ISSN 00406015, Thermal Engineering, 2010, Vol. 57, No. 11, pp. 946–952. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2010.

Original Russian Text © V.M. Batenin, A.V. Bessmertnykh, V.M. Zaichenko, V.F. Kosov, V.A. Sinel’shchikov, 2010, published in Teploenergetika.

Thermal Methods of Reprocessing Wood and Peat

for Power Engineering Purposes
V. M. Batenin, A. V. Bessmertnykh, V. M. Zaichenko, V. F. Kosov, and V. A. Sinel’shchikov
Joint Institute of High Temperatures, ul. Izhorskaya 13, bld. 2, Moscow, 127412 Russia

Abstract—Methods of thermal reprocessing of wood and peat to obtain highcalorific gas mixtures are con
sidered. The comparison of the existing technologies and those under development as to heating values of the
gas mixtures obtained, quantitative yield of these mixtures, and effectiveness of transformation of the initial
raw material into gas is given. Certain attention is paid for the analysis of a possibility to put into effect waste
less technologies.
DOI: 10.1134/S0040601510110066

The development of advanced technologies, which conditions of the peat genesis, degree of its decompo
make it possible to utilize different kinds of biomass sition, and chemical composition of the plants, from
for power engineering purposes, is an urgent problem which the peat was formed. Heating values of peat and
of rational using natural resources and of creating wood are very close, as well. All mention above makes
independent sources of heat and electricity supply that it possible to assume that the same technologies can be
operate with local kinds of fuel. In this sense, wood applied while using these two raw materials.
and peat are very attractive raw materials, which As before, the main technology of the use of wood
belong to renewable hydrocarbon resources. About and peat for the purposes of power engineering is com
47% of the world resources of peat and 24% of those of bustion, only the methods of preparation of original
wood are located in our country. In Russia, resources raw material are permanently being improved. For
of peat recalculated to the conditional fuel constitute example, production of wood and peat pellets has
68.3 billion t; this figure is greater than the summary become widely used in the last decade. The pellets are
resources of oil (31 billion t) and natural gas (22 billion cylindrical granules, the typical dimension of which is
t) and is less only than the resources of coal (97 billion about several cm. An apparent density of pellets is
t) [1]. The important fact that encourages wider use of about 1.2 g/cm3, a bulk density, 0.6–0.75 g/cm3, wet
peat for power engineering purposes is its rather uni ness, of about 10%, a lower heating value of wood pel
form distribution over the county’s territory [2]. In lets, 17–18 MJ/kg, and that of peat pellets, 15–20 MJ/kg.
spite of this fact, at the present time, the share of peat Wood and peat pellets are more environmentally
in the energy balance of Russia is not more than 0.05% friendly fuels than coal. Therefore, they are widely
[3]. We can point out for comparison that in the total used for household purposes, as well as a fuel for power
production of electricity in Finland the share of peat plants and boiler houses of moderate capacity and play
was 6%, in 2005, and that in the production of heat a considerable role in the fuelenergy balance of many
and electricity for local needs, 18.9% in 2002 [3]. As to European countries. However, if significant retrofit
wood, it is sufficient to say that 70% of the Russian ter ting of equipment is not accomplished and corre
ritory is covered by forests. In addition, a search for sponding investments are not made, the pellets can be
efficient technologies of reprocessing of wastes of lum used only in power units operating with solid fuel. An
bering and woodworking industries is an important alternative way of using peat and wood for the purpose
environmental problem. For example, only in Mos of power engineering is the development of a technol
cow, about 200000 t of wood wastes are produced ogy of their transformation into high calorific gas
annually. Utilization of these wastes requires great mixtures that are suitable for application as a fuel in
expenditures. Introduction of new technologies in plants for producing electricity and heat.
reprocessing of wood wastes will make it possible to
produce approximately 1.7 × 105 MWh of electricity Conversion of lowgrade solid fuels into gas is
and 2.6 × 105 MWh of heat annually. urgent, first of all, when independent complex energy
installations are created. According to expert assess
Peat and wood are very similar as to their elemental ments conducted in INEI RAN (Institute for Energy
composition, with carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen Investigations, Russian Academy of Sciences), during
being the main components. We should point out that the time interval from 2005 to 2015 the share of small
the shares of these elements in peat differ to a greater capacity highefficient power generating units will be
extent than those in wood. This is determined by the from 35 to 55% of the total capacity of the power

946
 THERMAL METHODS OF REPROCESSING WOOD AND PEAT 947

Table 1. Composition, volume and heating value of gas material, which is the ratio of the heating value of the
mixtures, which can be obtained by thermal reprocessing of gas produced to that of the raw material, does not
peat pellets exceed 30%. In both cases the magnitude of the heat
Volume, m3/kg Total
ing value is conventionally reduced to the unit of mass
Mix ΔC, Qh, Ql, of the original raw material. Thus, the main objective
volume of
ture CO H CH 3 % MJ/m3 MJ/m3 of the advancement of the methods of thermal repro
2 4 gas, m /kg
cessing based on the pyrolisis processes is an increase
1 0.45 0.68 – 1.13 25.4 12.7 11.5 in the degree of conversion of the original raw material
2 0.45 – 0.34 0.79 7.1 24.4 22.7 into gas, with the rather high specific heating values of
the produced gas mixtures being retained.
Note: ΔC is a hard carbon residue from the original raw material, %
(by mass); Ql and Qh are the lower and higher heating values.
ASSESSMENT OF THE ULTIMATE
EFFECTIVENESS OF PYROLYTIC
plants to be commissioned [4]. Among smallcapacity REPROCESSING
power units, the demand for those having 100–1000 kW
capacity on the basis of gaspiston and diesel engines The products of pyrolysis are as follows: solid car
is a maximal one. It seems rather expedient for these bon residue, gas mixture, which consists of CO2, CO,
units to operate with a local fuel. Changeover to local H2, CH4, CnHm, and N2, and also liquid fraction,
kinds of fuel will give a considerable economic effect; which is the mixture of the pyrogenetic water and tars.
moreover, it will considerably increase reliability of the Mass fraction of the carbon residue relative to the dry
supply of energy resources to the population and mass of the raw material is 20 to 30%, for wood, and 30
industrial enterprises. One of the main limiting factors to 40%, for peat. It depends mainly on the tempera
of the widescale introduction of smallcapacity ture to which the material is heated. The ratio between
power engineering units is the absence of technology the masses of the liquid and gaseous fractions is
of producing highcalorific gaseous fuel from local raw approximately 1.5, and to the greatest extent it
resources (wood, peat, lowgrade fuels, and agricul depends on the rate of heating [6]. Reprocessing of the
tural wastes). liquid fraction into the gaseous state, naturally, will
lead to an increase in the degree of the conversion of
Methods of conversion of solid hydrocarbon raw the original raw material into gas.
materials into a gaseous state have been developed for
a rather long time. Many scientific and engineering Proceeding from the elemental composition of the
publications are devoted to this problem. Modern raw material, one can estimate the greatest possible
conversion technologies can be divided into two main yield of the gas, its composition, and heating value.
groups: gasification and pyrolysis. In the course of gas For this purpose, it is sufficient to assume that, in the
ification, thermal destruction of the original raw final products, all oxygen found in the original mate
material occurs in oxidizing gaseous medium and a gas rial is bound in CO, while hydrogen is released as
mixture obtained contains the combustion products of molecular H2 or as methane CH4 (the content of
the raw material being processed. Depending on the heavier saturated hydrocarbons in pyrolytic gases is
type of oxidizer being used, the gasification itself is usually less than that of methane, therefore, we neglect
subdivided into the air, oxygen, and steam–air ones. these gases for simplicity). The assessments given
The use of air as an oxidizer leads to dilution of the below were conducted for pellets produced from the
final gaseous products by nitrogen. This considerably peat mined in the Vladimir oblast. The same pellets
reduces the heating value Ql of the gas mixture were used in our experiments, as well. The analysis of
obtained, which in the case of the air gasification of technical and elemental composition of the peat pel
peat is not usually more than 6 MJ/m3 [5]. While using lets gave the following (% by mass): wetness, 8; ash
oxygen or steam–air gasification, one must envisage content, 3; yield of volatiles, 65.5; content of carbon,
arranging of an airfractionating unit or steam genera 49.4 (55.7); that of nitrogen, 1.5 (1.7); and that of
tor in the technological circuit, which gives a consid hydrogen, 6.1 (6.9). The content of oxygen, being cal
erable increase in the cost of the final product. culated as a remainder, constituted 32% (35.7). Fig
ures in the parentheses stays for the element content
In pyrolysis, heating of the original raw material recalculated for the dry and ashfree mass. Table 1
takes place in the absence of an oxidizer. As a result, we shows the compositions of two hypothetical gas mix
can obtain from peat gas mixtures, whose heating val tures, which fundamentally can be obtained from this
ues are up to 20 MJ/m3 [5]. The main shortcomings of raw material. From the data presented it follows that
this technology are the presence of a large amount of the pyrolysis can provide gas mixtures with a heating
carbon dioxide (up to 30% by volume) in the pyrolytic value of Ql = 11.5–22.7 MJ/m3, with the conversion
gases and a relatively low specific yield of pyrolytic effectiveness η being at a level of 67–93%. When esti
gases, which in the best case reaches 0.3–0.4 m3 per mating η, the heating value of the peat pellets calcu
1 kg of the original raw material. As a result, the effec lated from the given above elemental composition with
tiveness η of the energy conversion of the original raw the use of Mendeleev’s formula [7] was taken as Ql =

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010

948 BATENIN et al.

V, m3/kg m/m0, % This residue was preliminarily obtained by carboniza

tion of the original raw material. Prior to conducting
the experiments, the upper part of the reactor was
4
heated to a temperature of Tf, which subsequently was
1.2 80 maintained constant during the test. Then, the lower
3 part of the reactor was heated. In the experiments,
60 wood and peat pellets were used as the original raw
0.8 2 material. The wetness of these pellets was 7 and 8%,
respectively. The rate of heating the raw materials (an
40 increase in temperature Tr.m) was 10°C/min. The
experiments were conducted at three values of temper
0.4 ature Tf, i.e., 850, 950, and 1000°C. A cooler was
1 20 installed at the outlet from the reactor, where the liq
uid fraction was condensed. An amount of the non
condensed gases was measured by the eudiometric
0 0 method, which is based on displacement of water from
200 400 600 800 Tr.m, °C the measurement vessel. Composition of the gas was
determined with the use of a chromatography tech
Fig. 1. Change in the relative mass (dashed curve) and in nique. The minimum typical time of the interaction of
the volume of pyrolysis gases released in the course of ther
mal reprocessing of peat pellets. Regimes: (1) “pyrolysis”; pyrolytic gases and vapors with the carbon filter, which
(2) “pyrolysis with cracking” at Tf = 850°C; (3) the same corresponded to the maximum gas release, was several
at 950°C, and (4) the same at 1000°C. seconds. In addition, series experiments were con
ducted with the carbon filter being absent and the
upper part of the reactor being unheated (hereinafter,
19.3 MJ/kg. Similar calculations for wood gave close this regime is designated as “pyrolysis”). The compar
results. ison of the composition and amount of gases formed
Thus, in the course of pyrolisis, reducing the con with the presence and absence of the carbon residue in
tent of liquid fractions in the final products can the upper part of the reactor made it possible to com
increase the degree of conversion of the original raw pare the effectiveness of reprocessing of the original
material into gas. For reprocessing the liquid fraction raw material according to two technological schemes
into gas, catalytic [8] and noncatalytic [9] methods are under consideration.
used. In our work we applied the method similar to In Fig. 1, the data on a change in the gas volume V
that proposed in [9] for treating wood sawdust. The (recalculated on 1 kg of the original raw material)
essence of this technology is as follows. The gases and formed in the course of heating of the peat pellets in
vapors formed during heating of original raw material the lower part of the reactor at different values of the
are filtered through porous carbon medium, which is carbon filter temperatures (“pyrolysis with cracking”
maintained at the given temperature Tf (hereinafter regime) are presented. In this same figure, similar data
this regime will be designated as “pyrolisis with crack obtained in the “pyrolisis” regime are also given, as
ing”). Carbon residue obtained as a result of the pyrol well as the data on a change in the relative mass of the
ysis of the original raw material is used as the carbon charged original raw material in the course of its heat
filter. Due to an extended surface of the carbon filter ing. From the data presented, we see that an increase
pyrolytic gases and vapors are quickly heated up to a in the carbon filter temperature Tf leads to a consider
temperature of Tf and experience intense decomposi able increase of the volume of gases formed. When this
tion in the course of homogeneous and heterogeneous happens, the main volume of the gases is released in
chemical reactions. The degree of conversion depends the temperature interval Tr.m = 250–600°C, which
both on the temperature Tf and the time of interaction corresponds to the region of formation of the liquid
of pyrolytic gases and vapors with the heated carbon phase in the course of thermal destruction of the orig
surface. inal raw material. Simultaneously with an increase in
the yield of gases we see a decrease in the amount of
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION liquid phase collected in the cooler. At temperature
Tf = 1000°C, the liquid phase is absent entirely. This
Experimental studies, the results of which are pre attests that the liquid phase is completely converted
sented below, were conducted at the experimental into gas. Thus, in the course of filtration of the gases
installation similar to that described in [10]. A quartz and vapors released during the thermal destruction of
tube with an inner diameter of 37 mm was used as a peat through the carbon residue, not only does the
reactor. The tube was placed in a twosection furnace, decomposition of highmolecular organic compounds
which had two independent heaters. Original raw occur (in usual pyrolysis these compounds condense
material was charged in the lower part of the reactor, as tars), but also the interaction of the pyrogenetic
while in the upper part, carbon residue was placed. water with the carbon residue takes place, which leads

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010

 THERMAL METHODS OF REPROCESSING WOOD AND PEAT 949

Vi, m3/kg Vi, m3/kg

H2 0.6 H2 CO
0.06 CO2

CnHm 0.4
0.04
H2
CO CO
0.02 0.2
CO2
N2 CnHm
N2
0 0
200 400 600 800 Tr.m, °C 200 400 600 800 Tr.m, °C

Fig. 3. Change in the volumetric yield of different gases in

Fig. 2. Change in the volumetric yield of different gases in the course of thermal reprocessing of peat pellets in the
the course of thermal reprocessing of peat pellets in the regime of “pyrolysis with cracking” at Tf = 850°C (dashed
“pyrolysis” regime. curves) and Tf = 1000°C (solid curves).

to the formation of hydrogen and carbon oxide. This is a ballast gas, is observed starting from a temperature of
confirmed by a decrease in the mass of the carbon res about 250°C. In the “pyrolysis with cracking” regime,
idue in the upper part of the reactor. The greatest such combustible components as CO and H2 appear at
decrease in the residue mass occurs at the maximum the reactor outlet already at a temperature of the orig
temperature Tf = 1000°C. The mass of the carbon res inal raw material of more than 100°C. The amount of
idue in the lower part of the reactor does not depend these gases increases with an increase in the carbon fil
on the temperature in the upper part of the reactor. We ter temperature Tf, while the amount of the ballast gas
should also note that, in the “pyrolysis” regime, the CO2 decreases (see Fig. 3). The content of methane
volume of noncondensing pyrolytic gases increases decreases also with an increase in Tf, which affects the
almost linearly with temperature (see Fig. 1). heating value of the gas mixture obtained.
The composition of the gas mixture formed On the basis of the experimental data obtained we
changes with a change in the thermal reprocessing have calculated heating values of the gas mixtures leav
conditions. From the results of the chromatographic ing the reactor in the course of thermal reprocessing of
analysis it follows that with an increase in the temper the original raw material, i.e., at particular tempera
ature in the upper part of the reactor the content of the ture Tr.m (Fig. 4) and those of gas mixtures formed as a
carbon dioxide and methane at the reactor outlet result of thermal processing of 1 kg of the original raw
decreases. At Tf = 1000°C it is not more than 1%. material at a moment when the temperature in the
Thus, an increase in the temperature in the upper part lower part of the reactor reached Tr.m (Fig. 5). In the
of the reactor enhances reducing carbon dioxide to “pyrolysis” regime, the heating value of the gas mix
CO and the heterogeneous pyrolysis of methane as ture formed at a time when the temperature of the raw
well. The latter process leads to formation of H2. This material being treated is about 700°C is higher than
can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, in which the depen those of the gas mixtures obtained with the use of
dences of a change in the volume of the gaseous com “pyrolysis with cracking” regime. However, during
ponents released in the course of heating of 1 kg of the thermal processing according to the “pyrolysis”
original raw material at different regimes of the peat regime, the heating value of the gas leaving the reactor
pellets reprocessing are shown. These dependences are considerably changes as the raw material is gradually
calculated from the results of chromatographic and heated up. As it follows from the comparison of the
eudiometric measurements. We see from Fig. 2, that in dependences shown in Fig. 4, in the “pyrolysis with
the “pyrolysis” regime, the formation of the combus cracking” regime, an increase in the Tf temperature
tible gases starts at rather high temperatures of the leads to a decrease in the effect the conditions in the
original raw material Tr.m. Carbon oxide CO appears at lower part of the reactor have on the heating value of
a temperature of more than 300°C, saturated hydro the gas at the outlet from the reactor. At Tf = 1000°C,
carbons CmHn, among which methane prevails, at the gas at the outlet from the reactor constitutes the
more than 400°C, hydrogen H2, more than 500°C. At socalled synthesis gas, i.e., the mixture of CO and H2
the same time, the release of carbon dioxide, which is (see Fig. 3). When this happens, the correlation

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010

950 BATENIN et al.

Q, MJ/m3 Q, MJ/kg
16 Tf = 1000°C
3 1
16
2
12 1
1
Tf = 850°C
12 2
8
8 2
1
4 Pyrolysis
4
2
0 0
200 400 600 800 Tr.m, °C 200 400 600 800 Tr.m, °C

Fig. 4. Dependence of the higher (solid curves) and lower

(dashed curves) heating value of the gas mixtures at the outlet
from the reactor on the raw material temperature Tr.m in dif Fig. 5 . Dependence of the higher (solid curves) and lower
ferent regimes of thermal reprocessing of peat pellets. (dashed curves) heating value of the gas mixtures released
Regimes: (1) “pyrolysis with cracking” at Tf = 1000°C; in the course of thermal reprocessing of the 1 kg wood (1)
(2) the same at 850°C; (3) “pyrolysis”. and peat (2) pellets on the raw material temperature Tr.m.

between the above components practically does not are close to each other. The data presented in Tables 2
change within the temperature interval of Tr.m = 250– and 3 concerning the compositions, heating values,
600°C, that is, in the zone where the gas mainly and volumes of the gas mixtures obtained as a result of
releases, and the heating value of the gas at the reac reprocessing peat and wood pellets at different tem
tor’s outlet does not depend on the temperature of the peratures in the upper part of the reactor attest to the
raw material to be processed. This fact is of great same fact. For comparison, in these tables the similar
importance for subsequent use of the gas mixtures characteristics of the gas mixtures obtained in the
obtained as fuels for powergeneration units, such as “pyrolysis” regime are presented as well. Note, that
those on the basis of gaspiston engines, for example. the experimental characteristics of the gas mixture
All the peculiarities mentioned above, which are formed during reprocessing of peat pellets are very
observed in different methods of thermal reprocessing close to those of the hypothetical characteristics of the
of peat pellets, are typical for the case of thermal mixture 1 given in Table 1.
reprocessing of wood pellets as well. From the com From the comparison of Tables 2 and 3 we can see
parison of the dependences shown in Fig. 5 we can see that the heating values of gas mixtures obtained as a
that, for peat pellets, the process of thermal destruc result of thermal processing of both the peat and wood
tion and subsequent conversion of the destruction pellets according to “pyrolysis with cracking” tech
products into gas takes place over a greater tempera nology with different Tf and those produced with the
ture range (and in the extended time interval respec use of “pyrolysis” method are rather close to each
tively), as compared to the similar process for wood other. The technology of reprocessing has significant
pellets. However, the heating values of the gases effect on the gas mixture composition. As was already
obtained per unit of mass of the original raw materials mentioned, with an increase in Tf, the content of

Table 2. Composition, volume and heating value of gas mixtures, which are obtained by thermal reprocessing of peat pellets
Volumetric fraction of combustible components Heating value, MJ/m3 Volume, m3/kg Conversion effectiveness
Tf, °C
H2 CO CnHm Qh Ql V η
850 0.40 0.27 0.08 11.7 10.6 0.76 0.42
950 0.43 0.40 0.02 11.3 10.4 1.1 0.59
1000 0.49 0.41 0.01 11.7 10.6 1.39 0.76
Pyrolysis 0.23 0.19 0.13 10.4 9.6 0.29 0.14
(10°C/min)

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010

 THERMAL METHODS OF REPROCESSING WOOD AND PEAT 951

Table 3. Composition, volume and heating value of gas mixtures, which are obtained by thermal reprocessing of wood pellets
Volumetric fraction of combustible components Heating value, MJ/m3 Volume, m3/kg Conversion effectiveness
Tf, °C
H2 CO CnHm Qh Ql V η
850 0.39 0.28 0.10 12.5 11.5 0.83 0.54
950 0.47 0.41 0.01 11.5 10.6 1.24 0.75
1000 0.46 0.46 0.00 11.7 10.9 1.39 0.86
Pyrolysis 0.28 0.26 0.16 13.2 12.1 0.26 0.18
(2°C/min)

methane and carbon oxide decreases. The main with the formation of molecular hydrogen and pyro
advantage of the “pyrolysis with cracking” technology, carbon. It is proposed to use such carbon material as
which incorporates the pyrolysis of the original raw the carbon residue obtained during the pyrolysis of
material and subsequent hightemperature processing wood wastes [12] or peat [13]. Pyrocarbon, being
of the released pyrolytic gases and vapors, is the possi deposited on the surface of the friable carbon residue,
bility of a considerable increase of the specific yield of transfers the latter into hard carbon composite with
the gaseous component and, as a consequence, a rise carbon content at a level of about 98%, which can be
in the degree of conversion of solid fuel into gas. From used in metallurgy [14]. In this technology, gaseous
Tables 2 and 3 we see that by reprocessing of the liquid hydrocarbon raw materials, which are not commonly
fraction the effectiveness of conversion can be utilized in power engineering, can be applied. They are
increased by several times. While assessing the value of associated petroleum gases, natural gas from low
η, the heating value of wood pellets was taken as pressure deposits, wastes of different chemical pro
17.6 MJ/kg. cesses, and the like.
Figure 6 shows the generalized principal scheme of
thermal reprocessing of the wood wastes and peat,
GENERALIZED SCHEME OF THERMAL which is a combination of the technology considered
REPROCESSING OF WOOD AND PEAT above and that proposed in [11]. From balance corre
During the pyrolysis of peat and wood one of the lations it follows that, with the use of this scheme,
final products is a carbon residue, the mass of which in from 100 kg of the original raw material one can obtain
our experiments with peat was about 30% of the origi 20 to 30 kg of charcoal and 140 m3 of synthesis gas that
nal mass of the raw material and that with wood, about consists of approximately equal amounts of hydrogen
20%. In the “pyrolysis with cracking” regime, the car and carbon oxide (by volume). By adding 15–22.5 kg
bon residue is used as a filter, through which pyrolytic of water for activation we can obtain 10–15 kg of acti
gases and vapors are passed. Due to interaction with vated carbon and an additional 37–56 m3 of synthesis
water vapor and carbon dioxide the mass of carbon gas. An addition of an extra 19–28 m3 of natural gas
residue decreases while its surface becomes activated. allows obtaining 20–30 kg of carbon composite and
As a result of heterogeneous pyrolysis of methane and 37–56 m3 of hydrogen instead of activated carbon.
other saturated hydrocarbons CnHm contained in the While using heavier saturated hydrocarbons, such as
pyrolytic gases, the mass of the residue increases to CnHm, instead of natural gas, the demand for gaseous
some extent. Experimental data show that the first hydrocarbon raw material will be n times smaller to
effect prevails. In principle, by an increase in wetness obtain the same amount of composite. The yield of
of the original raw material one can reach full conver hydrogen, however, will decrease by m/(4n) times.
sion of the carbon residue into a synthesis gas. There Thus, as a result of the studies conducted, it is shown
are, however, other ways of using carbon residue. For that the use of the combined scheme of thermal pro
example, it can be used as an adsorbent, such as acti cessing of wood wastes and peat, which comprises the
vated carbon is. In this technological scheme, by pyrolysis of the original raw material and subsequent
changing the wetness of the original raw material, one hightemperature reprocessing of pyrolytic gases and
can easily control the degree of activation of the car vapors, makes it possible to obtain gas mixtures with a
bon residue. Carbon residue can be also used in the lower heating value at a level of 11 MJ/m3 and increase
technology of producing technical hydrogen and com the effectiveness of energy conversion of the solid fuel
posite carbon material proposed in [11] and substanti up to 80%. In so doing, the scheme considered can be
ated experimentally in [12, 13]. The essence of the combined with the technology for producing carbon
technology considered in [11] is as follows. In the materials and technical hydrogen proposed earlier. The
course of filtration of gaseous hydrocarbons through a advantages of the proposed generalized technological
porous carbon material heterogeneous chemical reac scheme are the thorough reprocessing of the original
tions take place and hydrocarbons are decomposed raw materials, wide spectrum of the final products

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010

952 BATENIN et al.

Raw
СnHm
material

Rawmaterial Pyrolysis and Unit for producing

preparation unit cracking unit carbon materials
H2 + СnHm
H2 + CO

Separator
Power unit
H2

Industrial Activated carbon and

Charcoal Electricity hydrogen carbon composite
and heat

Fig. 6. Generalized principal scheme of thermal reprocessing of wood wastes and peat.

(charcoal, activated carbon, synthesis gas, technical 7. Fuel for PowerEngineering in USSR. Handbook (Ener
hydrogen, and pyrocarbon), a possibility to rather sim goatomizdat, Moscow, 1991) [in Russian].
ply change their composition depending on the produc 8. D. Dayton,”A Review of the Literature on Catalitic
ing objectives, and wasteless nature of the production Biomass Tar Destruction,” Milestone Completion
process, because all final products can be utilized in Report NREL/TP51032815 (Nat. Renewable Energy
power engineering or in special technologies, such as in Lab, USA, 2002), www.osti.gov/bridge.
metallurgy, in particular. 9. K. Snehalatha, S. K. Chembukulam, A. S. Dandge,
N. L. Kovilur, et al., “Smokeless Fuel from Carbonized
This work was supported by the Russian Foundation Sawdust,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Devel., 20,
for Basic Research grant no. 100800551a. 714–719 (1981).
10. V. V. Kosov, V. F. Kosov, I. L. Maikov, et al., “ High Cal
orific Gas Mixture Produced by Pyrolisis of Wood and
REFERENCES Peat,” in Proc. of 17th European Biomass Conference
and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany, 2009, 1085–1088.
1. G. Koach, Fuel Peat – World Resources and Their Use
(IEAC, London, 1993). 11. V. M. Zaichenko, E. E. Shpil’rain, and V. Ya. Shteren
berg, “ Integrated Reprocessing of Natural Gas to
2. A. K. Nazarov, L. A. Ospennikova, and A. L. Yam Obtain Hydrogen for Power Engineering Purposes and
pol’skii, “On assessments of Russian Federation’s Carbon Material foe Wide Use in Industry,” Teploener
Resources in Peat,” Torf and Business, 6 (4), 8–11 getika No. 3, 51–57 (2006) [Therm. Eng. 53 (3), 217–
(2006). 223 (2006)].
3. G. P. Kutovoi, Yu. Z. Saakyan, and L. A. Melent’ev, 12. V. M. Zaichenko, V. V. Kosov, V. F. Kosov, et al.,
“Peat in SmallScale Power Engineering,” Akademiya “Experimental Feasibility Study of Technology for
Energetiki, 27 (1), 48–56 (2009). Integrated Processing of Wood Waste and Natural
4. L. S. Khrilev, “The Main Lines and Efficiency of Gas,” Teploenergetika No. 7, 47–52 (2008) [Therm.
Advancement in District Heating Cogeneration,” Tep Eng. 55 (7), 587–593 (2008)].
loenergetika No. 4, 2–15 (1998) [Therm. Eng. 45 (4), 13. V. M. Zaichenko, V. V. Kosov, V. F. Kosov, et al., “A
265–278 (1998)]. Comparison between the Behavior of Different Raw
Materials in the Course of Subjecting Them to Thermal
5. Peat Handbook, Ed. By A. V. Lazarev and S. S. Kor Processing,” Teploenergetika No. 11, 22–24 (2009)
chunov (Nedra, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian]. [Therm. Eng. 56 (11), 919–922 (2009)].
6. A. N. Kislitsyn, Pyrolysis of Wood: Chemistry, Kinetics, 14. V. M. Zaichenko, V. V. Kosov, V. F. Kosov, et al., “New
Products, New Processes (Lesnaya promyshl., Moscow, Composite Carbon Material: Technology and Pros
1990) [in Russian]. pects,” Stal’, No. 4, 77–79 (2008).

THERMAL ENGINEERING Vol. 57 No. 11 2010