Case Study of a Carbonization Plant: Evaluation of Features and Quality of Charcoal Aiming Steel Use

ABSTRACT Charcoal is a product of great importance in the Brazilian economy, a fact linked to its use as a renewable energy source and reducing the steel industry. Efforts have been made aiming at improving the production process of charcoal, which can be obtained in different furnace types with varying yield and quality. Taking these factors into consideration, the aim of this study was to survey the characteristics relating to the carbonization plant belonging to the Saint Gobain Ltda. company, in the city of Seropédica/Rio de Janeiro-Brazil and chemically analyze the coal produced. The data were obtained through a questionnaire and compared to the other two companies in the same industrial segment. The analysis of charcoal samples was conducted in the laboratory through chemical analysis. The furnaces used in charcoal production in existing carbonization plant analyzed company are characterized as surface furnaces with chimney. The average output of the conversion of wood charcoal was 50%. Compared to other carbonization systems, the company analyzed showed intermediate values in terms of process yield and charcoal produced is considered good quality, with high fixed carbon content (82.70%) and low ash content (1,30%).

摘要：木炭是巴西经济中极具重要性的产品，这与其作为可再生能源的应用以及助力钢铁工业减碳有关。学界已开展诸多研究以优化木炭生产工艺——木炭可通过多种炉型生产，其产率与品质各有差异。鉴于此，本研究旨在调研巴西里约热内卢州塞罗佩迪卡市圣戈班有限公司（"Saint Gobain Ltda."）所属碳化厂（"carbonization plant"）的相关特性，并对其生产的木炭开展化学分析。研究数据通过问卷调查获取，并与同行业另外两家企业进行对比分析。木炭样品的化学分析工作在实验室完成。受访公司现有碳化厂所使用的木炭生产炉具，均为带烟囱的地面炉（"surface furnaces"）。木材转化为木炭的平均产率为50%。相较于其他碳化系统，该受访公司的工艺产率处于中等水平，所生产的木炭品质优良，固定碳含量较高（82.70%），灰分含量较低（1.30%）。