Innovative, Economically Viable Torrefaction Technology
Waste-to-Energy – HM3’s torrefier can process the cheapest feedstock. Forest, sawmill and agricultural residues can all be used to make HM3biocoalTM. Other torrefaction processes mostly require more expensive clean wood chips as feedstock or even white pellets. Low feedstock cost is important for commercial application of any biocoal or black pellet technology.
Simple Torrefier Design – HM3’s patented mass flow gravity fed torrefier has a high thermal efficiency, is relatively inexpensive and has few moving parts. The system provides uniform torrefaction with excellent temperature control both in the torrefaction section (no hot spots) and in the cooling section that terminates the torrefaction.
VOC Destruction – The final torrefied biomass has been scrubbed of any remaining VOCs through the use of Advanced Torrefaction System’s patented catalytic oxidation technology that drastically reduces the concentration of VOCs in the overall torrefaction system. As VOCs are destroyed, any excess heat is used to dry incoming feedstock and in other parts of the process.
Trouble-free Densification – HM3 Energy uses a 200 hp motor briquetting machine modified with our patented die temperature control system, keeping dies at a constant high temperature. This, combined with HM3’s unique post-densification conditioning process, produces sturdy, water-resistant HM3BiocoalTM without need to add binders.
Demonstrated Torrefaction and Densification Technology
HM3 Energy’s HM3BiocoalTM torrefaction and densification technologies are energy-efficient and economically viable. Our patented technology were optimized over a three-year period in a demonstration plant:
- Commercial Equipment – The torrefier (1.5 tons/hour) and densifier (5 tons/hour) were commercial in scale. All other equipment was commercial in design.
- Numerous Test Runs – Multi-day production test runs with continuously operating, linked equipment were conducted. A variety of feedstocks, including juniper and pine forest residue, mill residue and agricultural residue, were made into sturdy, water-resistant biocoal.
- Successful Testburns – HM3BiocoalTM was successfully testburned in Western Research Institute’s coal boiler in 2017. Not only did it grind easily prior to feeding to the boiler, the combustion sustained throughout the test was comparable to western (sub-bituminous) coal.
