Biomass storage system

• US 10,301,789 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Duncan, William D., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Pan, Tony S., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E
• Application Number:
  US15/606,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20170260710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 37239, 172 2- 11, 198300, 198513, 198519, 198642, 198671, 414526, 414694, 701 50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/04 Combinations of soil-working tools with non-soil-working tools, e.g. planting tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/14 with dispensing apparatus, e.g. for fertilisers, herbicides or preservatives
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00008 Controlling the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/082 Controlling processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/085 Feeding reactive fluids for solid material, see B01J8/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/087 Heating or cooling the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 11/02 Drainage device- laying apparatus, e.g. drainage ploughs

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a condition of a ground material and placing a water storage material in the ground material, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid, comprising:

a vehicle including a sensor and a burying mechanism;

wherein the sensor is configured to detect the condition of the ground material and to provide a sensor signal; and

wherein the burying mechanism is configured to bury the water storage material at a burying depth below a surface of the ground material in response to the sensor signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the condition of the ground material comprises a presence or absence of a previously placed water storage material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the condition of the ground material comprises a presence or absence of water within the ground material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the burying mechanism is adjustable such that the burying depth is adjustable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the burying mechanism is adjustable such that the water storage material can be buried at different densities.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an RFID reader.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a controller, the controller is configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensor and is further configured to send a burying signal to the burying mechanism, the burying signal includes a depth parameter and a density parameter corresponding to the burying depth and a burying density of the water storage material.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a vehicle including a sensor and a burying mechanism; and

a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and to the burying mechanism;

wherein the sensor is configured to detect a condition of a ground material and to provide a sensor signal to the controller; and

wherein the burying mechanism is configured to bury a water storage material at a burying depth below a surface of the ground material based on a burying signal received from the controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the burying signal includes a depth parameter and a density parameter corresponding to the burying depth and a burying density of the water storage material.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the condition of the ground material comprises a presence or absence of a previously placed water storage material.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the condition of the ground material comprises a presence or absence of water within the ground material.