Pelletized fuel products, methods, and apparatuses

Abstract

Pelletized fuel products, methods, and apparatuses are provided. The method includes pelletizing at least partially carbonized biomass in an inert atmosphere. The apparatus includes a feeder of at least partially carbonized biomass, a pelletizer configured to receive and pelletize the at least partially carbonized biomass, and an inert gas source configured to provide inert gas to the pelletizer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for producing a pelletized fuel product, comprising:
 a feeder of at least partially carbonized biomass;   a pelletizer configured to receive and pelletize the at least partially carbonized biomass; and   an inert gas source configured to provide inert gas to the pelletizer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially carbonized biomass comprises torrefied wood or hydrothermally carbonized wood. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or steam. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water source configured to moisten the at least partially carbonized biomass to a moisture content of from about 2 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the at least partially carbonized biomass prior to pelletization.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least partially carbonized biomass is pelletized in an inert atmosphere, and wherein a portion of the inert atmosphere comprises steam and at least a portion of the steam is produced during pelletization. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for producing a pelletized carbonized fuel product, comprising:
 a feeder of raw biomass;   a reactor configured to receive and at least partially carbonize the raw biomass;   a pelletizer configured to receive and pelletize the at least partially carbonized biomass; and   an inert gas source configured to provide inert gas to the pelletizer.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the raw biomass comprises wood. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the reactor is a torrefaction reactor or a hydrothermal carbonization reactor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the inert gas comprises nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or steam. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a water source configured to moisten the at least partially carbonized biomass to a moisture content of from about 2 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the at least partially carbonized biomass prior to pelletization.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least partially carbonized biomass is pelletized in an inert atmosphere, and wherein a portion of the inert atmosphere comprises steam and at least a portion of the steam is produced during pelletization.