PROCESS VESSEL FOR FORMING FUEL COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20190308159A1
• Filed: 04/03/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecogensus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ecogensus, LLC
• Inventors: Ostvik, Bjornulf, Lukas, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,618,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2035/99 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0727 having stirring elements connected to the stirrer shaft each by two or more radial rods, e.g. the shaft being interrupted between the rods, or of crankshaft type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/708 characterised by the shape of the stirrer as a whole, i.e. of Z- or S-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754551 using helical screws
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/92 for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0066 Stirrers mixing per se B01F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/20 in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00085 Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/182 horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1943 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/3188 Extruding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/10 moved by stirrers or by rotary drums or rotary receptacles or endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 7/10 with conveyor-screws
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/005 Rotary drum or kiln gasifiers
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/007 Screw type gasifiers
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/74 Construction of shells or jackets
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/06 Heat exchange, direct or indirect
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/24 Mixing, stirring of fuel components
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/50 Screws or pistons for moving along solids
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/565 Apparatus size
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/06 : Methods of shaping, e.g. pelletizing or briquetting mechanical part of pressing briquettes B30B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/445 : Agricultural waste, e.g. corn crops, grass clippings, nut shells or oil pressing residues
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/46 : on sewage, house, or town refuse C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/48 : on industrial residues and waste materials C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 9/083 : Torrefaction
• 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

This disclosure relates to a processing that includes a first shell and a second shell disposed within the first shell. The second shell includes a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end. The second shell also defines a cavity and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis includes a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A vessel comprising:

a first shell; and

a second shell disposed within the first shell, the second shell comprising a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end, the second shell defining a cavity and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, a cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis including;

a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature; and

a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature;

wherein the first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.

2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein an annular enclosure is defined between the first shell and the second shell.

3. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising a support structure disposed within the annular enclosure, wherein portions of the support structure extend transverse to the longitudinal axis and extending circumferentially about a portion of an exterior surface of the second shell.

4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a heating structure coupled to the wall of the second shell.

5. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising an insulating material disposed within the annular enclosure.

6. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising a pump operatively coupled to the first and second shells, wherein the pump is configured to reduce a pressure within the cavity, the annular enclosure, or both.

7. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the vessel is configured so that, during use of the pump, the cavity has a first pressure and the annular enclosure has a second pressure, and the first and second pressures are within a 10% deviation.

8. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the cavity has a first pressure and the annular enclosure has a second pressure, wherein a pressure differential between the first and second pressures is no greater than 5 pounds per square inch.

9. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the first shell comprises a first outer end, a second outer end, and a first shell wall defining a cylindrical shape that extends between the first outer end and the second outer end.

10. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis comprises a third arcuate inner wall portion and a fourth arcuate inner wall portion.

11. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the second arcuate inner wall portion extends between the third arcuate inner wall portion and the fourth arcuate inner wall portion.

12. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the third arcuate inner wall portion has a third radius of curvature, and the fourth arcuate inner wall portion has a fourth radius of curvature that is identical to the third radius of curvature.

13. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the third arcuate inner wall portion and the fourth arcuate inner wall portion each have a radius of curvature that is larger than the second radius of curvature of the second arcuate inner wall portion.

14. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the second arcuate inner wall portion forms a channel between curved surfaces formed by the third arcuate inner wall portion and the fourth arcuate inner wall portion.

15. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

an extruder element disposed in the cavity of the second shell;

a first mixer disposed in the cavity of the second shell; and

a second mixer disposed in the cavity of the second shell;

wherein the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the extruder element defines a second longitudinal axis, the first mixer defines a third longitudinal axis, and the second mixer defines a fourth longitudinal axis.

16. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the extruder element is disposed adjacent to the second arcuate inner wall portion, the first mixer is disposed adjacent to the third arcuate inner wall portion, and the second mixer is disposed adjacent to the fourth arcuate inner wall portion.

17. The vessel of claim 15, wherein the first longitudinal axis is parallel to the second longitudinal axis, the third longitudinal axis, the fourth longitudinal axis, or combinations thereof.

18. The vessel of claim 15, wherein the second, third, and fourth longitudinal axes form a triangular geometry in the cross section of the second shell.

19. A system comprising:

a composition; and

a process vessel configured for processing the composition, the process vessel comprising;

an inlet opening;

an outlet opening;

a first shell; and

a second shell disposed within the first shell, the second shell comprising a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end, the second shell defining a cavity to hold the composition during processing and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, a cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis including;

a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature, and

a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature,

wherein the first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature;

wherein the process vessel is configured to form, from the composition, a solid fuel composition comprising an energy content of at least about 8,000 British thermal units per pound.

20. A method comprising:

heating a composition within a process vessel, the process vessel comprising;

a first shell; and

a second shell disposed within the first shell, the second shell comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

a wall extending between the first end and the second end; and

a heating structure coupled to the wall, the heating structure configured to heat the wall, wherein the second shell defines a cavity to hold the composition during processing and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, a cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis comprising a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature;

mixing the composition with first and second mixers disposed in the cavity of the second shell;

extruding the composition with an extruder element disposed in the cavity of the second shell; and

forming, from the composition, a solid fuel composition comprising an energy content of at least about 8,000 British thermal units per pound.