Solar Supported Hydrothermal System Design For Hybrid Carbonized Material Production
Project no. 22138 · Status: Kapanmış · 2020
Summary
<p>A relatively recent transition trend of restricted fossil based systems with limited availability, is developing towards a bioeconomy approach supported by renewable energy sources. In this project, co-hydrothermal carbonization of hazelnut shell and sewage sludge is conducted by the implementation of a continuous carbonization system in order to produce value added products of hydrochar and activated carbon.</p><p>Sewage sludge posing a hazardous threat to human and environmental health is converted to carbon rich products with high energy values. A solar energy supported continuous hydrothermal carbonization system is designed and implemented according to certain operation parameters such as retention time, temperature and material density that are determined by optimization studies. Products with high carbon content obtained from this system are subjected to further carbonization and chemical activation processes, in order to produce activated carbons that can be used as filtration material. While solar energy integration to the system enabled the utilization of solar power potential of the project location, İzmir province, selection of hydrothermal carbonization as the main thermal process rendered savings in energy and operation costs by eliminating the pre-drying expenses of sewage sludge.</p><p>Existing research concerning hydrothermal carbonization are mainly carried out on a literature level, lacking experimental studies performed on a pilot scale. The hydrothermal carbonization efficiency of the implemented system is 43%, where the high heating value of produced hydrochar at selected optimum conditions is measured as 20,13 MJ/kg. Moreover, produced activated carbons demonstrated the highest surface area of 708,13 m2/g.</p>