TECHNOLOGIES FOR MATERIAL SEPARATION

• US 20160250664A1
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American BioCarbon, LLC
• Original Assignee: American BioCarbon, LLC
• Inventors: Bogner, Erwin, Gobel, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/22 Revolving drums
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 15/00 Combinations of apparatus for separating solids from solids by dry methods applicable to bulk material, e.g. loose articles fit to be handled like bulk material using wet methods B03B7/00; using gas currents B07B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/02 while the mixtures fall
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/06 using revolving drums
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 7/08 using centrifugal force centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 9/02 Combinations of similar or different apparatus for separating solids from solids using gas currents
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 10/02 Expressing juice from sugar cane or similar material, e.g. sorghum saccharatum
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 10/025 Treatment of sugar cane before extraction C13B5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 10/06 Sugar-cane crushers
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 20/16 by physical means, e.g. osmosis or filtration
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 5/00 Reducing the size of material from which sugar is to be extracted for extraction of starch C08B30/02
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 5/02 Cutting sugar cane
• CPC Class Codes: C13B 5/04 Shredding sugar cane
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/00 Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement F26B13/00 takes precedence ; feed or discharge arrangements F26B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/32 the movement being in a horizontal or slightly inclined plane

Abstract

A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.

Claims

1. A method for material separation, the method comprising:

outputting a first material from a first rotary lifter;

directing a first fluid stream onto the first material as the first material moves away from the first rotary lifter such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material;

conveying the second material to a second rotary lifter;

directing the third material to a first vacuum port via the first fluid stream;

removing the third material via the first vacuum port;

outputting the second material from the second rotary lifter;

directing a second fluid stream onto the second material as the second material moves away from the second rotary lifter such that the second material is separated into a fourth material and a fifth material;

directing the fifth material to a second vacuum port via the second fluid stream;

removing the fifth material via the second vacuum port; and

outputting the fourth material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream is sourced from a fluid flow source which operates via a cyclonic separation process, wherein at least one of the first vacuum port and the second vacuum port is sourced from a suction source which operates via a reverse cyclonic separation process, and wherein the suction source is positioned downstream from the fluid flow source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rotary lifter and the second rotary lifter includes a frame and a drum coupled to the frame, wherein the drum includes an inner compartment, wherein the drum is configured to rotate in relation to the frame such that the inner compartment moves from an input position to an output position, wherein the inner compartment is configured to receive the first material when the inner compartment is positioned in the input position, wherein the inner compartment is configured to output the first material when the inner compartment is positioned in the output position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the first fluid stream and conveying the second material is substantially in one direction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

separating a sixth material into at least the first material and a seventh material based on an output of the sixth material from a rotary dryer upstream from the first rotary lifter;

conveying the first material to the first rotary lifter; and

removing the seventh material via a third vacuum port.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

conveying the sixth material into the rotary dryer through an airlock positioned at an entrance to the rotary dryer, wherein the rotary dryer rotates with respect to the airlock.

7. A method for material separation, the method comprising:

outputting a first material from a first lifter;

directing a first fluid stream onto the first material as the first material moves away from the first lifter such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first lifter is a rotary lifter.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising directing the third material to a first vacuum port via the first fluid stream.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the third material via the first vacuum port.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising conveying the second material to a second lifter.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting the second material from the second lifter.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising directing a second fluid stream onto the second material as the second material moves away from the second lifter such that the second material is separated into a fourth material and a fifth material.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising directing the fifth material to a second vacuum port via the second fluid stream.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing the fifth material via the second vacuum port.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting the fourth material.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising outputting the fourth material.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the first fluid stream is sourced from a fluid flow source which operates via a cyclonic separation process, wherein the first vacuum port is sourced from a suction source which operates via a reverse cyclonic separation process, and wherein the suction source is positioned downstream from the fluid flow source.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the first rotary lifter includes a frame and a drum coupled to the frame, wherein the drum includes an inner compartment, wherein the drum is configured to rotate in relation to the frame such that the inner compartment moves from an input position to an output position, wherein the inner compartment is configured to receive the first material when the inner compartment is positioned in the input position, wherein the inner compartment is configured to output the first material when the inner compartment is positioned in the output position.

20. The method of claim 7, further comprising conveying the second material to a second lifter.

21. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

separating a fourth material into at least the first material and a fifth material based on an output of the fourth material from a rotary dryer upstream from the first lifter;

conveying the first material to the first lifter.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

separating a fourth material into at least the first material and a fifth material based on an output of the fourth material from a rotary dryer upstream from the first lifter;

conveying the first material to the first lifter; and

removing the fifth material via a second vacuum port.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

conveying the fourth material into the rotary dryer through an airlock positioned at an entrance to the rotary dryer, wherein the rotary dryer rotates with respect to the airlock.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

conveying the fourth material into the rotary dryer through an airlock positioned at an entrance to the rotary dryer, wherein the rotary dryer rotates with respect to the airlock.