THERMAL AND ELECTRIC ENERGY GENERATION FROM OLIVE STONE BIOMASS PRODUCED IN OLIVE OIL FACTORIES CHARACTERISED BY TWO-PHASE OLIVE TREATMENT (OLIVE OIL AND OLIVE STONE OUTFLOW)

摘要

State of art: Up to the present day, the previously dried olive stones are conducted to olive stone oil factories where the stone oil will be separated from its wooden residues; this existing methodimplies high environmental pollution caused by the drying (moist removal) of the olive stones. Novelty: Thermal and electric energy generation derived from olive stone biomass produced in olive oil factories characterised by two-phase olive treatment (olive oil and olive stone outflow). Olive stone treatment process (fig. 1): Transport of the olive stone biomass (1) from different two-phase olive oil factories to a combustion factory where the olive stone biomass will be combusted into suited combustion furnaces (2) to generate electric (8) and thermal energy (9). The electric energy is produced by thermal combustion gases which are expanded to set into motion a suitable turbine and to produce hot water upon further cooling of the aforesaid combustion gases. Alternatively (fig. 2), the olive stone biomass (1) of the two-phase olive oil factories can be drawn to the combustion places (2) of the existing industrial units so that its combustion along with the combustible in use can lead to the saving of this last. Purpose: Applying the produced alternative energy in olive-growing regions; selling the thus-produced energy to mains network companies and the co-produced heat to some consumers in winder time (e.g. in hospitals, greenhouses, houses); reducing the combustible used by furnaces of existing olive oil factories when the olive stone biomass is combusted therein.