Torrefied biomass based solid fuel composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to solid fuel compositions comprising torrefied cellulosic material and a binder. Use of torrefied cellulosic material (such as wood, leaves, grass, agriproducts, or other cellulosic material), enables a preferred composition for optimizing the performance—in terms of the flame and/or heat output as well as the cost of manufactured solid fuel products, such as firelogs and fire-starters. In addition, use of torrefied cellulosic material provides a number of advantages in the manufacture of solid fuel products, including reduced storage costs and grinding costs. In addition to enabling the manufacture of a more cost-effective solid fuel products, use of torrefied cellulosic material offers environmental advantages, by providing a use of low-value wood that has few alternative uses.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A processed solid burnable fuel composition comprising a torrefied cellulosic material and a binder. 
     
     
         2 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is from about 15% to about 75% of the composition. 
     
     
         3 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the binder is from about 25% to about 50% of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The processed fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is from about 5% to about 45% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The processed fuel composition according to  claim 1  or  claim 4 , wherein the binder is from about 55% to about 65% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The processed fuel composition according to  claim 1  or  claim 4 , wherein the binder is from about 50% to about 65% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  further comprising a coking agent. 
     
     
         8 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  further comprising a non-torrefied cellulosic material. 
     
     
         9 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  further comprising a coking agent and/or a non-torrefied cellulosic material. 
     
     
         10 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 7  or  claim 9 , wherein the coking agent is up to about 5% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 7  or  claim 9 , wherein the coking agent is from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 10  or  claim 11 , wherein the coking agent is any coking agent used in solid fuels, in particular, a starch, molasses, a sugar, black liquor, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 8  or  claim 9 , wherein the non-torrefied cellulosic material is from about 0% to about 45% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the non torrefied cellulosic material is wood. 
     
     
         15 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is obtained by torrefaction at between about 250° C. to about 300° C. 
     
     
         16 . The processed solid fuel composition according to any of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is obtained by torrefaction at between about 180° C. to about 250° C. 
     
     
         17 . The processed solid fuel composition according to any of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is obtained by torrefaction at between about 200° C. to about 280° C. 
     
     
         18 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is low-value wood, leaves, grass, agriproducts, switchgrass, coffee husks, bagasse, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is, municipal waste, an agricultural by-product or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The processed solid burnable fuel composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the torrefied cellulosic material is green wood. 
     
     
         21 . A processed burnable fuel log comprising a solid fuel composition of any one of  claims 1  to  20 .