Abstract: There is provided a method of hydrothermal carbonization of a sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, comprising the steps of: preheating the sludge with at least one first steam fraction to obtain a preheated sludge; further heating the preheated sludge with a second steam fraction to obtain a heated sludge; subjecting the heated sludge to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a reactor to obtain a HTC-treated slurry; mixing the HTC-treated slurry with an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen gas, to obtain a wet-oxidized slurry; subjecting the wet-oxidized slurry to flashing to obtain the second steam fraction and a pre-cooled slurry; subjecting the pre-cooled slurry to flashing in at least one step to obtain the at least one first steam fraction and a cooled slurry; separating the cooled slurry into a liquid fraction and a solids fraction; and routing the liquid fraction to the wastewater treatment plant for further treatment, wherein the second steam fraction is used for heating preheated sludge to the temperat

Abstract: There is provided a method of hydrothermal carbonization of a sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, comprising the steps of: preheating the sludge with at least one first steam fraction to obtain a preheated sludge; further heating the preheated sludge with a second steam fraction to obtain a heated sludge; subjecting the heated sludge to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a reactor to obtain a HTC-treated slurry; mixing the HTC-treated slurry with an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen gas, to obtain a wet-oxidized slurry; subjecting the wet-oxidized slurry to flashing to obtain the second steam fraction and a pre-cooled slurry; subjecting the pre-cooled slurry to flashing in at least one step to obtain the at least one first steam fraction and a cooled slurry; separating the cooled slurry into a liquid fraction and a solids fraction; and routing the liquid fraction to the wastewater treatment plant for further treatment, wherein the second steam fraction is used for heating preheated sludge to the temperat

Abstract: There is provided a method of hydrothermal carbonization of a sludge, comprising the steps of: preheating the sludge to obtain a preheated sludge; mixing the preheated sludge with a wet-oxidized fraction to obtain a reaction mixture; subjecting the reaction mixture to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a reactor to obtain a HTC-treated sludge; separating a fraction from the HTC-treated sludge; and mixing the fraction with an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen gas, to obtain the wet-oxidized fraction, wherein the temperature of the fraction before the wet oxidation is at least 15° C. higher than the temperature of the preheated sludge. A corresponding system is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of hydrothermal carbonization of a sludge, comprising the steps of: a) preheating the sludge to obtain a preheated sludge; b) adding an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen gas, to the preheated sludge; and c) subjecting the sludge from step b) to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a reactor to obtain a HTC-treated sludge.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treatment of sludge, such as municipal or industrial sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, comprising the steps of: —preheating an incoming sludge with at least one steam fraction, preferably by direct steam injection, to obtain a preheated sludge; —further heating the preheated sludge with a high-temperature steam fraction, preferably by direct steam injection, to obtain a heated sludge; —hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of the heated sludge to obtain a HTC-treated sludge; —separating a particle-lean fraction from the HTC-treated sludge; —wet oxidation of the particle-lean fraction to obtain a heated particle-lean fraction; —subjecting the heated particle-lean fraction to a first flashing to obtain the high-temperature steam fraction used in the further heating step; —separating a particle-rich fraction from the HTC-treated sludge; —subjecting the particle-rich fraction to flashing to obtain at least one steam fraction that is used in the preheating step and a cooled particl

Abstract: There is provided a method of treatment of sludge, such as municipal or industrial sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, comprising the steps of: —preheating an incoming sludge with at least one steam fraction, preferably by direct steam injection, to obtain a preheated sludge; —further heating the preheated sludge with a high-temperature steam fraction, preferably by direct steam injection, to obtain a heated sludge; —hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of the heated sludge to obtain a HTC-treated sludge; —separating a particle-lean fraction from the HTC-treated sludge; —wet oxidation of the particle-lean fraction to obtain a heated particle-lean fraction; —subjecting the heated particle-lean fraction to a first flashing to obtain the high-temperature steam fraction used in the further heating step; —separating a particle-rich fraction from the HTC-treated sludge; —subjecting the particle-rich fraction to flashing to obtain at least one steam fraction that is used in the preheating step and a cooled particl

Abstract: There is provided a system for sludge treatment, which system is arranged in a container adapted to be transported by a truck and comprises: a sludge inlet for receiving a sludge; a reactor comprising an electrical heating arrangement for heat treatment of the sludge, which reactor is arranged downstream the sludge inlet; a flashing arrangement for cooling sludge treated in the reactor and providing at least one steam fraction, which flashing arrangement is arranged downstream the reactor; a steam routing arrangement capable of routing the at least one steam fraction from the flashing arrangement to preheat sludge transported from the sludge inlet to the reactor; and a separation arrangement for separating the cooled sludge from the flashing arrangement into a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein the suspended solids content is higher in the first fraction than in the second fraction. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for measuring ash content in a biological material in an automated or semi-automated procedure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material at the energy levels and estimating the moisture content in the biological material based on a relationship between the determined amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material. Thereafter, the ash content in the biological material is estimated, based on the estimated moisture content in the biological material, and average attenuation coefficients for the biological material without moisture, attenuation coefficients for a combustible part of the biological material and attenuation coefficients for ash of the biological material at the energy levels. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting an anomaly in a biological material is disclosed, including the steps of: irradiating the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels; measuring the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material; and determining, for each energy level, a transmission value. Before or after irradiation of the biological material, a reference material of a predetermined thickness is irradiated and the amount of radiation transmitted is determined. For each energy level, a transmission calibration reference value is determined and a calibrated transmission value is determined for the biological material and the calibration reference. A material value based on a relationship between the calibrated transmission value and the presence of an anomaly in the biological material is determined by comparing the determined and expected material values for the biological material. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for X-ray fluorescence analysis of a mineral sample is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an X-ray source (2) for generating an X-ray beam to irradiate the mineral sample; at least one fluorescence detector (4,5) for measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the mineral sample when irradiated by the X-ray beam; and a processing unit for providing an analysis of the mineral sample based on the measurements made by the at least one fluorescence detector (4,5). Further, the apparatus comprises a sample container (3) arranged to hold the mineral sample during the irradiation, wherein the sample container is arranged to provide at least two different irradiation paths through said mineral sample during irradiation. An advantage with this arrangement is that it enables analysis of elements having a wide range of atomic numbers in a single sample with improved reliability and accuracy.

Abstract: A method for measuring ash content in a biological material in an automated or semi-automated procedure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material at the energy levels and estimating the moisture content in the biological material based on a relationship between the determined amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material. Thereafter, the ash content in the biological material is estimated, based on the estimated moisture content in the biological material, and average attenuation coefficients for the biological material without moisture, attenuation coefficients for a combustible part of the biological material and attenuation coefficients for ash of the biological material at the energy levels. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring moisture content in a biological material in an automated procedure is disclosed. The method comprises the step of: providing a reference database for a plurality of different material types with known moisture content. Further, a sample of biological material, such as chips of wood, pulp, grain, crop or sugar canes, are scanned with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels and the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material is determined at said two energy levels. Subsequently, a material type in the reference database most resembling the biological material of the biological material of the sample is identified, and the moisture content of the sample of biological material is determined based on the identified material type and the determined amounts of radiation transmitted through the sample.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring dry mass flow rate for a biological material.—The method steps include conveying the biological material through a measuring station, scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at said two energy levels, and summing, for each of sad two energy levels, the radiation transmission values over a time frame to summed radiation transmission values. Further, a wet dry mass flow rate is estimated based on the summed radiation transmission values for said two energy level. The moisture content of the biological material is estimated based on the amounts of radiation transmitted through the biological material. The estimated wet dry mass flow rate is scaled in accordance with the estimated moisture content of the biological material, thereby providing an estimate of the dry mass flow rate.

Abstract: A method for detecting an anomaly in a biological material is disclosed, including the steps of: irradiating the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels; measuring the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material; and determining, for each energy level, a transmission value. Before or after irradiation of the biological material, a reference material of a predetermined thickness is irradiated and the amount of radiation transmitted is determined. For each energy level, a transmission calibration reference value is determined and a calibrated transmission value is determined for the biological material and the calibration reference. A material value based on a relationship between the calibrated transmission value and the presence of an anomaly in the biological material is determined by comparing the determined and expected material values for the biological material. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and system for producing holes of various dimensions and configurations in a workpiece (42) using a portable orbital drilling machine (44), wherein said workpiece has attached thereto a template (10) with preformed guide holes (12-40) located in a pattern corresponding to the positions of the holes to be formed in the workpiece. Each guide hole (12-40) is provided with a readable information carrier (12i-40i) containing an identification of the respective guide hole. When fixating the drilling machine (44) in a guide hole, the latter is identified by a hole database (48) by sensing the respective information carrier. A control unit (50) associated with the hole database (48) controls the drilling machine (44) to perform a relevant hole-cutting process in the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for X-ray fluorescence analysis of a mineral sample is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an X-ray source (2) for generating an X-ray beam to irradiate the mineral sample; at least one fluorescence detector (4,5) for measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the mineral sample when irradiated by the X-ray beam; and a processing unit for providing an analysis of the mineral sample based on the measurements made by the at least one fluorescence detector (4,5). Further, the apparatus comprises a sample container (3) arranged to hold the mineral sample during the irradiation, wherein the sample container is arranged to provide at least two different irradiation paths through said mineral sample during irradiation. An advantage with this arrangement is that it enables analysis of elements having a wide range of atomic numbers in a single sample with improved reliability and accuracy.

Abstract: Method and system for producing holes of various dimensions and configurations in a workpiece (42) using a portable orbital drilling machine (44), wherein said workpiece has attached thereto a template (10) with preformed guide holes (12-40) located in a pattern corresponding to the positions of the holes to be formed in the workpiece. Each guide hole (12-40) is provided with a readable information carrier (12i-40i) containing an identification of the respective guide hole. When fixating the drilling machine (44) in a guide hole, the latter is identified by a hole database (48) by sensing the respective information carrier. A control unit (50) associated with the hole database (48) controls the drilling machine (44) to perform a relevant hole-cutting process in the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a hole depth in a composite-material workpiece machined by a orbital cutting tool, including the steps of applying a low-level electric potential to an electrically insulated cutting tool having a cutting head with radial and axial cutting edges and with a predetermined axial length; determining a first zero reference position as the cutting tool initially contacts a first surface of the workpiece and closes an electric circuit through the grounded workpiece; and detecting a second reference position when the cutting head penetrates an opposite, second surface of the workpiece. The finished hole depth is determined by deducting the predetermined axial length of the cutting head from the total length of axial advancement from the first zero reference position to the second reference position. The orbital machining apparatus includes ceramic bearings electrically insulating the spindle and the cutting tool from surrounding components of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a hole depth in a composite-material workpiece machined by a orbital cutting tool, including the steps of applying a low-level electric potential to an electrically insulated cutting tool having a cutting head with radial and axial cutting edges and with a predetermined axial length; determining a first zero reference position as the cutting tool initially contacts a first surface of the workpiece and closes an electric circuit through the grounded workpiece; and detecting a second reference position when the cutting head penetrates an opposite, second surface of the workpiece. The finished hole depth is determined by deducting the predetermined axial length of the cutting head from the total length of axial advancement from the first zero reference position to the second reference position. The orbital machining apparatus includes ceramic bearings electrically insulating the spindle and the cutting tool from surrounding components of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of machining a multi-layer workpiece includes the steps of: rotating a cutting tool at an operating speed; contacting the cutting tool against the workpiece; moving the cutting tool through one layer and into another layer within the workpiece; and detecting at least one vibration characteristic associated with the cutting tool during the contacting step and/or moving step.