Back to results
US 12,269,994 B2Granted
Separation systems and methods for processing organic polymeric materials
AssigneeAlterra Energy, LLC
InventorsDominic O. Rosace, Jeremy J. DeBenedictis, Stanley G. Prybyla, Scott M. Sass, Nicholas A. VanSuch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are separation systems and related methods for use in processing organic polymeric feed materials—such as plastics—to form pyrolysis oil. The disclosed systems can be operated in a continuous manner and utilize novel liquid-solid separation techniques integrated with a novel condensing approach so as to operate in a product-efficient and an energy-efficient manner.
Claims24
A separations train, comprising:
- a first condenser,
- the first condenser configured to output an overhead and a bottoms,
- the bottoms of the first condenser comprising a char and a pyrolysis oil product and the separations train configured to divide the bottoms of the first condenser into a first portion that is recycled to the first condenser and a second portion that is advanced as a feed material,
- the first portion and the second portion having the same composition;
- a second condenser,
- the second condenser configured to (a) receive the overhead of the first condenser and (b) output an overhead and a bottoms,
- the overhead of the first condenser being free of contact with the bottoms of the second condenser, and
- a third condenser,
- the third condenser configured to receive the overhead of the second condenser and the third condenser configured to produce, from the overhead of the second condenser, a noncondensed product and a condensed light product;
- and
- a separation module,
- the separation module being configured to receive the second portion of the bottoms of the condenser,
- the separation module being operable to separate the char and the pyrolysis oil of the second portion from one another;
- and
- a receiving line configured to receive pyrolysis oil product from the separation module.
12 more elements
A solid-liquid separations method, comprising:
- with a first condenser that produces an overhead and a bottoms, dividing the bottoms of the condenser into a first portion that is recycled to the condenser and a second portion that is advanced as a separation feed material comprising a pyrolysis oil product and a char, the first portion and the second portion having the same composition;
- communicating the overhead of the first condenser to a second condenser;
- operating the second condenser so as to output an overhead and a bottoms,
- wherein the overhead of the first condenser is free of contact with the bottoms of the second condenser;
- communicating the overhead of the second condenser to a third condenser;
- operating the third condenser to give rise to an overhead and a condensed light product;
- introducing the separation feed material to a separation module,
- with the separation module, effecting separation of the pyrolysis oil product and the char from one another;
- collecting the char;
- and
- collecting at least some of the pyrolysis oil product.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.