Method for drying and torrefaction
First Claim
1. A method for torrefaction of water-containing cellulose material within an inert atmosphere, said method comprising:
- cascading cellulose material between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within a plurality of processing zones provided within a material processing chamber,heating said cellulose material within said material processing chamber to generate steam from the contained water in said cellulose material,discharging said steam generated from said cellulose material from said material processing chamber, andrecycling at least a portion of said steam to at least one of said processing zones within said material processing chamber, wherein said steam at least partially provides an inert atmosphere within said material processing chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for torrefaction of water-containing cellulose material within an inert atmosphere, said method comprising:
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cascading cellulose material between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within a plurality of processing zones provided within a material processing chamber, heating said cellulose material within said material processing chamber to generate steam from the contained water in said cellulose material, discharging said steam generated from said cellulose material from said material processing chamber, and recycling at least a portion of said steam to at least one of said processing zones within said material processing chamber, wherein said steam at least partially provides an inert atmosphere within said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for torrefaction of water-containing material within an inert atmosphere, said method comprising:
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passing material to be torrefied between a plurality of material supports within a material processing chamber, heating said material within said material processing chamber to generate steam from the contained water within said material being processed, exhausting said steam from said material processing chamber, heating said steam exhausted from said material processing chamber, returning at least a portion of the heated steam to said material processing chamber, wherein said steam at least partially creates an inert atmosphere within said material processing chamber, and discharging torrefied material from said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for processing material, comprising:
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feeding material into a material processing chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rotatable assembly extending between said upper portion and said lower portion supporting a plurality of vertically displaced material supports; applying heat within the upper portion of said material processing chamber for drying said material; collecting exhaust from said material processing chamber; recycling the collected exhaust to said processing chamber; torrefying said material within the lower portion of said material processing chamber; and discharging said material from said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for torrefaction of water-containing cellulose material within an inert atmosphere, said method comprising:
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cascading cellulose material between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within a plurality of processing zones provided within a material processing chamber, heating said cellulose material within said material processing chamber to generate steam from the contained water in said cellulose material, and discharging said steam generated from said cellulose material from said material processing chamber, wherein said steam at least partially provides an inert atmosphere within said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for torrefaction of water-containing material within an inert atmosphere, said method comprising:
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passing material to be torrefied between a plurality of material supports within a material processing chamber, heating said material within said material processing chamber to generate steam from the contained water within said material being processed, maintaining a quantity of said steam in said material processing chamber for at least partially creating an inert atmosphere within said material processing chamber, and discharging torrefied material from said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for torrefying material, comprising:
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feeding material to be torrefied into a material processing chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rotatable assembly extending between said upper portion and said lower portion supporting a plurality of vertically displaced material supports; applying heat within the upper portion of said material processing chamber for drying said material; creating steam from heating said material in said material processing chamber; torrefying said material within the lower portion of said material processing chamber; and discharging said material from said material processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for torrefying material, comprising:
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feeding material to be torrified to a material processing chamber; heating the material within the processing chamber to generate exhaust gases including steam to be discharged therefrom; creating heated gases by combustion of at least a portion of the exhaust gases discharged from the processing chamber; heating at least a portion of the steam discharged from the processing chamber using the heated gases; and recycling at least a portion of the heated steam to the processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification