Heat exchange screw conveyor for European pyrolysis plant with water cooled casing jacket and water cooled screw auger.

Ajax Equipment heat exchange screw for European pyrolysis plant

Pyrolysis is a process for converting biomass to biofuels by heating organic materials in an oxygen free environment to high temperatures. Due to the absence of oxygen the biomass does not burn but instead thermally decomposes into combustible gases and biochar (almost pure carbon in powder form). Most of the combustable gasses can be condensed to create liquid biofuel, permanent gases such as hydrogen can be used to power the process. The biochar exiting the pyrolysis system needs to be cooled before it encounters an oxygen rich atmosphere to prevent spontaneous combustion.

Ajax Equipment, has supplied a leading pyrolysis technology producer with a heat exchange screw conveyor to cool processed biochar at a European pyrolysis plant. The cooling screw receives biochar from the pyrolysis process at up to 500°C and cools the material to below 50°C via the conveyor’s water filled jacket and screw auger. The screw features full flights with a reduced pitch to provide a positive transfer of biochar and sufficient surface area to effectively transfer heat.

“Cooling bulk solids is a challenging task as heat transfer coefficients can be low and contact areas limited, however, Ajax takes care in equipment design to promote good interface between the particulate material and the water cooled surfaces,” says Eddie McGee, managing director, Ajax Equipment.

For more information on Ajax’s heat transfer equipment, call +44 (0)1204 386723 or visit our Heat Exchanger page.

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