Details of data measured, calculated or driven from articles are presented in appendix for more study information. Available tables are as follows:
Some detail characteristics of several reactors used in other scientific works have been summarized in Index 1.
Volatile matter analysis data are presented in Index 2.
Index 3 is the information for each step of HTC tests.
Elemental analysis results are available in Index 4.
Index 5 shows triple results for calorific values measured with calorimeter.
Germination results are collected in Index 6.
Index 1
Detail characteristics of reactors
Grenolmatik ZHAW HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed mode:
Batch
Volume:
25 liters
Pressure Range:
< 40 bars
Temperature Range:
20-220°C
Heating System:
Oil mantle. The thermal oil is heated with two 8kW-resistors
Measurement System:
Internal pressure sensors and an internal Thermometer. Values recorded automatically
Remarks:
The reactor consists of a cylindrical pressure chamber that can be filled with biomass and water. The feedstock is fed in a detachable stainless steel container to facilitate the handling of hot products. The pressure chamber is sealed with large screws, and tightened with a long torque wrench. No sampling possible during reaction.
Autoclave ZHAW HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed mode:
Batch
Volume:
250 ml
Pressure Range:
up to 200 bar
Temperature Range:
-20 - 300°C
Heating System:
Electrical Mantel
Measurement System:
Temperature sensor, pressure gauge
Remarks:
Simple cylindrical pressure container, sealed with large screws. The stirring for some substrates is difficult with such a small autoclave.
Diving Bottle HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed mode:
Batch
Volume:
12-15 Liters
Max pressure:
200-300 bar
Temperature Range:
?
Heating System:
Open Fire
Measurement System:
None
Remarks:
Feedstock was fed through the tiny opening of the diving bottle and the bottle sealed. After reaction, it was difficult to empty the products from the bottle.
TFC engineering, Buchs
HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed Mode:
quasi-continuous; max capacity: 10 kton/year; retention time 3-4hours
Volume:
5000 L
Pressure Range:
20-25 bar
Temperature Range:
200-230°C
Heating System:
Thermal oil mantle surrounding the reactor, oil heated with 50kW resistors, the oil is pressurized to provide adequate pressure to the compressible reactor.
Measurement System:
P,T sensors at input and output
Remarks:
The reactor is designed to treat a combination of wet biomass (20 - 60% TS) composed of anaerobically digested sewage sludge from a WWTP (40%) and biowaste shredded in 2cm pieces (60%) as input materials. The cylindrical reactor lies on the side and rotates to avoid sedimentation; the feedstock is stirred mechanically inside. An elaborated heat recovery system allows the hot and pressurized output flow to preheat and pressurize the input flow.
The input material is fed in a slit of a rotating cylinder made airtight with a graphite sealing system activated with oil. In the same way the output material goes in another rotating cylinder facing the input cylinder. When the two slits face each other, the heat exchange can take place. The start of operation of the plant was delayed due to technical problems with the operation of the reactor.
AVA-CO2 HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed Mode:
Batch, 3500 TS t/y, 2664 t/y HTC-coal produced (commercial plant), 5-10 hours retention time
Volume:
?
Pressure Range:
22-26 bar
Temperature Range:
220-230°C
Heating System:
Heat provided with steam (1.4 tons per batch)
Measurement System:
T,P sensors. Everything can be monitored from a separate room.
Umwelt Campus Birkenfeld
HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed Mode:
Batch
Volume:
3 Liters
Pressure Range:
<30 bar
Temperature Range:
180-250°C
Heating System:
Electrical Mantle
Measurement System:
T sensor, Pressure gauge
Description:
The reactor consists of a cylindrical pressure vessel closed with a flat end at the bottom and a flange on the top. It doesn’t possess any stirring device. The product is generally emptied with a pump.
Cube of Destiny HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed Mode:
Batch
Volume:
5-15 Liters
Pressure Range:
10 bar
Temperature Range:
160-180°C
Heating System:
Electrical Mantle
Measurement System:
Thermostat
Description:
The reactor consists of a cylindrical pressure vessel sealed with 16 screws. It doesn’t have any stirrer. A heat recovery system is planned to convert and store the excess heat in form of electricity using the Seebeck effect.
Agrokraft HTC of biowate/fecal
sludge Robbiani, 2013
Feed Mode:
Continuous, 150 tons/year
Volume:
150 Liters
Pressure Range:
Circa 20-25 bar
Temperature Range:
180-200°C Heating System:
Heating Oil Mantle
Measurement System:
?
Description:
A system of pressure gates takes the biomass to the pressurized reactor. The retention time vary between 4 and 16 hours before the watery mixture is released. As the plant was built with structural steel (and not stainless) its operation had to be stopped after 5 years.
Index2
Volatile matter analysis
Liquid samples Drying step 1 (g)
Drying step 2 (g)
Before After
LSD 203 103 100
LMS 199 99 98
LSdBs20/80
199 101 100
LSdBs50/50 200
200.07
97 101.60
97 100.15
LSdMs20/80 195
200,58
97 98.40
97 96.73 LSdMs50/50
199 97 96
Index 3
Trials procedure detail information
HTC Procedure
Test Substrate Moisture content
%
Date/Timea Amount of use Hydro-char
Weight (g)d
Liquid fractione %
Solid fraction
%
Start End %b Solidc (g) Water
(ml)
Before Drying
After Drying
T1 Biogas Sludge 89 05.Sep.16 12:25
05.Sep.16
18:25 100 1000 499 70 (400ml+429ml)
92.2 7.8
T2 Barley 51 07.Sep.16
8:36
07.Sep.16
14:36 100 300 435 622 95 85 15
T3 Maize silage 46 13.sep.16 8:23
13.sep.16
14:23 100 200 340 331 49 (154ml+282ml)
90 10
T4 SD+BS 89+51 14.sep.16
8:33
14.sep.16
14:33 20+80 42+168 717.5 376 49 (458ml+327ml)
94 6
T5 SD+BS 89+51 15.sep.16
9:30
15.sep.16
15:30 50+50 100+100 660 279 34 (499ml+245ml)
95.6 4.4
T6 SD+MS 89+46 20.sep.16
8:29
20.sep.16
14:29 20+80 42+158 690 268 30 (528ml+238ml)
96.2 3.8
T7 SD+MS 89+46 21.sep.16
8:40
21.sep.16
14:40 50+50 100+100 665 208 24 (585ml+184ml)
97 3
T8 SD+BS+MS 89+51+46 22.sep.16 8:41
22.sep.16
14:41 33+34+33 66+68+66 676 276 33 (507ml+243ml)
96 4
a All the tests have been run for 6 hours at maximum 200℃
b It shows the percentage use of each substrate in a single test (100%=no mixture)
c Mass balance: 80% Water 20% Solid matter
d After every tests hydro-char was dried in the oven for 24 hours
e The liquid extracted from hydro-char before drying was summed up with calculated moisture content after drying
Index 4
Result of the Elemental Analysis
Probenbez. Anal-Nr w-%C w-%H w-%N w-%S
Boku.S1.SD.RAW 161010/870 39.42 4.94 2.88 0.375
161010/871 40.12 4.94 3.03 0.382
161010/879 39.96 4.94 3.01 0.320
161010/880 40.20 5.05 2.73 0.344
Boku.S2.BS.RAW 161004/657 23.66 7.16 0.71 <0,02
161012/900 22.30 9.08 0.77 <0,02
161012/901 22.58 8.90 0.68 <0,02
Boku.S3.MS.RAW 161004/658 22.24 6.35 0.82 <0,02
161012/902 20.70 9.17 0.76 0.031
161012/903 22.85 8.89 0.80 0.024
Boku.T1.SD.100 161004/659 41.90 4.45 3.08 0.160
161004/660 41.35 4.47 3.10 0.203
161004/661 40.68 4.37 3.04 0.128
Boku.T2.BS.100 161004/662 57.37 5.31 2.01 0.056
161004/663 57.16 5.31 2.05 0.034
161004/664 57.59 5.31 2.09 0.055
Boku.T4.MS.100 161004/670 59.52 5.39 1.92 0.117
161004/671 59.29 5.39 1.93 0.105
161004/672 59.34 5.45 1.92 0.082
Boku.T5.SD.BS.20.80 161006/757 58.18 5.28 2.42 0.118
161006/758 57.62 5.41 2.30 0.114
161006/759 57.44 5.42 2.24 0.125
Boku.T6.SD.BS.50 161012/904 56.10 5.46 2.61 0.170
161012/905 56.52 5.42 2.67 0.217
161012/906 56.33 6.51 2.58 0.180
Boku.T7.SD.MS.20.80 161012/907 59.15 5.70 2.36 0.144
161012/908 59.06 5.46 2.42 0.131
161012/909 59.01 5.47 2.42 0.144
Boku.T8.SD.MS.50 161012/910 54.58 5.47 2.67 0.186
161012/911 54.76 5.51 2.69 0.190
161012/912 54.86 5.59 2.72 0.178
Boku.T9.SD.BS.MS 161012/913 57.09 5.42 2.37 0.120
161012/914 56.64 5.52 2.36 0.147
161012/915 56.97 5.28 2.46 0.118
Index 5
Calorific Value (Heat of Combustion) Resulted from Bomb Calorimeter device (HHV)
Substrates Amount of substrate (g)
Calorific value (MJ/kg)
MS 0.998 17.179
MS 0.984 17.310
BS 1.004 17.290
BS 1.007 17.017
SD 1.040 15.608
SD 1.040 15.749
T1 1.028 17.840
T1 1.051 17.781
T2 0.982 23.015
T2 0.980 23.081
T3 0.895 22.936
T3 0.830 23.279
T4 0.946 23.162
T4 0.960 22.837
T5 1.013 21.892
T5 1.044 21.976
T6 0.985 22.575
T6 1.021 22.543
T7 1.000 21.502
T7 1.000 21.616
T8 0.997 22.113
T8 1.164 22.109
Index 6
Germination Test Results
Treatment Total exposure – well
germinated seeds Total early - stage Total short root Total not germinated
Raw MS 75,3 ± 3,1 ab 9,0 ± 1,7 a 2,0 ± 1,0 ab 3,7 ± 3,1 a
Raw BS 74,7 ± 3,5 ab 10,0 ± 2,0 a 1,0 ± 1,0 ab 4,3 ± 3,5 a
Raw SD 74,3 ± 6,5 ab 11,0 ± 4,6 a 0,7 ± 0,6 ab 4,0 ± 1,7 a
SD 100% 74,0 ± 1,7 ab 10,0 ± 1,7 a 0,3 ± 0,6 b 5,7 ± 1,5 a
MS 100% 73,0 ± 0,0 b 10,3 ± 2,5 a 1,0 ± 1,7 ab 5,7 ± 1,5 a
BS 100% 73,0 ± 5,6 b 11,0 ± 4,0 a 1,3 ± 1,5 ab 4,7 ± 1,2 a
MS+SD 50% 80,7 ± 2,5 a 3,0 ± 0,0 b 1,0 ± 1,0 ab 5,3 ± 1,5 a
BS+SD 50% 78,0 ± 0,0 ab 2,7 ± 2,5 b 3,0 ± 1,0 a 6,3 ± 1,5 a
MS+SD 80% 79,7 ± 0,6 ab 2,7 ± 0,6 b 2,7 ± 2,1 ab 5,0 ± 2,6 a
BS+SD 80% 77,3 ± 4,9 ab 6,3 ± 2,9 ab 0,7 ± 0,6 ab 5,3 ± 2,1 a
BS+SD+MS 79,7 ± 2,1 ab 4,3 ± 1,5 b 1,3 ± 1,2 ab 4,7 ± 0,6 a
Treatment S+BC well-grown S+BC early-stage S+BC short root S+BC not germinated
Raw MS 25,0 ± 2,0 a 3,0 ± 1,7 abdc 0,7 ± 0,6 ab 1,3 ± 2,3 a
Raw BS 25,0 ± 1,7 a 2,0 ± 2,6 abdc 0,7 ± 0,6 ab 2,3 ± 1,5 a
Raw SD 23,0 ± 2,6 a 5,0 ± 1,0 a 0,3 ± 0,6 ab 1,7 ± 1,5 a
SD 100% 23,3 ± 3,2 a 3,7 ± 2,9 bca 0,0 ± 0,0 b 3,0 ± 2,6 a
MS 100% 23,7 ± 2,5 a 4,0 ± 1,7 a 0,0 ± 0,0 b 2,3 ± 1,2 a
BS 100% 22,7 ± 3,8 a 4,0 ± 2,0 a 0,7 ± 0,6 ab 2,7 ± 1,5 a
MS+SD 50% 26,0 ± 2,6 a 0,7 ± 0,6 dc 1,0 ± 1,0 ab 2,3 ± 1,5 a
BS+SD 50% 24,0 ± 2,6 a 0,0 ± 0,0 d 1,7 ± 1,5 a 4,3 ± 2,1 a
MS+SD 80% 26,0 ± 2,0 a 1,0 ± 0,0 bdc 0,3 ± 0,6 ab 2,7 ± 2,5 a
BS+SD 80% 26,0 ± 2,6 a 2,0 ± 1,0 abdc 0,3 ± 0,6 ab 1,7 ± 1,5 a
BS+SD+MS 26,0 ± 2,0 a 1,3 ± 1,2 bdc 0,7 ± 1,2 ab 2,0 ± 0,0 a
Treatment Volatiles well-grown Volatiles early - stage Volatiles short root Volatiles not germinated
Raw MS 25,0 ± 2,6 ab 3,0 ± 2,6 ab 0,7 ± 0,6 a 1,3 ± 1,2 a
Raw BS 25,0 ± 3,6 ab 3,0 ± 1,0 ab 0,3 ± 0,6 a 1,7 ± 2,9 a
Raw SD 25,3 ± 3,5 ab 2,7 ± 2,1 ab 0,3 ± 0,6 a 1,7 ± 1,5 a
SD 100% 25,3 ± 1,2 ab 3,3 ± 0,6 ab 0,0 ± 0,0 a 1,3 ± 0,6 a
MS 100% 22,7 ± 2,1 b 4,3 ± 0,6 a 0,7 ± 1,2 a 2,3 ± 1,2 a
BS 100% 26,3 ± 1,5 ab 3,3 ± 1,5 ab 0,0 ± 0,0 a 0,3 ± 0,6 a
MS+SD 50% 27,0 ± 0,0 a 1,3 ± 0,6 b 0,0 ± 0,0 a 1,7 ± 0,6 a
BS+SD 50% 27,3 ± 1,5 a 1,3 ± 1,2 b 0,3 ± 0,6 a 1,0 ± 0,0 a
MS+SD 80% 27,3 ± 1,5 a 1,3 ± 0,6 b 1,0 ± 1,0 a 0,3 ± 0,6 a
BS+SD 80% 27,0 ± 1,0 a 2,0 ± 2,0 ab 0,3 ± 0,6 a 0,7 ± 0,6 a
BS+SD+MS 28,3 ± 0,6 a 0,7 ± 0,6 b 0,7 ± 1,2 a 0,3 ± 0,6 a