Method and process for producing a water-resistant, mechanically stable form of torrefied biomass

A method for making binder-free compacted torrefied biomass, comprising:

• milling uncompacted torrefied biomass to have an average particle size of about 0.1 mm to less than about 10 mm;
• sieving the uncompacted torrefied biomass;
• conditioning the uncompacted torrefied biomass to increase its moisture content to about 5% to about 15%;
• compacting the uncompacted torrefied biomass in a compaction device without an extrinsic binder additive;
• and
• curing the compacted torrefied biomass in a post-compaction device to produce the compacted torrefied biomass having an average mass density of at least about 1.1 g/cm3 to about 1.3 g/cm3 and that absorbs from about 20 wt % to about 35 wt % water after submersion for about 24 hours in water having a temperature of about 25° C. and at ambient pressure.

A system, comprising:

• a first stabilizer/conditioner component configured to receive a torrefied biomass feedstock and apply a liquid to the torrefied biomass;
• a compaction device configured to receive the torrefied biomass feedstock from the first stabilizer/conditioner and capable of compacting torrefied biomass to have a mass density greater than that of the torrefied biomass feedstock;
• and
• a second stabilizer/conditioner component configured to receive the compacted torrefied biomass and thermally cure the compacted torrefied biomass.