Carbon-based durable goods and renewable fuel from biomass waste dissociation

• US 8,318,997 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US13/027,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 585/240, 585/242, 422/186, 422/186.3, 201/7, 201/21, 201/30, 202/96, 202/117, 202/118
• US Class Current: 585/240
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/1812 Tubular reactors
• 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 2219/187 inclined at an angle to the horizontal or to the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0266 containing a decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/04 containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0465 Composition of the impurity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0485 the impurity being a sulfur compound
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0811 by combustion of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0822 the fuel containing hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0872 Methods of cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2200/158 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0909 Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1246 by external or indirect heating
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1681 with biological plants, e.g. involving bacteria, algae, fungi
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/007 Screw type gasifiers
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/10 : using external heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 : Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 : by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 : Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00613 : Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for generating renewable energy from biomass waste while sequestering carbon. In one aspect, a method performed by a reactor to dissociate raw biomass waste into a renewable source energy or a carbon byproduct or both includes receiving the raw biomass waste that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction. Waste heat is recovered from an external heat source to heat the received raw biomass waste. The heated raw biomass waste is dissociated to produce the renewable fuel, carbon byproduct or both. The dissociating includes compacting the heated raw biomass waste, generating heat from an internal heat source, and applying the generated heat to the compacted biomass waste under pressure.

Claims

1. A method performed by a reactor to dissociate raw biomass waste into a renewable source energy or a durable carbon byproduct or both, the method comprising:

receiving the raw biomass waste that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction;

recovering waste heat from an external heat source to heat the received raw biomass waste; and

dissociating the heated raw biomass waste at conditions wherein char is not produced to produce the renewable fuel, durable carbon byproduct without char or both, the dissociating comprising

compacting the heated raw biomass waste,

generating heat from an internal heat source, and

applying the generated heat to the compacted biomass waste under pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein recovering the waste heat comprises at least one of:

recovering heat rejected from an engine, and

generating heat from a renewable energy generator comprising at least one of a wind energy generator, a solar energy generator, an energy generator from running water and a geothermal energy generator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

advancing the compacted biomass waste towards a dissociation zone for dissociating the compacted biomass waste; and

removing moisture and air from the advancing compacted biomass waste.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein removing the moisture and air comprises:

extruding the compacted biomass waste through a confined space to physically squeeze the moisture and air out.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forcing the produced renewable fuel or carbon byproduct or both in a counter-flow direction from the advancing compacted biomass waste; and

transferring heat from the produced renewable energy, or carbon byproduct or both that travel in the counter-flow direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the renewable fuel comprises at least one of hydrocarbon, alcohol, ammonia, and hydrogen, and

wherein the carbon byproduct comprises at least one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

producing a durable good using the carbon produced from the biomass waste.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises at least one of methane and ethane;

and

wherein the alcohol comprises at least one of methanol and ethanol.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

separating the hydrocarbon into hydrogen and carbon.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

producing a durable good using the carbon produced from the biomass waste.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the raw biomass waste comprises organic material containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen obtained in response to photosynthesis.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a catalyst to facilitate formation of the renewable energy comprising a hydrocarbon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one of, chromium, ceramics with rare earth constituents, a platinum metal group, nobleized nickel, and intermetallics of transition metals.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass waste comprises at least one of glucose, lignin, and cellulosic feedstock.

15. A system for dissociation of raw biomass waste into a renewable fuel or a durable carbon byproduct or both, the system comprising:

a hopper to receive the raw biomass waste that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction;

a waste heat exchanger coupled to the hopper to recover waste heat from an external heat source and transfer the recovered heat to the hopper to heat the raw biomass waste; and

a pressurized and heated reactor coupled to the hopper to receive the heated raw biomass waste, the reactor comprising

a conveyer to compact the heated raw biomass waste, and

a combustor to generate heat used in the anaerobic reaction to dissociate the compacted biomass waste under conditions wherein coke formation does not occur to produce the renewable fuel, durable carbon byproduct that is not char or both.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the external heat source comprises a device for generating renewable energy comprising at least one of a wind energy generator, a solar energy generator, an energy generator from running water and a geothermal energy generator.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the conveyer is configured to:

advance the compacted biomass waste towards a dissociation zone for dissociating the compacted biomass waste; and

remove moisture and air from the advancing compacted biomass waste.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the conveyer comprises:

a progressively reduced pitch of helical flights of rotating tubes on an exterior surface of the conveyer to facilitate the removal of moisture and air.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the pressurized and heated reactor is shaped to reduce a cross sectional area within the reactor for advancing the compacted biomass waste material while facilitating the removal of moisture and air.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a countercurrent heat exchanger coupled to the reactor to transfer heat from the produced renewable fuel or carbon byproduct or both to the compacted biomass waste that travels in a counter-flow direction from the advancing compacted biomass waste.