Solid fuel compositions, processes for preparing solid fuel, and combustion processes

• US 20080280236A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Port of Seattle
• Original Assignee: Port of Seattle
• Inventors: Wright, Roger G.
• Application Number:
  US11/801,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 431/2
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/40 essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/702 with other waste
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2207/20 Waste supply
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2209/26 Biowaste
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/50206 Pelletising waste before combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/50208 Biologic treatment before burning, e.g. biogas generation
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/50209 Compacting waste before burning
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/55006 Measuring material flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/7012 Incinerating rice or grain husks, hulls or bran
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2900/70401 Incinerating drainage water from waste pits of incinerators
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/02 with pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/50 Control or safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/001 for sludges or waste products from water treatment installations F23G5/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/10 of field or garden waste or biomasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/12 Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

Solid fuel compositions consisting essentially of wet processed biomass are provided. Processes for preparing solid fuel are provided that can include pelletizing wet-processed biomass material. Combustion processes are provided that can include initiating combustion of a pelletized wet processed biomass material. Energy generation processes are included that can include gasifying a biomass pellet.

Claims

1. A solid fuel consisting essentially of wet-processed biomass, the solid fuel having a density of at least 20 lbs/ft³.

2. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the solid fuel is in the form of pellets.

3. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises extracted mint leaves.

4. The solid fuel of claim 3 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises mint slug.

5. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises fruit pomace.

6. The solid fuel of claim 5 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises grape pomace.

7. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises spent hops.

8. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises barley waste.

9. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the wet-processed biomass comprises beet tailings.

10. The solid fuel of claim 1 further comprising less than or equal to about 50% (wt./wt.) unprocessed biomass.

11. The solid fuel of claim 10 wherein:

the wet-processed biomass comprises mint slug; and

the unprocessed biomass comprises wood cuttings.

12. The solid fuel of claim 10 wherein the unprocessed biomass is one or more of straw, stover, and vegetable husks.

13. The solid fuel of claim 12 wherein the unprocessed biomass is straw and the straw is one or more of wheat, rice, and flax straw.

14. The solid fuel of claim 10 wherein the unprocessed biomass is switch grass.

15. The solid fuel of claim 1 further comprising glycerin.

16. The solid fuel of claim 1 wherein the solid fuel is in the form of a pellet.

17. The solid fuel of claim 16 wherein the pellet has a length longer than its diameter.

18. The solid fuel of claim 16 wherein the pellet has a circular cross section less than about ½

inch in diameter.

19. The solid fuel of claim 16 wherein any cross section of the pellet is less than about 1 inch in length.

20. The solid fuel of claim 16 wherein the pellets are configured for use in residential pellet stoves.

21. The solid fuel of claim 1 further comprising less than or equal to about 50% (wt./wt.) digestion waste.

22. The solid fuel of claim 21 wherein the digestion waste comprises sludge.

23. The solid fuel of claim 22 wherein the sludge is sewage sludge.

24. The solid fuel of claim 1 further comprising less than or equal to about 50% (wt./wt.) animal waste.

25. The solid fuel of claim 24 wherein the animal waste comprises cow manure.

26. A process for preparing solid fuel comprising pelletizing material to produce a solid fuel pellet, the material comprising at least 50% (wt./wt.) wet-processed biomass material.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein the wet-processed biomass material is extracted soy beans.

28. The process of claim 26 wherein the material further comprises unprocessed biomass material.

29. The process of claim 28 wherein the wet-processed biomass material comprises mint slug and the unprocessed biomass material comprises straw.

30. The process of claim 28 wherein a weight of the wet-processed biomass material is at least equal to or greater than a weight of the unprocessed biomass material.

31. The process of claim 26 further comprising storing the solid fuel pellet in a container.

32. The process of claim 31 wherein the container is configured for distribution of the solid fuel pellet for residential use.

33. A combustion process comprising:

initiating combustion of a pelletized fuel, the pelletized fuel comprising a wet-processed biomass material; and

periodically providing additional quantities of the fuel to continue the combustion.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein the providing further comprises metering in an amount of solid fuel at predetermined rates.

35. The process of claim 33 further comprising utilizing the heat from the combustion as an energy source.

36. The process of claim 33 wherein the combustion is initiated and continued within a residential pellet stove.

37. An energy generation process comprising gasifying a biomass pellet.

38. The process of claim 37 wherein the biomass pellet comprises biomass slug.

39. The process of claim 37 wherein the gasifying creates a carbon waste product.

40. The process of claim 39 wherein the carbon waste product is utilized as filtration media.