Biomass converters and processes
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention pertains to a bio-mass processing system, and method of processing waste bio-mass, wherein one or more mixers mixes a bed of bio-mass material such as manure at substantially any and all locations in a defined length and width portion of the bed, in a dryer. Heated air percolates upwardly through the bed. Separation apparatus separates a relatively dryer fraction of the bio-mass material from the dryer. The separated finished product from the dryer is optionally fed to a boiler where the dried bio-mass material is burned. Heat of combustion from the boiler is used as dryer heat for drying the bio-mass feed material in the dryer. Excess heat is optionally used to produce steam, which powers a turbine, which powers an electrical generator. Residual ash from the combustion process comprises about 2% by weight of the solids content of e.g. a feed stream coming into the dryer.
11 Citations
72 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. A bio-mass processing system, comprising:
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(a) a dryer receiving wet bio-mass material to be dried, said dryer having an inlet and an outlet; (b) an air supply system providing a supply of heated air to such bed of bio-mass material in said dryer, and percolating such heated air through the bed of bio-mass material such that the air emerges from the bed of bio-mass material; (c) one or more mixers adapted to mix the bed of bio-mass material while the heated air is percolating upwardly through the bed of bio-mass material; (d) a longitudinal transport mechanism which transports the bio-mass material from the dryer inlet to the dryer outlet whereby a relatively drier, first portion of the bio-mass material is generally displaced from a relatively wetter second portion of the bio-mass material in the bed of bio-mass material; (e) separation apparatus separating at least a portion of the relatively drier first portion of bio-mass material as produced from said dryer; (f) a combustor receiving the relatively drier first portion of the bio-mass material from said dryer, and burning such first portion of the bio-mass material to produce heat energy; and (g) an electrical energy converter, converting heat energy from said combustor into electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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27-28. -28. (canceled)
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34-37. -37. (canceled)
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38. A method of processing animal manure, comprising:
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drying the animal manure to an end moisture content by (a) collecting and containing a bed of manure to be dried, in a work location, over a floor of a dryer, the bed of manure having a length and a width, an air supply system being associated with the floor and being effective to release air into the bed of manure at or adjacent the floor; (b) supplying heated air through the air supply system to the bed of manure, thus to percolate the heated air upwardly through the bed of manure over substantial portions of both the length and the width of the bed of manure to be dried; (c) mixing the bed of manure to be dried while percolating the warm air upwardly through the bed of manure; (d) moving the manure progressively through the dryer whereby a relatively drier first portion of the manure is generally displaced from a relatively wetter second portion of the manure in the bed of manure; and (e) removing relatively dryer manure product of the drier first portion from the bed of manure and supplying fresh feed material to the dryer to replenish the manure in the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44-66. -66. (canceled)
Specification