solution
Agri-Therm's Pilot Plan
Agricultural residue is a light density, large volume product and is seasonal in nature. For these reasons it is preferable to have a mobile pyrolysis plant that can be cost-effectively transported to the source of the residue. It is also important that technology produces a consistent bio-oil output based on a predetermined input.
To this end, Agri-Therm is currently in the process of refining the solution to be consistent, cost effective and production-ready for mass use and mass marketing. Agri-Therm is also working to streamline the production process and ensure that sufficient quality controls are in place. In the meantime, the company is soliciting potential pilot prospects across a range of feedstock, and with a need for 2 to 40 tonnes of processing capability per day. The refined platform will be ready for testing in the Spring 2009.
Pyrolysis
Organic (carbon-based) compounds and materials can be "broken down" into their constituent elements when rapidly exposed to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen; this process is called "fast pyrolysis." The process produces gases, liquids and solids (char) as summarized below:
The exact composition and volume of products produced in this process varies depending on the specific biomass being processed. Each of the end products of pyrolysis has potential commercial and agricultural uses:
- Combustible gases and BIO-oil can be used as a renewable, clean burning source of energy for heating, motive power and electrical generation
- Non combustible gases (primarily CO2) could be utilized in green house operations
- BIO-oil can be further processed into chemical feed stock for industrial and commercial applications
- Carbon char can be utilized as a fuel source, or sold as a carbon compound
- Ash can be utilized as an additive for cement production or agricultural fertilizer
The high temperature nature of pyrolysis will destroy pathogens and can also act to isolate and concentrate chemical pollutants for appropriate disposal.
Pyrolysis Benefits
- Production of valuable liquid, gaseous and solid products from agricultural residues
- Renewable "green" energy source (bio-oil) for use in motive power, electrical generation and/or heating
- Reduction of prohibitive feed stock shipping costs
- Reduction of pollution from agricultural residues, particularly the burning of certain straws (rice & flax)
- Destruction of pathogens in potentially hazardous materials (animal renderings)
- Soil nutrient recovery N, P, K additives in char and ash used as fertilizer additives
- Adaptable to many different agricultural and agri-food materials, solid, or liquid
- Bench test lab facilities available for pre-testing new materials and optimizing operating parameters
- Canadian developed technology applicable globally
Pyrolysis Diagram
