EUBCE 2026 - Osvaldo Josè VENTURINI - Assessment of Electricity Generation Potential from Residual Gases of Continuous Wood Carbonization Using a Techno-Economic Framework

Assessment of Electricity Generation Potential from Residual Gases of Continuous Wood Carbonization Using a Techno-Economic Framework

Short Introductive summary

The study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of electricity generation from residual gases produced in a continuous (Lambiotte-type) wood carbonization reactor. For a unit producing 20 t/day of charcoal, up to 1.95 MWh of thermal power is available from carbonization gases. Electricity generation was evaluated using a steam Rankine cycle and an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), achieving efficiencies of 9.5% and 17.7%, respectively. Although the ORC is more efficient, the steam Rankine cycle proved to be more economically viable, generating up to 130 kWh per ton of charcoal at a 33% gravimetric yield. The results demonstrate that continuous carbonization technology is well-suited for large-scale charcoal production in Brazil. In addition to producing charcoal of superior quality and homogeneity, the process enhances overall energy efficiency by converting residual gases into electricity. Furthermore, the controlled combustion of these gases significantly reduces emissions of highly polluting compounds, such as CH? and CO, thereby mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which remain among the most critical environmental challenges of the charcoal industry.

O.J. Venturini, UNIFEI, Itajuba, BRAZIL
E.E.S. Lora, UNIFEI, Itajuba, BRAZIL
P.H.M. Santos, UNIFEI, Itajuba, BRAZIL
T.T.G. Rezende, UNIFEI, Itajuba, BRAZIL
J.C.E Palacio, UNIFEI, Itajuba, BRAZIL