Machine to Densify Biomass into Tablets

Most biomass materials, such as switchgrass and corn stover, are very bulky (fluffy) when first collected,making them costly to handle, store, and transport. Current densification methods ¿ include baling, pelletizing, etc, ¿ are too costly, too energy-intensive, or both. A better method to solve these problems is needed to enhance the utilization of biomass. This project will test and develop a special machine that can press biomass materials into dense tablets of various sizes without having to use heat or binder. This ¿tabletizer¿ will have a number of advantages over other densification processes: (1) less energy will be needed to achieve densification; (2) compaction can be done at farms, sawmills, or ranger stations, greatly reducing transportation and storage costs; and (3) the tablets will be uniform in shape and size, enabling automatic feeding and handling. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee:The biomass tablets produced by this machine should be used in many applications: (1) feedstock for liquefaction and gasification of biomass, (2) fuel for co-firing with coal in stoker and fluidized-bed boilers for power generation, (3) fuel for heating buildings, and (4) feedstock for producing charcoal and activated carbon.