Biomass dehydration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467684-B2
Application number	US-202117997443-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

Various implementations include a biomass dehydration system including a wet biomass chamber containing wet biomass, a belt or chain defining one or more cavities, two or more pulleys including a drive pulley that the belt or chain extend around and that are configured such that the cavities are disposable within the wet biomass chamber as the belt or chain moves along the pulleys to cause wet biomass to enter the cavities, and a drying chamber for dehydrating wet biomass disposed in the cavities into solid pellets. The drive pulley engages the belt or chain and causes the belt or chain to move around the pulleys. At least a portion of the belt or chain extends from the wet biomass chamber through the drying chamber. One of the pulleys includes one or more ejection protrusions for engaging the cavities and ejecting solid pellets from the cavities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A biomass dehydration system, the system comprising:
a wet biomass chamber for containing wet biomass; a belt or chain having a length and defining one or more cavities; two or more pulleys including at least a drive pulley, wherein the belt or chain extends along the length around the two or more pulleys, wherein the drive pulley positively engages the belt or chain such that rotation of the drive pulley causes the belt or chain to move around the two or more pulleys in a drive direction along the length, wherein the two or more pulleys are configured such that the one or more cavities are disposable within the wet biomass chamber as the belt or chain moves along the two or more pulleys to cause wet biomass contained within the wet biomass chamber to enter the one or more cavities; and a drying chamber for dehydrating wet biomass disposed in the one or more cavities such that wet biomass disposed in the one or more cavities converts into solid fuel pellets, wherein at least a portion of the belt or chain extends in the drive direction from the wet biomass chamber through the drying chamber, wherein one of the two or more pulleys includes one or more ejection protrusions for engaging the one or more cavities and ejecting solid fuel pellets disposed within the one or more cavities from the one or more cavities.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fan for causing air to flow through the drying chamber.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the fan causes ambient temperature air to flow through the drying chamber.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a heat source for heating air within the drying chamber.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the heat source is combustion gases from combustion of solid fuel pellets.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the two or more pulleys is a sprocket.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of two pulleys are disposed within the wet biomass chamber.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wet biomass chamber defines an inlet port for introducing wet biomass into the wet biomass chamber.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the belt or chain comprises a drive chain.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the drive chain comprises a roller chain.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the belt or chain comprises a corrosion-resistant material.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the corrosion-resistant material comprises stainless steel.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the corrosion-resistant material comprises a polymer.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wiper for removing from the belt or chain wet biomass disposed externally from the one or more cavities.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wiper for compressing wet biomass into the cavities.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wiper comprises a resilient flap in contact with the belt or chain.

17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compactor disposed within the wet biomass chamber, wherein the compactor causes wet biomass disposed within the wet biomass chamber to enter the one or more cavities.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the compacter comprises a compacter ramp having a first portion and a second portion spaced apart in the drive direction from the first portion, wherein the second portion is closer than the first portion to the belt or chain.

19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wicking material disposed at least partially within the wet biomass chamber for drawing moisture out of wet biomass disposed within the wet biomass chamber.

20 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel.

21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more cavities of the belt or chain moves from the wet biomass chamber to the one of the two or more pulleys in 12 hours or more.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado State Res Found

Inventors

• Defoort Morgan
• Mizia John

Classifications

• F26B2200/02

  Biomass, e.g. waste vegetative matter, straw · CPC title

• F26B25/04

  Agitating, stirring, or scraping devices {(arrangement of doctor blades F26B17/286)} · CPC title

• F26B25/001

  Handling, e.g. loading or unloading arrangements · CPC title

• F26B23/04

  using electric heating (F26B23/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F26B23/028

  using solid fuel; burning the dried product · CPC title