Modular biomass treatment unit
First Claim
1. A modular biomass treatment unit comprising:
- a first module comprising a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source;
wherein the pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical;
wherein the first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source;
a second module comprising a reactor and a second frame for transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source;
wherein the reactor is operable to deoxygenate the plurality of solid biomass particles, to produce a liquefied product comprising a biocrude;
wherein the second frame supports the reactor during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source;
a third module comprising a second reactor and a third frame for transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source;
wherein the second reactor is operable to refine the biocrude to produce a refined product, deoxygenate remaining solid biomass to produce additional liquefied product, or both refine the biocrude and deoxygenate remaining solid biomass;
wherein the third frame supports the second reactor during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular biomass treatment unit includes a first module having a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source. The pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical. The first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. The modular biomass treatment unit can also include additional modules each comprising a reactor, a separator, and a frame for transportation to and operation at a site such as the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A modular biomass treatment unit comprising:
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a first module comprising a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source; wherein the pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; wherein the first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source; a second module comprising a reactor and a second frame for transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source; wherein the reactor is operable to deoxygenate the plurality of solid biomass particles, to produce a liquefied product comprising a biocrude; wherein the second frame supports the reactor during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source; a third module comprising a second reactor and a third frame for transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source; wherein the second reactor is operable to refine the biocrude to produce a refined product, deoxygenate remaining solid biomass to produce additional liquefied product, or both refine the biocrude and deoxygenate remaining solid biomass; wherein the third frame supports the second reactor during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating solid biomass at one or more sites adjacent to a solid biomass growth source comprising:
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receiving one or more first modules, each module comprising a pretreater supported by a frame, at one or more sites adjacent to a solid biomass growth source; connecting the one or more first modules to utilities at the one or more sites adjacent to the solid biomass growth source; processing solid biomass from the solid biomass growth source in the one or more pretreaters supported by first frames, to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; and wherein each pretreater comprises a dryer adapted for dewatering and torrifying the solid biomass; and
further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of;a) a contactor adapted for one or more of forming a mechano-chemical interaction between at least a portion of the solid biomass particles and a catalyst, and impregnating at least a portion of the solid biomass particles with a catalyst; b) a demineralizer adapted for removing minerals from the solid biomass; and c) both a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for treating solid biomass at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source comprising:
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receiving a first module comprising a pretreater supported by a first frame at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source; connecting the first module to utilities at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growthsource; processing solid biomass from the solid biomass growth source in the pretreater supported by the first frame, to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; and wherein the pretreater comprises a dryer adapted for dewatering and torrifying the solid biomass; and
further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of;a) a contactor adapted for one or more of forming a mechano-chemical interaction between at least a portion of the solid biomass particles and a catalyst, and impregnating at least a portion of the solid biomass particles with a catalyst; b) a demineralizer adapted for removing minerals from the solid biomass; and c) both a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for treating solid biomass from a solid biomass growth source comprising:
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receiving a first module comprising a pretreater supported by a first frame at a first site adjacent to a first sector of a solid biomass growth source; connecting the first module to utilities at the first site; processing solid biomass from the first sector in the pretreater to produce a first plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; receiving the first module at a second site adjacent to a second sector of the solid biomass growth source; connecting the first module to utilities at the second site; processing solid biomass from the second sector in the pretreater to produce a second plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; and wherein the pretreater comprises a dryer adapted for dewatering and torrifying the solid biomass; and
further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of;a) a contactor adapted for one or more of forming a mechano-chemical interaction between at least a portion of the solid biomass particles and a catalyst, and impregnating at least a portion of the solid biomass particles with a catalyst; b) a demineralizer adapted for removing minerals from the solid biomass; and c) both a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for treating solid biomass from a solid biomass growth source comprising:
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receiving a first module comprising a first pretreater supported by a first frame at a first site adjacent to a first sector of a solid biomass growth source; connecting the first module to utilities at the first site; processing solid biomass from the first sector in the first pretreater, to produce a first plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; receiving a second module comprising a second pretreater supported by a second frame at a second site adjacent to a second sector of the solid biomass growth source; connecting the second module to utilities at the second site; processing solid biomass from the second sector in the second pretreater, to produce a second plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical; and receiving the first and second plurality of solid biomass particles in a reactor, deoxygenating the first and second plurality of solid biomass particles in the reactor to produce a liquefied product; wherein the first and second pretreaters each comprise a dryer adapted for dewatering and torrifying the solid biomass; and
further comprise a component selected from the group consisting of;a) a contactor adapted for one or more of forming a mechano-chemical interaction between at least a portion of the solid biomass particles and a catalyst, and impregnating at least a portion of the solid biomass particles with a catalyst; b) a demineralizer adapted for removing minerals from the solid biomass; and c) both a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A water-based biomass treatment unit for converting algae or other aquatic biomass into a biocrude at a site adjacent to an aquatic biomass source comprising:
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a first module comprising a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to an aquatic biomass source; wherein the pretreater is operable to process aquatic biomass to produce an aquatic biomass preparation for conversion into a biocrude; wherein the first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the aquatic biomass source; a second module comprising a reactor, a separator, and a second frame for transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the aquatic biomass source; wherein the reactor is operable to deoxygenate the aquatic biomass preparation, to produce a liquefied product; wherein the separator is operable to separate a biocrude for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical from the liquefied product; and wherein the second frame supports the reactor and separator during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the aquatic biomass source. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A battlefield-based biomass treatment unit for converting biomass into a biocrude at a site adjacent to a battlefield comprising:
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a first module comprising a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a battlefield; wherein the pretreater is operable to process biomass to produce a biomass preparation for conversion into a biocrude; wherein the pretreater comprises a dryer adapted for dewatering and torrifying the solid biomass; and
further comprises a component selected from the Group consisting of;a) a contactor adapted for one or more of forming a mechano-chemical interaction between at least a portion of the solid biomass particles and a catalyst, and impregnating at least a portion of the solid biomass particles with a catalyst; b) a demineralizer adapted for removing minerals from the solid biomass; and c) both a) and b); wherein the first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the battlefield; a second module comprising a reactor, a separator, and a second frame for transportation to and operation at the battlefield; wherein the reactor is operable to deoxygenate the biomass preparation, to produce a liquefied product; wherein the separator is operable to separate a biocrude for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical from the liquefied product; and wherein the second frame supports the reactor and separator during transportation to and operation at the battlefield. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification