A fuel pellet includes a pellet body made from a mixture of (a) hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or hemp and kenaf byproduct, (b) sawdust and, optionally, (c) coal fines. The fuel pellet may be made without adding a binder. A method of making the binderless fuel pellet is also described.

Char fuels are described that result from a simple and efficient carbonization of cellulosic and/or lignin-containing materials, and can be provided as pellets, briquettes, or powders. Such char fuels show very low water absorption.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon pellet comprising: 35 wt % to 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least 60 wt % carbon; 0 wt % to 35 wt % water moisture; and 1 wt % to 30 wt % of a binder, wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by an adjustable Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) from about 30 to about 120, as shown in the Examples. The pellet HGI is adjustable by controlling process conditions and the pellet binder. The binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. The carbon is renewable as determined from a measurement of the .sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio. Many processes of making and using the biocarbon pellets are described. Applications of the biocarbon pellets include pulverized coal boilers, furnaces for making metals such as iron or silicon, and gasifiers for producing reducing gas.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon pellet comprising: 35 wt % to 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least 60 wt % carbon; 0 wt % to 35 wt % water moisture; and 1 wt % to 30 wt % of a binder, wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by an adjustable Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) from about 30 to about 120, as shown in the Examples. The pellet HGI is adjustable by controlling process conditions and the pellet binder. The binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. The carbon is renewable as determined from a measurement of the .sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio. Many processes of making and using the biocarbon pellets are described. Applications of the biocarbon pellets include pulverized coal boilers, furnaces for making metals such as iron or silicon, and gasifiers for producing reducing gas.

A flavor or aroma charcoal material, such as charcoal briquets, which is formulated to include a flavor or aroma component. The charcoal material may include a smoldering agent (e.g., limestone), wood particles (e.g., sawdust), a binder, and the flavor or aroma component (herbs and/or spices). The flavor or aroma charcoal material may not be configured as a fuel charcoal material, for example, it may be substantially void of char and/or coal. In an embodiment, the flavor or aroma charcoal material may be provided as part of a blend of different charcoal materials that includes both flavor or aroma briquets in combination with fuel briquets (e.g., which fuel briquets include char and/or coal, while the flavor briquets do not). The flavor briquets provide enhanced aroma and/or flavor to the grilling experience.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into highcarbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

Processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas is employed to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a combustible material having a lower heating value of 5.29 MWh/t or more.

According to the invention, such a method comprises continuously introducing of a predetermined volume per minute of wood fragments into a pressurised reactor; exposing the wood fragments to steam at a temperature of between 200 and 220° C. for a time of between 5 and 9 minutes, the value of said exposure time and the value of the temperature of said steam being selected so that the severity factor is between 4.05 and 4.15; continuously extracting from said reactor the same predetermined volume of wood fragments per minute, through a plurality of orifices opening into a conduit at substantially atmospheric pressure; separating said decompressed wood fragments and the residual steam extracted from said reactor, said wood fragments obtained after separation forming said combustible material.

Formulations and methods of making wood pellets treated with lignin sulfonate as an anti-autooxidative component to reduce the rate of self-heating of bulk wood pellets. The lignin sulfonate may be used as a binder in the wood pellets or the wood pellets may be sprayed with lignin sulfonate for an encapsulated wood pellet. Wood pellets having the lignin sulfonate have a lowered potential of self-heating below high reactivity pellets and better structural durability during storage and transportation without adversely affecting the fuel value of the wood pellets.

A system for combusting fuel comprising an apparatus that receives fuel that is characterized as comprising interstitial spacing and wherein oxidants pass through the interstitial spacing of the fuel to sustain a combustion reaction at the interface of a reaction chamber while the byproducts of combustion pass into the reaction chamber.