A method for online monitoring and determining the calorific value of a solid fuel that is currently combusted in a boiler, that includes: on-line measuring the operational data of the boiler and of at least one mill during the operation 10 of the boiler; collecting the historical data; calculating the energy balances of the steam production system; iteratively determining the efficiency of the boiler by: determining sets of mill characteristics, the fuel mass flux, and the actual calorific value of the fuel for the historical data; training a model based on artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the calorific value using the historical data and measured operational data; determining in real time, using the trained model, the calorific value of the solid fuel that is currently combusted.

A microprocessor-based controller manages delivery of BTUs or power by determining an amount of thermal heat or power needed through sensors and, in response, controls a batch or continuous feed of biofuel fuel and/or air to a biofuel furnace. The controller controls the fuel and air required to operate the furnace efficiently.

The description relates to controlling slagging and/or fouling in biomass burning furnaces. Combustion of such a biomass the fuel with air produces combustion gases containing sodium and/or potassium compositions, and the combustion gases are treated by contacting the combustion gases with kaolin and aluminum hydroxide. At least one of the kaolin and aluminum hydroxide can be introduced with the fuel, in a combustion chamber, with reburn fuel or with overfire air. For fuels also high in zinc and/or heavy metals, magnesium hydroxide is introduced into the combustion chamber or following heat exchangers.

The description relates to controlling slagging and/or fouling in biomass burning furnaces. Combustion of such a biomass the fuel with air produces combustion gases containing sodium and/or potassium compositions, and the combustion gases are treated by contacting the combustion gases with kaolin and aluminum hydroxide. At least one of the kaolin and aluminum hydroxide can be introduced with the fuel, in a combustion chamber, with reburn fuel or with overfire air. For fuels also high in zinc and/or heavy metals, magnesium hydroxide is introduced into the combustion chamber or following heat exchangers.

A method and system of processing animal waste is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transferring animal waste to a gasifier to burn the animal waste, circulating water through a heat exchanger in a flue stack of the gasifier to generate heated water, and pumping the heated water to either an organic Rankine cycle system to generate electricity, a radiant heater, or any combination thereof. In addition, the method includes circulating the heated water through an evaporator of the organic Rankine cycle system to vaporize a refrigerant, and circulating the vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator, through a turbine to generate the electricity. Also, the method includes using a manure spreader to feed the animal waste to the gasifier at a varying feed rate that is based on contemporaneously calculating a British thermal units (BTU) of the animal waste being fed to the gasifier.

An apparatus 100 for removing moisture from particulate material is provided. The apparatus 100 comprises a master chamber 102 having a master inlet 104 for the supply of gas to the master chamber 102. The apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of drying chambers 106 at least partially arranged within the master chamber 102. Each drying chamber 106 that is at least partially arranged within the master chamber 102 has a first end and a second end, wherein each drying chamber 106 is configured for directing a flow of gas-entrained particulate material between said first and second ends of the drying chamber 106. Each drying chamber 106 includes a plurality of dryer inlets for directing gas from the master chamber 102 into the drying chamber 106, for interacting with said flow of gas-entrained particulate material within the drying chamber 106.

Applying heat from a heat source to a first region to cause a first pyrolysis process, the first pyrolysis process resulting in a gaseous mixture, and applying heat from the heat source to a second region to cause a second pyrolysis process, the second pyrolysis process being applied to the gaseous mixture, wherein the second region is located closer to the heat source than the first region. Pyrolysis is used to destroy oils, tars and/or PAHs in carbonaceous material.

A method of firing a biofuel is provided. The method includes: introducing the biofuel into a combustion chamber having a first stage and a second stage; combusting the biofuel in a suspended state while flowing from the first stage to the second stage; and introducing a first air stream and a second air stream into the combustion chamber at the first stage and at the second stage, respectively, to facilitate combustion of the biofuel.

A thermochemical system & method may be configured to convert an organic feedstock to various products. A thermochemical system may include a solid material feed module, a reactor module, an afterburner module, and a solid product finishing module. The various operational parameters (temperature, pressure, etc.) of the various modules may vary depending on the desired products. The product streams may be gaseous, vaporous, liquid, and/or solid.

A cylindrical furnace having a vertical axis controls combustion. Solid fuel, particulates, and gases inside the furnace rotate around the axis, inducing radial stratification using centrifugal forces. Fuel and particulates drag on the wall of the cylinder, slipping in and out of suspension, thereby increasing particle residence times. The solid particles comprise combustible fuel particles, and non-combustible ash and contaminants. Control of the temperature of non-combustible particles and the wall surface prevents these non-combustible particles from adhering to, and building up on, the furnace wall. It is also advantageous to control the gas temperature leaving the furnace to minimize temperature-driven corrosion of downstream heat-exchange surfaces. Method and apparatuses are described to control the gas, non-combustible particle, and wall temperatures. The furnace can be integrated into a stand-alone boiler or as a combustor in which a portion of the pyrolysis gas from the combusting fuel is burned in a separate vessel.