Processing materials
First Claim
1. A method of conveying a material under an electron beam, the method comprising:
- exposing a biomass material to an electron beam while conveying the biomass material on a conveyor, wherein the conveyer is a vibratory conveyor wherein the electrons impinge upon a treatment zone of the vibratory conveyor, and wherein the treatment zone includes a beam dump in thermal communication with the treatment zone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of conveying a material under an electron beam, the method comprising:
exposing a biomass material to an electron beam while conveying the biomass material on a conveyor, wherein the conveyer is a vibratory conveyor wherein the electrons impinge upon a treatment zone of the vibratory conveyor, and wherein the treatment zone includes a beam dump in thermal communication with the treatment zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
14. An apparatus for irradiating a material, the apparatus comprising:
-
an electron beam irradiation device; and a vibratory conveying system, wherein the vibratory conveying system comprises a vibratory conveyor and the electrons impinge upon a treatment zone of the vibratory conveyor, and wherein the treatment zone includes a beam dump in thermal communication with the treatment zone. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification