# US 12,110,466 B2 · Method and apparatus for a torrefaction process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,466 B2 - Document ID: US12110466B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/631,518 - Filed: 2020-07-24 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-31 - Assignees: Perpetual Next Technologies B.V. - Applicants: Ceg Technology UK Limited - Inventors: Thomas Hamilton Balon, Jr.; Neil Alan Butler; Peter Fransciscus Johannes Maria Scheepers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110466B2 ## CPC - C10L 9/083: {Torrefaction} - C10L 2290/06: Heat exchange, direct or indirect - C10L 2290/10: Recycling of a stream within the process or apparatus to reuse elsewhere therein - C10L 2290/145: of air - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A torrefaction method comprises forwarding biomass through a process chamber; heating the biomass in the process chamber to a predetermined temperature and pyrolyzing the biomass to release syngas from the biomass, wherein the syngas contains at least 20% of the power contained in the flow of the biomass; and oxidizing the syngas to heat the biomass in the process chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torrefaction apparatus comprising: a process chamber arranged to accommodate a torrefaction process of biomass; an oxidizer arranged to heat the process chamber; and a conduit for syngas emitted from the biomass during the torrefaction process; wherein the conduit is arranged to guide the syngas from the process chamber to the oxidizer; and wherein the oxidizer is configured to provide an oxidation of the syngas releasing a power of at least 20% of the power contained in a maximum flow of biomass through the process chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is configured to maintain a syngas temperature during operation above a condensation temperature of the syngas from the process chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 2, wherein the syngas temperature is maintained above 330° C. and/or at a temperature at least 50° ° C. above a maximum temperature of the biomass in the process chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is heat insulated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit and/or the process chamber comprise an air inlet allowing for a controlled combustion of a share of the syngas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oxidizer is configured to provide an oxidation releasing a power of at least 23% of the power contained in a maximum flow of biomass through the process chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oxidizer is configured to maintain the process chamber at a temperature between 400° C. and 550°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oxidizer is arranged with an oxidizer air feed, the oxidizer air feed being configured to maintain the temperature of the process chamber below 550° C. by generating a current of ambient dilution air in the direction of the process chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process chamber has a temperature rating below 600° ° C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process chamber comprises a feeding element, a conveying element and/or a dispensing element configured to keep a specific volume of biomass in the process chamber for at least 15 minutes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process chamber is configured to minimize spontaneous air exchange between its content and ambient air. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the syngas contains tar, H2, CH4 and/or CO, wherein the oxidizer is configured such as to burn at least part of the tar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oxidizer is configured to provide an oxidation releasing a power of at least 27% of the power contained in a maximum flow of biomass through the process chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 13, wherein the oxidizer is configured to provide an oxidation releasing a power of no more than 36% of the power contained in a maximum flow of biomass through the process chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the oxidizer is configured to provide an oxidation releasing a power of no more than 40% of the power contained in a maximum flow of biomass through the process chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The torrefaction apparatus of claim 11, wherein the process chamber comprises an inlet having an airlock and an outlet having an airlock to convey biomass through the inlet, the process chamber and the outlet, wherein the process chamber is maintained at a pressure below ambient air pressure. ### Claim 17 A torrefaction method comprising: forwarding biomass through a process chamber; heating the biomass in the process chamber to a temperature and pyrolyzing the biomass to release syngas from the biomass, wherein the syngas contains at least 20% of the power contained in the flow of the biomass; and oxidizing the syngas to heat the biomass in the process chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The torrefaction method of claim 17, wherein a specific volume of biomass is kept in the process chamber for at least 15 minutes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The torrefaction method of claim 17, wherein the syngas temperature is maintained above 330° C. and/or at a temperature at least 50° C. above a maximum temperature of the biomass in the process chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The torrefaction method of claim 19, wherein the syngas is mixed with a controlled flow of air.