Multiscale modeling of biomass pretreatment for optimization of steam explosion conditions
2012
Zhang, Yuzhen | Chen, Hongzhang
Steam explosion is the most cost-effective and widely used method for pretreating lignocellulosic materials. Unlike other hydrothermal pretreatment technologies, it is characterized by physical tearing effects. The severity factor cannot represent the effects of instantaneous decompression but it can depict the effects of high-temperature cooking. Using the theories of heat transfer, momentum transfer, and brittle fracture mechanics as bases, we analyze physical tearing in instantaneous decompression. Moisture content of materials wₒₚₜ is optimized by maintaining temperature T (T↔wₒₚₜ), and chip size d is optimized with discharge port area A (A∝d²). The chip size, moisture content of materials, and discharge port area are then incorporated into the severity factor. The enriched severity factor and the relationship among operation parameters, material property parameters, and equipment parameters serve as engineering references in designing the equipment and selecting the conditions for steam explosion technology. Such equipment and conditions are suitable for use under any given set of materials, products, and treatment targets.
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