Distillation system and method using microwave-assisted pyrolysis
AssigneeResynergi, Inc.
InventorsRongsheng Ruan, Erik Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.
Claims20
A distillation apparatus comprising:
- a first microwave;
- a pyrolysis reactor located within the first microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor;
- a microwave-absorbent bed located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor upon receipt of an input liquid, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output;
- a catalyst bed located within the pyrolysis reactor to receive the vapor output prior to exiting the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the first microwave maintains the microwave-absorbent bed at a first temperature and the catalyst bed at a second temperature different from the first temperature;
- and
- a condenser configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.
A method of biodiesel distillation, the method comprising:
- supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave susceptible bed susceptible to microwave irradiation and a catalyst bed;
- applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave susceptible bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy to initialize pyrolysis of a liquid input stream, wherein the microwave susceptible bed is maintained at a first temperature and the catalyst bed is maintained at a second temperature different from the first temperature;
- supplying the liquid input stream to the microwave susceptible bed after the microwave bed has obtained a steady state temperature;
- supplying a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the liquid input stream to the catalyst bed;
- and
- condensing the vapor supplied to the catalyst bed and exiting the pyrolysis reactor to collect a distilled product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.