Methods of compressing lignocellulosic feedstock into discrete units, and related systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of processing lignocellulosic feedstock comprising:
- grinding lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces, wherein the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces each have a length and a width, and wherein the average length of said ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces is in the range from 0.25 inches to 12 inches;
andcompressing at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces to form a plurality of discrete units, wherein the plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot as measured by ASAE S269.4.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic feedstock that include grinding lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock; and compressing at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock to form at least one discrete unit. In some embodiments, a plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot. The present disclosure also includes related systems.
15 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of processing lignocellulosic feedstock comprising:
-
grinding lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces, wherein the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces each have a length and a width, and wherein the average length of said ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces is in the range from 0.25 inches to 12 inches; and compressing at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces to form a plurality of discrete units, wherein the plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot as measured by ASAE S269.4. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for processing lignocellulosic feedstock comprising:
-
a source of lignocellulosic feedstock; a grinding system configured to grind the lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces, wherein the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces each have a length and a width, and wherein the average length of said ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces is in the range from 0.25 inches to 12 inches, and wherein the source of lignocellulosic feedstock is in fluid communication with the grinding system; and a compressing system configured to compress at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces to form a plurality of discrete units, wherein the plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot as measured by ASAE S269.4, wherein the grinding system is in fluid communication with the compressing system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for processing lignocellulosic feedstock comprising:
-
a source of lignocellulosic feedstock; a grinding system configured to grind the lignocellulosic feedstock to provide ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces; a compressing system configured to compress at least a portion of the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces to form a plurality of discrete units, wherein the plurality of discrete units have a bulk density in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot as measured by ASAE S269.4, wherein the grinding system is in fluid communication with the compressing system; a wetting system coupled to the system for processing lignocellulosic feedstock and configured to apply an aqueous composition to at least a portion of the lignocellulosic feedstock and/or the ground lignocellulosic feedstock pieces; a control system operatively coupled to the system to control the bulk density of the plurality of discrete units to be in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot, wherein the compressing system comprises an extruder device having an electric extruder motor, wherein the control system comprises a controller configured to execute program instructions, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the wetting system and the compressing system to cause the wetting system and the compressing system to perform one or more of the program instructions, and wherein the program instructions comprise; measuring an ampere value of the electric extruder motor; determining an amount of aqueous composition to apply to the ground lignocellulosic feedstock based on the ampere value to control the bulk density of the plurality of discrete units to be in the range from 4 pounds per cubic foot to 25 pounds per cubic foot.
-
Specification