A method of charging and/or discharging energy in reusable fuel workpieces or particles includes a solar furnace with counter-flowing workpieces and gas, to exchange heat therebetween, with the exiting gas and workpieces being at about ambient temperature. A further aspect employs a production plant including a reduction reactor configured to use excess electrical energy generated by renewable power generators to charge and/or discharge solid-state thermochemical fuel. Another aspect includes a fuel flow control valve using air pulses. An oxygen-deprived and reusable fuel, such as magnesium manganese oxide, or magnesium iron oxide, is also provided. In another aspect, an apparatus for producing a solid-state fuel includes a reduction reactor including a reactor chamber configured to receive concentrated solar energy, and a reactor tube having a recuperation zone, a reduction zone, and a quenching zone, wherein the reduction zone passes through the reactor chamber. A discharged solid-state fuel is configured to be fed down the reactor tube and a low-oxygen gas is configured to flow up the reactor tube.

A method of charging and/or discharging energy in reusable fuel workpieces or particles includes a solar furnace with counter-flowing workpieces and gas, to exchange heat therebetween, with the exiting gas and workpieces being at about ambient temperature. A further aspect employs a production plant including a reduction reactor configured to use excess electrical energy generated by renewable power generators to charge and/or discharge solid-state thermochemical fuel. Another aspect includes a fuel flow control valve using air pulses. An oxygen-deprived and reusable fuel, such as magnesium manganese oxide, or magnesium iron oxide, is also provided. In another aspect, an apparatus for producing a solid-state fuel includes a reduction reactor including a reactor chamber configured to receive concentrated solar energy, and a reactor tube having a recuperation zone, a reduction zone, and a quenching zone, wherein the reduction zone passes through the reactor chamber. A discharged solid-state fuel is configured to be fed down the reactor tube and a low-oxygen gas is configured to flow up the reactor tube.

A system and method for torrefying a combination of biomass and biochar colloidal dispersion is provided.

To provide a method for producing a solid fuel that can efficiently evaporate moisture contained in a slurry by enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

The method for producing a solid fuel of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a slurry by mixing powdery low-grade coal and oil; evaporating moisture contained in the slurry by heating; and separating the slurry obtained after the evaporation step into solid and liquid, wherein the evaporation step includes the steps of: preheating the slurry in a first circulation route; and heating the preheated slurry in a second circulation route that is different from the first circulation route. Preferably, in the preheating step and the heating step, a multitubular heat exchanger is used, the heating medium is supplied to the shell side, and the slurry is supplied to the tube side. Preferably, the process steam generated in the evaporation step is used as the heating medium for anyone of the preheating step and the heating step, and externally introduced steam is used as the heat medium for the other.

An system for processing biomass comprising a stator, a rotor having an axis of rotation, the rotor being disposed inside the stator and configured to rotate about the axis of rotation therein, a processing chamber defined between the rotor and the stator, an inlet in fluid communication with the processing chamber which is designed to introduce unprocessed biomass into the processing chamber, an outlet in fluid communication with the processing chamber which is designed to carry out processed biomass from the processing chamber and a pump operationally associated with the inlet and the outlet, wherein the pump is configured to pump the unprocessed biomass through the processing chamber.

A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A process for controlling a unit for torrefaction of biomass particles including: measurement of a mean diameter of the biomass particles; as a function of the mean diameter, calculation of a maximum torrefaction temperature for which the ratio of a characteristic time of the torrefaction to a characteristic time of the heat transfer at the level of the particles is equal to a minimum value; adjusting the torrefaction temperature to a value less than or equal to the maximum torrefaction temperature; adjusting the torrefaction time to a value such that the final yield by weight of the torrefaction is equal to a predefined target value.

Provided is a process where the biomass and bisolids are hydrothermally treated under a reductive gas. Using this process a high carbon content pumpable mixture of biomass and biosolid slurry is produced with a viscosity value of less than 1.5.

The invention relates to a material and/or solid fuel which is produced from biomass. The material and/or fuel can be produced according to an apparatus and system for producing a fuel from a solid-liquid mixture of water and feed material with a carbon containing component, wherein the biomass forming the solid-liquid mixture is treated at a temperature of 160-300° C. at a pressure of at least 5 bar for a treatment duration of at least 2 hours and water formed by the chemical reaction is withdrawn from the reactor by a solid-liquid separation filtration device to increase a carbon fraction of the fuel.