Modular portable micro-factory system

• US 20090300998A1
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of The Province Of Nova Scotia, As Represented By The Nova Scotia Agricultural College (Nsac) On Behalf Of The Minister Of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of The Province Of Nova Scotia, As Represented By The Nova Scotia Agricultural College (Nsac) On Behalf Of The Minister Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Ablett, Richard F.
• Application Number:
  US12/457,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/79.100
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10

Abstract

A modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system is provided herein. It includes a plurality of intact shipping containers assembled together to provide a contiguous interior space. One such intact shipping container provides a receiving area seamlessly connected to a production area of a second intact shipping container, which in turn provides a shipping area which is seamlessly connected to the production area of a third intact shipping container. The production area comprises a plurality of vessels operatively interconnected to one another. The plurality of vessels include some, but not necessarily all of a number of units, e.g., an extractor, a press unit, a screener, at least one thin extract tank, a foamer, a mixing valve assembly, a wash down unit, a slurry tank, a filter plate stack, at least one clear extract tank, an evaporator module, and a concentrator tank.

Claims

1. A modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system comprising a plurality of intact shipping containers assembled together to provide a contiguous interior space, one such intact shipping container providing a receiving area seamlessly connected to a production area of a second intact shipping container, which in turn provides a shipping area which is seamlessly connected to the production area of a third intact shipping container, wherein the production area comprises a plurality of vessels operatively interconnected to one another, the plurality of vessels comprising some, but not necessarily all of an extractor, a press unit, a screener, at least one thin extract tank, a foamer, a mixing valve assembly, a wash unit, a slurry tank, a filter plate stack, at least one clear extract tank, an evaporator module, and a concentrator tank.

3. The modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system of claim 1, wherein the second intact shipping container is disposed at right angles to the first intact shipping container.

4. The modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system of claim 1, wherein the third intact shipping container is disposed at right angles to the second intact shipping container.

5. The modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system of claim 1, wherein the first intact shipping container, the second intact shipping container and the third intact shipping container are oriented in plan view as a “

U-shape”

.

6. The modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system of claim 1, wherein the first intact shipping container, the second intact shipping container and the third intact shipping container are oriented in plan view as “

H-shape”

.

7. The modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system of claim 1, wherein the modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system also includes an ingredient scale, and/or a product scale.

2. A self contained modular, portable, expandable micro-factory system comprising a plurality of intact shipping containers assembled together to provide a contiguous interior space, one such intact shipping container providing a receiving area seamlessly connected to a production area of a second intact shipping container which, in turn provides a shipping area which is seamlessly connected to a production area of a second intact shipping container seamlessly connected to the production area of a third intact shipping container, wherein the first intact shipping container provides a receiving area comprising a storage freezer, a dry storage and thaw area, an entrance and conventional office areas;

wherein the second intact shipping container provides the production area comprising a plurality of operatively interconnected vessels comprising an extractor, a plurality of reaction-supporting lines including a compressed air line, a potable water line, a steam line and a condensate return line, these units being operatively associated with one another;

wherein the second intact shipping container also includes a screener, a foamer, a mixing valve assembly and a wash down station for supply to the screener, a solids tote, a press, and a liquid tub, these units being;

wherein the second intact shipping container also includes a first thin extract tank for reactant passing through the screen the reactant passing operatively connected to a second thin extract tank, these units being operatively associated with one another;

wherein the second intact shipping container also includes a slurry tank for receiving extract from the second thin extract tank a strainer for effluent slurry a filter plate stack for strained effluent and a clear extract tank, theses units being operatively associated with one another; and

wherein the second intact shipping container also includes an evaporator module operatively connected the clear extract tank, an effluent to a cooling tower, and a concentration tank, these units being operatively associated with one another.