Rotary torrefaction reactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010013-A1
Application number	US-201514861786-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 22, 2015
Priority date	May 3, 2010
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device includes a rotary drum and a fluid conduit. The rotary drum has a horizontal rotation axis and the drum has a sealed inlet end and a sealed outlet end. The drum is configured to receive biomass proximate the inlet end and has a discharge port proximate an outlet end. The fluid conduit is disposed along an inner surface of the drum. The fluid conduit is configured to carry heated fluid and has a coupling external to the drum.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
introducing biomass into an interior of a rotary drum, the rotary drum having a horizontal axis; passing thermal fluid in a conduit disposed on an interior of the drum, the conduit configured to heat the biomass to form torrefied biomass; rotating the rotary drum about the horizontal axis; and discharging the torrefied biomass from an outlet port of the drum.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein introducing includes supplying through an airlock.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein passing thermal fluid includes pumping oil.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein passing thermal fluid includes pumping fluid at a rate in the range of from approximately 100 to 2000 gallons per minute.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein passing thermal fluid includes pumping fluid having a temperature of approximately 350 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein passing thermal fluid includes pumping fluid having a temperature of approximately 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein discharging includes dropping through an aperture on a wall of the drum.

8 . A system comprising:
a drum having an inlet end and a discharge end aligned on a horizontal axis, the drum having a structure disposed on an interior of the drum for carrying a plurality of fluid lines, the fluid lines coupled to a rotary joint at the discharge end, the drum having an outlet proximate the discharge end; a material supply unit coupled to the inlet end and configured to provide biomass to the drum; a source for thermal fluid coupled to the rotary joint; a driver configured to rotate the drum about the horizontal axis; and a product output for receiving torrefied biomass from the discharge end and formed using the biomass.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the drum is coupled to a blower, the blower configured to control an atmosphere within the drum.

10 . The system of claim 8 wherein the material supply unit includes an airlock.

11 . The system of claim 8 wherein the source includes a thermal fluid heating system.

12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the driver includes an electric motor.

13 . The system of claim 8 wherein the product output includes a conveyor.

14 . The system of claim 8 further including an airlock coupled to the drum.

Assignees

• Icm Inc

Inventors

• Thorn Matt
• Bennett Albert
• Vander Griend Samuel

Classifications

• C10B47/30

  in rotary ovens or retorts · CPC title

• C10L2290/56

  Specific details of the apparatus for preparation or upgrading of a fuel · CPC title

• C10L5/442 Primary

  Wood or forestry waste · CPC title

• C10B53/02 Primary

  of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00) · CPC title

• Y02E50/30

  Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel · CPC title