A method of converting cellulosic feedstock to bio coal. The cellulosic feedstock in a carrier of process fluid is introduced within a conduit having substantially linear portions connected by curved portions creating a serpentine structure. The substantially linear portions are surrounded by tubular sleeves creating annular spaces between the tubular sleeves and substantially linear portions for carrying a high temperature fluid for transferring thermal energy to the cellulosic feedstock and process fluid. The cellulosic feedstock is maintained in an oxygen-free environment. The method is continuous as the cellulosic feedstock in process fluid is subjected to a plurality of mixing elements characterized as having no edges perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of substantially linear segments and which are sized and positioned within the plurality of substantially linear segments such no mixing elements are in contact with one another resulting in an open region of travel for fluids passing from the conduit inlet to conduit outlet.
|
0. 13. A method for converting cellulosic feedstock to bio coal comprising:
providing a conduit comprising a plurality of linear segments having a linear segment diameter, longitudinal axes and circular circumference, said conduit further having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of curved segments creating a serpentine structure;
providing a plurality of tubular sleeves around said linear segments and having longitudinal axes coincident with said longitudinal axes of said linear segments of said conduit creating a plurality of annular spaces, said plurality of tubular sleeves being in fluid communication and having a tubular sleeve inlet and tubular sleeve outlet;
providing a plurality of mixing elements within a plurality of said linear segments, said plurality of mixing elements having no edges perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said plurality of linear segments and are sized and positioned within said plurality of linear segments such that no mixing elements are in contact with one another, and are free of nooks and crotches which would otherwise result in fluid hangup and which results in an open region of travel for fluids passing from said conduit inlet to said conduit outlet;
feeding a cellulosic feedstock carried by a process fluid to said conduit inlet;
feeding a heating fluid to said tubular sleeve inlet causing said heating fluid to pass within said annular spaces to effect heat transfer between said heating fluid and said cellulosic feedstock; and
providing mixing elements within said annular spaces for increasing turbulence of said heating fluid passing therein.
0. 1. A method of converting cellulosic feedstock to bio coal comprising:
Providing a conduit comprising a plurality of linear segments having a linear segment diameter, longitudinal axes and circular circumference, said conduit further having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of curved segments creating a serpentine structure;
providing a plurality of tubular sleeves around said linear segments and having longitudinal axes coincident with said longitudinal axes of said linear segments of said conduit creating a plurality of annular spaces, said plurality of tubular sleeves being in fluid communication and having a tubular sleeve inlet and tubular sleeve outlet;
providing a plurality of mixing elements within a plurality of said linear segments, said plurality of mixing elements having no edges perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said plurality of linear segments and are sized and positioned within said plurality of linear segments such that no mixing elements are in contact with one another, and are free of nooks and crotches which would otherwise result in fluid hangup and which results in an open region of travel for fluids passing from said conduit inlet to said conduit outlet;
feeding a cellulosic feedstock carried by a process fluid to said conduit inlet;
feeding a heating fluid to said tubular sleeve inlet causing said heating fluid to pass within said annular spaces;
facilitating heat transfer between said heating fluid and said cellulosic feedstock; and
maintaining said cellulosic feedstock and process fluid as a substantially oxygen-free fluid stream for a sufficient time to convert said cellulosic feedstock to said bio coal.
0. 2. The method of
3. The method of claim 1 14 wherein each mixing element located within each of said linear segments is seated at an angle between approximately 25° to 45° to said longitudinal axes.
4. The method of claim 1 14 wherein said mixing elements within said linear segments are in the form of primarily circular segments wherein each mixing element within said linear segments is characterized as being widest in profile at its midpoint and narrowest at its longitudinal endpoints.
5. The method of
6. The method of claim 1 14 wherein said heating fluid is any a fluid capable of flowing at temperatures over 1000° F. and having a boiling points in excess of 1000° F.
0. 7. The method of
8. The method of claim 1 14 wherein said cellulosic feedstock comprises a member material selected from the group consisting of wood chips and nut shells.
0. 9. The method of
0. 10. The method of
11. The method of claim 10 14 wherein said mixing elements within said annular space are provided in complementary pairs, wherein adjacent mixing elements cause said heating fluid passing therein to rotate in opposite directions.
12. The method of claim 1 14 wherein said mixing elements positioned within said linear segments are sized such that cellulosic feedstock carried by process fluid having a size of at least 40% of the linear segment diameter passes there through.
0. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said heating fluid is a fluid with a specific heat of approximately 0.26 to 0.40 BTU/(lb*° F.) and capable of exhibiting a temperature of approximately 900° F. to 1500° F.
0. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said mixing elements are provided in said linear segments in complementary pairs, wherein adjacent mixing elements cause said cellulosic feedstock and process fluid passing therein to rotate in opposite directions.
0. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein said heating fluid comprises molten salt.
0. 17. The method of claim 13 wherein said feedstock in said process fluid moves counter currently within said conduit to said heating fluid traveling within said annular spaces.
|
30 60 being joined by curved segments 61 creating a substantially serpentine structure. The segments are joined with others creating an array as depicted in
In that the device depicted herein acts, in effect, as a countercurrent heat exchanger, linear segments 60 are surrounded by sleeves 50 creating annular spaces 56 (
To facilitate the uniform mixing of the cellulosic material, such as wood chips or nut shells within the process fluid, mixing elements 33, 34, 35 and 36 are provided. These mixing elements are capable of mixing the cellulosic material and process fluid while not creating nooks or dead spaces which would act to inhibit fluid flow within conduit 30.
In turning to
As a preferred embodiment, the mixing elements are provided as pairs such as 33/34 and 35/36. Each complementary pair causes flowing material to rotate about axis 62 of conduit 30 in opposite directions. As is further noted, the four mixing elements are each shown primarily as a circular segments each of a height of approximately D/10 wherein D is the diameter of conduit 30. Various mixing elements are set in a non-opposing fashion at the pipe wall so as to present to the fluid in any plane normal to axes 62 of conduit 30 a non-symmetrical cross-section. This serves to break up the normal circular symmetry of flow and to substantially reduce the length of conduit 30 necessary to achieve torrefaction.
Ideally, the heating or high temperature fluid has a specific heat of approximately 0.26 to 0.40 BTU/(lb*° F.) and capable of exhibiting an inlet temperature of approximately 900 to 1500° F. An excellent example would be a molten salt. The process fluid is introduced at typical inlet temperatures between approximately 100 to 400° F. and can be any liquid having a high boiling point and which is devoid of oxygen. An example of a suitable process fluid with a relatively high boiling point as to not boil off while the cellulosic feedstock is being processed is an oil available by Permanente Corporation sold under the brand name GRC88. As noted, the heating fluid passes within annulus 56 which can also be configured with mixing elements 53, 54, 55 and 56 57 which are used in pairs causing fluid to rotate in opposite directions. These mixing elements are employed in order to ensure even temperature of the heating fluid as uneven temperature gradients could lead to the heating fluid parially solidifying within the annular space. These elements are used as a low pressure drop solution in order to increase turbulence in the annulus, thus ensuring uniform temperature gradient across the cross-section.
The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
Smith, Nolan, Smith, Hayden, Lee, Seungsuk
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
5758967, | Apr 19 1993 | Komax Systems, Inc. | Non-clogging motionless mixing apparatus |
9758738, | Nov 14 2014 | Permanente Corporation | Green renewable liquid fuel |
20070266623, | |||
20080206129, | |||
20120117815, | |||
20140287488, | |||
20200056098, | |||
CN103933924, | |||
CN108728144, | |||
CN110527535, | |||
EP2166061, | |||
WO2008095589, | |||
WO2014167141, | |||
WO2020041144, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Mar 28 2022 | Komax Systems, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Mar 28 2022 | BIG: Entity status set to Undiscounted (note the period is included in the code). |
Mar 29 2022 | SMAL: Entity status set to Small. |
Apr 09 2024 | M2551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Yr, Small Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Mar 05 2027 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Sep 05 2027 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 05 2028 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Mar 05 2030 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Mar 05 2031 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Sep 05 2031 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 05 2032 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Mar 05 2034 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Mar 05 2035 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Sep 05 2035 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 05 2036 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Mar 05 2038 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |