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Show INTRODUCTION There are many industries throughout the United States and the world processing cellulitic materials in order to produce their end product. A byproduct of these processes are cellulitic or biomass "wastes". The most well-known are wood product producers with wastes such as bark, planer shavings, sanderdust, wood trimmings, etc. Other producers are agricultural industries with corn husks, and various plant wastes and food processing industries with byproducts such as coffee grounds, peanut shells, apple pomace, peach pits, and sunflower seed hulls. With these by products arises a need for disposal. Oftentimes these byproducts are used as fillers or as raw material for other end products. Sometimes, as in the case of food wastes, they can be used as animal feed and fertilizers. Some industries, such as those involved with wood products, use these wastes to supplement or replace mineral fuels. Often these wastes are incinerated or used as land fill and are becoming increasingly costly and difficult to dispose of. These industries are large consumers of energy, a portion of which is related directly to the process, and the remainder periferal to the plant. The most common forms of generated energy are hot air for drying, hot fluids, steam, and electricity. Utilization of low grade wastes as sources of energy is attractive from a financial and disposal standpoint and can provide a microscopic energy self sufficiency. Combustion is a particularly attractive 27-2 |
