PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING PELLETS AND PELLETS OBTAINED BY THE PROCESS

• US 20130207296A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zeta (Better World Technology Pvt. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TECH@PI
• Inventors: Etienne, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/640,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/121
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/12 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• 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

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing pellets from wet biomass residues having a high water content of between 25% and 80% comprising the steps of a) charging the homogenate of wet biomass residues into a receptacle, b) drying the wet biomass residues in a dryer and c) converting the dry biomass residues in a pelleting press comprising a steel die pierced with holes and a steel rotor comprising notched wheels made of steel, in order to obtain the pellets, said process comprising/being characterized in that a step of drying the wet biomass residues is carried out at the same time as the pellet-conversion step at a temperature between 65° C. and 95° C. in a pelleting press coupled, in a closed circuit, to a dryer with air/air exchange comprising a pelleting press/dryer communication by-pass. The invention also relates to the pellets of plant or wood origin obtained by the process described and having a compaction of greater than 750 kg/m³.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing pellets from residues of wet biomass having a high moisture ratio comprised between 25 and 80% comprising the following steps:

a) loading the homogenate of the residues of wet biomass in a receptacle,

b) drying the residues of wet biomass, and

c) transforming the dry biomass residues in a pelletizer comprising a steel matrix pierced with holes and a steel rotor comprising steel notched wheels for obtaining pellets whose moisture ratio is comprised between 5 and 15%,

characterized in that the step of drying residues of wet biomass is carried out simultaneously with the step of transformation into pellets at a temperature comprised between 65 and 95°

C. obtained by rotation of the steel notched wheels on the steel matrix in a pelletizer coupled, in closed circuit, to an air/air exchange dehydrator located downstream of the pelletizer and comprising a pelletizer-dehydrator communication by-pass.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of drying, simultaneous with the step of transforming residues into pellets in the pelletizer, is carried out with a rotor speed on the matrix comprised between 350 and 450 revolutions/minutes and a space between the rotor wheels and the matrix less than or equal to 1/10 mm.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that air/air exchange dehydrator is coupled to the pelletizer so as to lower by 8 to 15% the temperature of the incoming pellets, so as to re-inject them into the pelletizer by the communication by-pass.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix is pierced with holes having a diameter comprised between 6 and 16 mm.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor of the pelletizer is fixed and maintained by a hydraulic nut.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wet biomass is constituted of residues of plants and/or wood.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wet biomass entering the pelletizer is constituted of plant residues comprising ligneous and herbaceous plants, and in that the matrix of the pelletizer is pierced with holes having a 6 mm diameter.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wet biomass entering the pelletizer is constituted of wood residues, and in that the matrix of the pelletizer is pierced with hole having a 10 or 16 mm diameter.

9-10. -10. (canceled)