Angled reaction vessel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A biomass bearing material treatment vessel, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said reaction vessel configured for rotation;
a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the reaction vessel;
one or more support tracks and wheels to support said reaction vessel as it rotates;
at least one access opening in said reaction vessel, through which biomass bearing material may enter and/or exit said reaction vessel;
a door assembly adjacent said access opening, for closing said access opening;
a door sealing system, configured so that said access opening door assembly may be positioned adjacent said access opening, said door sealing system can seal said door to said access opening;
one or more flights of auger vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving said biomass bearing material from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall, and a top edge, with said top edges of said auger vanes defining a bore parallel the long axis of the reaction vessel, said bore having a diameter measuring approximately one third of the diameter of the reaction vessel at a corresponding point; and
a plurality of sparging lines in said vessel for injecting steam into said vessel.
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Abstract
The invention is an apparatus and a process for treating biomass bearing material including municipal solid waste (MSW). The apparatus includes a reaction vessel held at an angle and configured for rotation and steam injection, with helically arranged internal flights, a self-aligning door closure, and a swing-away door assembly. It also includes a novel structure for shredding biomass bearing material attached to the edges of the flights. This structure is a number of projecting tooth like points and paddles.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A biomass bearing material treatment vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said reaction vessel configured for rotation;
a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the reaction vessel;
one or more support tracks and wheels to support said reaction vessel as it rotates;
at least one access opening in said reaction vessel, through which biomass bearing material may enter and/or exit said reaction vessel;
a door assembly adjacent said access opening, for closing said access opening;
a door sealing system, configured so that said access opening door assembly may be positioned adjacent said access opening, said door sealing system can seal said door to said access opening;
one or more flights of auger vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving said biomass bearing material from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall, and a top edge, with said top edges of said auger vanes defining a bore parallel the long axis of the reaction vessel, said bore having a diameter measuring approximately one third of the diameter of the reaction vessel at a corresponding point; and
a plurality of sparging lines in said vessel for injecting steam into said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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7. A biomass bearing material treatment vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said reaction vessel configured for rotation and held at an angle of approximately 6% from horizontal;
a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the reaction vessel;
one or more support tracks and wheels to support said reaction vessel as it rotates;
a single access opening in said reaction vessel, through which biomass bearing material may enter and/or exit said reaction vessel;
a door assembly adjacent said access opening, for closing said access opening;
a door sealing system, configured so that said access opening door assembly may be positioned adjacent said access opening, said door sealing system can seal said door to said access opening;
one or more flights of auger vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving said biomass bearing material from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base edge attached to a interior vessel wall, and a top edge, with said top edges of said auger vanes defining a bore parallel the long axis of the reaction vessel, said bore having a diameter measuring approximately one third of the diameter of the reaction vessel at a corresponding point; and
a plurality of sparging lines in said vessel for injecting steam into said vessel.
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22. A biomass bearing material treatment vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical reaction vessel with a first end and a second end, with said reaction vessel configured for rotation at an angle selected by the operator;
a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the reaction vessel;
an access opening in said reaction vessel, through which product may enter and/or exit said reaction vessel;
one or more flights of auger vanes on the interior wall of said reaction vessel, for moving product in said reaction vessel, with the auger vanes having a base edge attached to a interior vessel wall, and a top edge;
a plurality of sparging lines for injection of steam into the interior of the vessel;
a self aligning door sealing assembly, comprising;
a swing away access opening door;
a first locking rim surrounding said access opening on the reactor vessel;
an access opening door with a second locking rim, for placement adjacent the first locking rim; and
a clamp collar for drawing said locking rims together, and for sealing the locking rims together, thus sealing said access opening door over the access opening. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A feedstock material made by the process comprising the steps of:
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adding biomass bearing material to a reaction vessel held at an angle from horizontal and configured for rotation, said reaction vessel equipped with internal auger vanes attached in a spiraling configuration to an interior of said reaction vessel wall;
injecting steam via sparging lines into said reaction vessel to add heat and pressure up to 55 pounds to the interior of the vessel. rotating said vessel as said biomass bearing material is subjected to heat and pressure for a selected period of time;
removing biomass bearing material after sufficient time as said biomass bearing material has undergone chemical and physical change and has been converted to a feedstock for fiber and cellulose processes.
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Specification