Biomass converters and processes

• US 7,891,114 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecocombustion Energy Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Skill Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Lasonde, Wallace R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/069,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 343/31, 343/32, 343/37, 343/44, 343/45, 343/51, 110/224, 110/233, 210/605, 435/3, 244/101.8
• US Class Current: 34/331
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/10 by pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/13 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/20 from animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/38 Gas flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/939 Means for mixing or moving with predetermined or fixed paths, e.g. rails or cables
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 3/00 Fertilisers from human or animal excrements, e.g. manure
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 3/06 Apparatus for the manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 1/00 Preliminary treatment of solid materials or objects to facilitate drying , e.g. mixing or backmixing the materials to be dried with predominantly dry solids F26B5/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 2200/18 Sludges, e.g. sewage, waste, industrial processes, cooling towers
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 23/028 using solid fuel; burning the dried product
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/04 Agitating, stirring, or scraping devices arrangement of doctor blades F26B17/286
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/10 in the open air; in pans or tables in rooms; Drying stacks of loose material on floors which may be covered, e.g. by a roof ventilating means of stacks for agricultural produce A01F25/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/20 Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/12 Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

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.

Claims

1. A method of processing relatively wet bio-mass material, comprising:

(a) drying a mass of wet bio-mass material by

(i) providing relatively wet bio-mass material to be dried, as a bed of such bio-mass material over a floor of a dryer, the dryer having an inlet and an outlet, an air supply system being associated with the dryer and releasing air into the bed of bio-mass material,

(ii) providing a supply of heated air through the air supply system to the bed of bio-mass material, thus to percolate the heated air through the bed of bio-mass material such that the air emerges from the bed of bio-mass material,

(iii) mixing the bed of bio-mass material by applying mixing apparatus to the bed of bio-mass material while the heated air is percolating upwardly through the bed of bio-mass material, and;

(iv) moving the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer whereby a relatively drier, solid-phase, 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;

(b) removing at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, first portion of bio-mass material as product from the dryer;

(c) supplying at least some of the first portion of the dried, solid-phase, bio-mass material, which has been removed from the dryer, to a combustor;

(d) burning, in the combustor, the solid-phase bio-mass material supplied from the dryer, to produce heat energy; and

(e) converting at least a portion of the heat energy, produced in the combustor, to electrical energy.

2. A method as in claim 1, the dryer comprising a receptacle having upstanding walls, the method including containing the bio-mass material in the receptacle while supplying the heated air, moving the mixing apparatus about the bed of bio-mass material thereby periodically mixing first respective portions of the bio-mass material, and periodically moving second respective portions of the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer.

3. A method as in claim 1, the moving of bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer comprising moving the bio-mass material along a generally horizontal path from proximate the inlet of the dryer where the bio-mass material is relatively wetter, toward the outlet of the dryer where the bio-mass material is relatively drier, thereby to produce the relatively drier bio-mass material product.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising controlling air temperature and flow rate of air flowing through the bed of bio-mass material so as to control the temperature in the bed, thereby to minimize the production of combustible vapors in the dryer and to maintain the temperature of the bio-mass material below a combustion temperature of the bed of bio-mass material.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sensing a moisture level of the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, and adjusting one or more of air temperature of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, mass flow rate of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, or frequency or rate of mixing of the bio-mass material in the dryer, in response to the sensed moisture level in the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, thereby to maintain an aerobic environment in the dryer.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising establishing at least first and second different drying zones in the bed of bio-mass material, and adjusting at least one of air temperature and air flow rate of the heated air to one of the first and second drying zones while not making the same such adjustment to the other of the first and second drying zones.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein combustion in the combustor is effective to combust at least about 95 percent of the dry basis weight of the solid phase bio-mass material product provided to the combustor from the dryer.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein bio-mass material to be dried is collected, and maintained in a retention system, under substantially aerobic conditions prior to being introduced into the dryer.

10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising continuously agitating the bio-mass material in the retention system.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the bio-mass material received at the dryer is about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight water and the content of the solid-phase bio-mass material removed from the dryer is about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water.

12. A method as in claim 1, further comprising maintaining the bed of bio-mass material at a temperature, and providing sufficient air flow to the bed of bio-mass material, to maintain a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material.

13. A method as in claim 1 wherein the converting of heat energy produced in the combustor to electrical energy comprises generating steam in a boiler using the heat energy output from the combustor and directing the steam output from the boiler at a first pressure to a steam turbine having an electrical generator coupled to an output shaft of such steam turbine.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising supplying steam output from such turbine at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the air supply system and thus heating the air supplied to the dryer.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein enough steam is provided by the boiler to generate electricity sufficient to satisfy electrical power demand required to power the dryer and the combustor, and to provide all of the heat required in the dryer.

16. A method as in claim 13, further comprising venting, to atmosphere, the air emerging from the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer.

17. A method as in claim 1 wherein the mixing comprises mixing a relatively small portion of the bio-mass material at any given time, and moving the mixing apparatus throughout the bed of bio-mass material thereby to periodically bring the mixing apparatus into mixing contact with substantially all portions of the bed of bio-mass material.

18. A method as in claim 1, further comprising recycling residual heat from the electrical energy converting process and thereby providing heat to the air supply system.

19. A method as in claim 1, further comprising supplying fresh bio-mass feed material to the dryer to replenish the bio-mass material being removed from the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

21. A method of processing relatively wet bio-mass material, comprising:

(a) drying a mass of wet bio-mass material by

(i) providing relatively wet bio-mass material to be dried, as a bed of such bio-mass material over a floor of a dryer, the dryer having length and width dimensions, an inlet and an outlet, a stationary air supply system extending substantially the full length and the full width of the dryer at or proximate the floor of the dryer, such bed of bio-mass material having a top and a bottom, whereby the stationary air supply system is at or proximate the bottom of the bed of bio-mass material,

(ii) providing a supply of heated air through the stationary air supply system to the bed of bio-mass material at a low pressure such that the heated air percolates through the bed of bio-mass material at such a rate that a flow of high-humidity air is continually emerging from the bed of bio-mass material,

(iii) providing a supply of relatively ambient air at the bed of bio-mass material, entraining the high-humidity air in the relatively ambient air and exhausting the so-entrained high-humidity air back to the ambient atmosphere, thereby continuously removing the high-humidity air which is emerging from the bed,

(iv) mixing the bed of bio-mass material by applying mixing apparatus to the bed of bio-mass material while the heated air is percolating upwardly through the bed of bio-mass material, and

(v) moving the bio-mass material progressively through the dryer whereby a relatively drier, solid-phase, 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;

(b) removing at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, first portion of bio-mass material as product from the dryer;

(c) burning a substantial portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material in a combustor to produce heat energy; and

(d) converting at least a portion of the heat energy, produced in the combustor, to electrical energy.

22. A method as in claim 21, the dryer comprising a receptacle having upstanding walls, the method including containing the bio-mass material in the receptacle while supplying the heated air, moving the mixing apparatus about the bed of bio-mass material thereby periodically mixing first respective portions of the bio-mass material, and periodically moving second respective portions of the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer.

23. A method as in claim 21, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

24. A method as in claim 21, further comprising controlling air temperature and flow rate of air flowing through the bed of bio-mass material so as to control the temperature of the bed, thereby to minimize the production of combustible vapors in the dryer and to maintain the temperature of the bio-mass material below a combustion temperature of the bed of bio-mass material.

25. A method as in claim 21, further comprising sensing a moisture level of the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, and adjusting one or more of air temperature of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, mass flow rate of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, or frequency or rate of mixing of the bio-mass material in the dryer, in response to the sensed moisture level in the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, thereby to maintain an aerobic environment in the dryer.

26. A method as in claim 21 wherein bio-mass material to be dried is collected, and maintained in a retention system under substantially aerobic conditions prior to being introduced into the dryer.

27. A method as in claim 26, further comprising continually agitating the bio-mass material in the retention system.

28. A method as in claim 21 wherein the bio-mass material enters the dryer at about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight water and is removed from the dryer at about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water.

29. A method as in claim 21, further comprising maintaining the bed of bio-mass material at a temperature, and providing sufficient air flow to the bed of bio-mass material, to maintain a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material.

30. A method as in claim 21 wherein the converting of heat energy produced in the combustor to electrical energy comprises generating steam in a boiler using the heat energy output from the combustor and directing the steam output from the boiler at a first pressure to a steam turbine having an electrical generator coupled to an output shaft of such steam turbine, and further comprising supplying steam, created in the boiler, at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the air supply system and thus heating the air supplied to the dryer.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein enough steam is provided by the boiler, from combustion of the bio-mass material removed from the dryer, to generate enough electricity to satisfy electrical power demand required to power the dryer and the combustor, and to provide all of the heat required in the dryer.

32. A method as in claim 21, further comprising venting, to atmosphere, the high-humidity air emerging from the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer.

33. A method as in claim 21, further comprising recycling residual heat from the energy-converting process and thereby providing heat to the air supply system.

34. A method as in claim 21, further comprising supplying fresh bio-mass feed material to the dryer to replenish the bio-mass material being removed from the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process.

35. A method of processing relatively wet bio-mass material, comprising:

(a) drying a mass of wet bio-mass material by

(i) providing relatively wet bio-mass material to be dried, as a bed of such bio-mass material over a floor of a dryer, the dryer having an inlet and an outlet, an air supply system being associated with the dryer and releasing air into the bed of bio-mass material,

(ii) providing a supply of heated air through the air supply system to the bed of bio-mass material at a low pressure such that the heated air percolates through the bed of bio-mass material at such a rate that a flow of high-humidity air is continually emerging from the bed of bio-mass material,

(iii) mixing the bed of bio-mass material by applying mixing apparatus to the bed of bio-mass material and thereby mixing a relatively small portion of the bio-mass material at any given time, and moving the mixing apparatus throughout the bed of bio-mass material thereby to periodically bring the mixing apparatus into mixing contact with substantially all portions of the bed of bio-mass material, and

(iv) moving the bio-mass material progressively through the dryer whereby a relatively drier, solid phase, 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;

(b) removing at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, first portion of bio-mass material as product from the dryer and supplying at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material, removed from the dryer, to a combustor;

(c) burning the supplied portion of the relatively drier bio-mass material in the combustor and thereby producing heat energy; and

(d) converting at least a portion of the heat energy to electrical energy.

36. A method as in claim 35, further comprising venting, to atmosphere, the high-humidity air emerging from the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer.

37. A method as in claim 35, the dryer comprising a receptacle having upstanding walls, the method including containing the bio-mass material in the receptacle while supplying the heated air, moving the mixing apparatus about the bed of bio-mass material thereby periodically mixing first respective portions of the bio-mass material, and periodically moving second respective portions of the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer.

38. A method as in claim 35, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

39. A method as in claim 35, further comprising controlling air temperature and flow rate of air flowing through the bed of bio-mass material so as to minimize the production of combustible vapors in the dryer and to maintain the temperature of the bio-mass material below a combustion temperature of the bed of bio-mass material.

40. A method as in claim 35, further comprising sensing a moisture level of the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, and adjusting one or more of air temperature of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, mass flow rate of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, or frequency or rate of mixing of the bio-mass material in the dryer, in response to the sensed moisture level in the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, thereby to maintain an aerobic environment in the dryer.

41. A method as in claim 35 wherein bio-mass material to be dried is collected, and maintained in a retention system under substantially aerobic conditions prior to being introduced into the dryer.

42. A method as in claim 41, further comprising continually agitating the bio-mass material in the retention system.

43. A method as in claim 35 wherein the bio-mass material enters the dryer at about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight water and is removed from the dryer at about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water.

44. A method as in claim 35, further comprising maintaining the bed of bio-mass material at a temperature, and providing sufficient air flow to the bed of bio-mass material, to maintain a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material.

45. A method as in claim 35 wherein the converting of heat energy produced in the combustor to electrical energy comprises generating steam in a boiler using the heat energy output from the combustor and directing the steam output from the boiler at a first pressure to a steam turbine having an electrical generator coupled to an output shaft of such steam turbine, and further comprising supplying steam, created in the boiler, at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the air supply system and thus heating the air supplied to the dryer.

46. A method as in claim 45 wherein enough steam is provided by the boiler, from combustion of the bio-mass material removed from the dryer, to generate enough electricity to satisfy electrical power demand required to power the dryer and the combustor, and to provide all of the heat required in the dryer.

47. A method as in claim 35, further comprising recycling residual heat from the energy-converting process and thereby providing heat to the air supply system.

48. A method as in claim 35, further comprising supplying fresh bio-mass feed material to the dryer to replenish the bio-mass material being removed from the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process.

49. A method of processing relatively wet bio-mass material, comprising:

(a) drying a mass of wet bio-mass material by

(i) providing relatively wet bio-mass material to be dried, as a bed of such bio-mass material over a floor of a dryer, the dryer having an inlet and an outlet, an air supply system being associated with the dryer and releasing air into the bed of bio-mass material,

(ii) providing a supply of heated air through the air supply system to the bed of bio-mass material, thus to percolate the heated air through the bed of bio-mass material such that a flow of high-humidity air is continually emerging from the bed of bio-mass material,

(iii) mixing the bed of bio-mass material by applying mixing apparatus to the bed of bio-mass material while the heated air is percolating through the bed of bio-mass material, and;

(iv) moving the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer, from the inlet of the dryer to the exit of the dryer, whereby a relatively drier, solid-phase, 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;

(b) removing at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, first portion of bio-mass material as product from the dryer and supplying a first portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material, removed from the dryer, to a combustor;

(c) recycling a second portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material, removed from the dryer, back to the inlet of the dryer;

(d) burning, in the combustor, the first portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material, supplied from the dryer, to produce heat energy; and

(e) converting at least a portion of the heat energy, produced in the combustor, to electrical energy.

50. A method as in claim 49, further comprising venting, to atmosphere, the high-humidity air emerging from the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer.

51. A method as in claim 49, further comprising recycling residual heat from the electrical energy converting process and thereby providing heat to the air supply system.

52. A method as in claim 49, further comprising supplying fresh bio-mass feed material to the dryer to replenish the bio-mass material being removed from the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process.

53. A method as in claim 49, the dryer comprising a receptacle having upstanding walls, the method including containing the bio-mass material in the receptacle while supplying the heated air, moving the mixing apparatus about the bed of bio-mass material thereby periodically mixing first respective portions of the bio-mass material, and periodically moving second respective portions of the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer.

54. A method as in claim 49, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

55. A method as in claim 49, further comprising controlling air temperature and flow rate of air flowing through the bed of bio-mass material so as to minimize the production of combustible vapors in the dryer and to maintain the temperature of the bio-mass material below a combustion temperature of the bed of bio-mass material.

56. A method as in claim 49, further comprising sensing a moisture level of the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, and adjusting one or more of air temperature of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, mass flow rate of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, or frequency or rate of mixing of the bio-mass material in the dryer, in response to the sensed moisture level in the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, thereby to maintain an aerobic environment in the dryer.

57. A method as in claim 49 wherein bio-mass material to be dried is collected, and maintained in a retention system under substantially aerobic conditions prior to being introduced into the dryer.

58. A method as in claim 57, further comprising continually agitating the bio-mass material in the retention system.

59. A method as in claim 49 wherein the bio-mass material enters the dryer at about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight water and is removed from the dryer at about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water.

60. A method as in claim 49, further comprising maintaining the bed of bio-mass material at a temperature, and providing sufficient air flow to the bed of bio-mass material, to maintain a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material.

61. A method as in claim 49 wherein the converting of heat energy produced in the combustor to electrical energy comprises generating steam in a boiler using the heat energy output from the combustor and directing the steam output from the boiler at a first pressure to a steam turbine having an electrical generator coupled to an output shaft of such steam turbine, and further comprising supplying steam, created in the boiler, at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the air supply system and thus heating the air supplied to the dryer.

62. A method as in claim 61 wherein enough steam is provided by the boiler, from combustion of the bio-mass material removed from the dryer, to generate enough electricity to satisfy electrical power demand required to power the dryer and the combustor, and to provide all of the heat required in the dryer.

63. A method of processing relatively wet bio-mass material, comprising:

(a) drying a mass of web bio-mass material by

(i) providing relatively wet bio-mass material to be dried as a bed of such bio-mass material on a floor of a dryer, the dryer having an inlet and an outlet, an air supply system being associated with the dryer and releasing air into the bed of bio-mass material,

(ii) providing a supply of heated air through the air supply system to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, at low air pressure, at a temperature and at sufficient air flow rate that the heated air percolates through the bed of bio-mass material and emerges, as high humidity air, from the bed of bio-mass material, while maintaining a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material; and

(b) removing a relatively drier, solid-phase, portion of bio-mass material as product from the dryer and supplying at least a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material, removed from the dryer, to a combustor;

(c) burning the supplied portion of the relatively dryer bio-mass material in the combustor and thereby producing heat energy;

(d) converting a first portion of the heat energy, produced in the combustor, to electrical energy in a generator; and

(e) supplying a second portion of the heat energy to the air supply system in the dryer,

wherein the quantity of electricity produced by the generator, along with the second portion of heat energy supplied to the air supply system in the dryer, is sufficient to provide all the heat required in the dryer and all of the electrical energy required to power the dryer and the combustor.

64. A method as in claim 63, further comprising venting, to atmosphere, the high humidity air emerging from the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer.

65. A method as in claim 63, further comprising supplying fresh bio-mass feed material to the dryer to replenish the bio-mass material being removed from the dryer, thereby to operate a relatively continuous drying process.

66. A method as in claim 63, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

67. A method as in claim 63, the dryer comprising a receptacle having upstanding walls, the method including containing the bio-mass material in the receptacle while supplying the heated air, moving the mixing apparatus about the bed of bio-mass material thereby periodically mixing first respective portions of the bio-mass material, and periodically moving second respective portions of the bio-mass material progressively toward the outlet of the dryer.

68. A method as in claim 63, further comprising recycling a portion of the relatively drier, solid-phase, bio-mass material product to the inlet of the dryer.

69. A method as in claim 63, further comprising controlling air temperature and flow rate of air flowing through the bed of bio-mass material so as to minimize the production of combustible vapors in the dryer and to maintain the temperature of the bio-mass material below a combustion temperature of the bed of bio-mass material.

70. A method as in claim 63, further comprising sensing a moisture level of the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, and adjusting one or more of air temperature of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, mass flow rate of heated air being supplied to the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, or frequency or rate of mixing of the bio-mass material in the dryer, in response to the sensed moisture level in the bed of bio-mass material in the dryer, thereby to maintain an aerobic environment in the dryer.

71. A method as in claim 63 wherein bio-mass material to be dried is collected, and maintained in a retention system under substantially aerobic conditions prior to being introduced into the dryer.

72. A method as in claim 71, further comprising continually agitating the bio-mass material in the retention system.

73. A method as in claim 63 wherein the bio-mass material enters the dryer at about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight water and is removed from the dryer at about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water.

74. A method as in claim 63, further comprising maintaining the bed of bio-mass material at a temperature, and providing sufficient air flow to the bed of bio-mass material, to maintain a substantially aerobic environment in the bed of bio-mass material.

75. A method as in claim 63 wherein the converting of heat energy produced in the combustor to electrical energy comprises generating steam in a boiler using the heat energy output from the combustor and directing the steam output from the boiler at a first pressure to a steam turbine having an electrical generator coupled to an output shaft of such steam turbine, and further comprising supplying steam, created in the boiler, at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the air supply system and thus heating the air supplied to the dryer.

76. A method as in claim 75 wherein enough steam is provided by the boiler, from combustion of the bio-mass material removed from the dryer, to generate enough electricity to satisfy the electrical power demand required to power the dryer and the combustor, and to provide all of the heat required in the dryer.

77. A method as in claim 63, further comprising recycling residual heat from the energy-converting process and thereby providing heat to the air supply system.