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US 12,655,354 B2Granted
Feedstock processing method and system
AssigneeDefugo Techologies Pte Ltd
InventorDavid Coleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a process, method and devices for recovery of products from a feedstock such as an organic, non-organic or biodynamic feedstock. The products include consumables such as high nutrition foods, nutraceuticals and bioactive compounds and/or non-consumables such as energy and synfuels. The invention typically includes real-time process optimisation. The devices include a counter current diffusion extractor and a decorticator for deriving useful products from a feedstock, optionally for consumption in further processing.
Claims15
A method for recovery of products from a feedstock, the process comprising the steps of:
- receiving a feedstock;
- recording a feedstock profile in a database stored in computer memory associated with a computer processor in communication with an apparatus for separating the feedstock into components, the apparatus comprising a decorticator;
- preloading a recipe program on the computer memory associated with the processor, the recipe program including machine readable recipe program instructions for process control settings;
- providing, via multiple sensors, real-time feedstock information to the computer processor for optimization of the pre-loaded recipe program for separating the feedstock into components;
- and
- separating the feedstock into components, according to the machine readable recipe program instructions executed by the computer processor, the instructions being based on the feedstock profile and the real-time feedstock information;
- performing real-time adjustment of the machine-readable recipe program instructions executed by the processor by dynamically modifying, in real-time, one or more process control command instructions related to operation of the apparatus for separating the feedstock into components, based on the feedstock profile, the real-time feedstock information, or a combination thereof;
- and
- wherein the components separated include hurd, bark, and bast.
6 more elements
A decorticator for deriving products from a feedstock, the decorticator comprising:
- a pair of rotating sizing members adapted to size the feedstock passed therebetween,
- a cutting head for cutting the feedstock,
- a first rotating cutting member for removing a first product comprising hurd from the feedstock,
- a second rotating cutting member for removing a second product comprising bark from the feedstock, wherein a remaining third product comprises bast, and
- separate outlets for each of the first product, the second product and the third product.
2 more elements
A system for recovery of products from a feedstock, comprising:
- a decorticator operable to perform a number of feedstock decortication steps according to a program, the decorticator comprising a first rotating cutting member for removing a first product comprising hurd from the feedstock, a second rotating cutting member for removing a second product comprising bark from the feedstock,
- an apparatus which is in communication with the decorticator and configured for process control of the feedstock processing steps, and
- multiple sensors associated with the decorticator and adapted to transmit decorticator information and feedstock information to the apparatus,
- the apparatus comprising:
- a memory unit for storing a feedstock decortication program that comprises a list of machine-readable feedstock decortication program instructions for process control of the feedstock decortication steps, the list of machine-readable feedstock decortication program instructions comprising one or more process control command instructions, each process control command instruction comprising an allocation of a respective feedstock decortication step to a predefined control command among a set of predefined control commands,
- an electronic warehouse comprising databases for storing the decorticator information and the feedstock information,
- a processor for performing real-time adjustment of the machine-readable feedstock decortication program instructions in response to the decorticator information and the feedstock information from the databases,
- wherein the processor is configured to process the decorticator information and the feedstock information as inputs to an Efficiency Digital Algorithm for calculation of the adjustments to the machine-readable feedstock decortication instructions and optimization of the process control command instructions, prior to sequentially executing the machine-readable feedstock decortication program instructions in the list of instructions.
5 more elements
A system for processing a feedstock, the system comprising a decorticator, a counter current extractor, a press and a dryer,
- the decorticator comprising:
- a pair of rotating sizing members adapted to size the feedstock passed therebetween,
- a cutting head for cutting the feedstock,
- a first rotating cutting member for removing a first product comprising hurd from the feedstock,
- a second rotating cutting member for removing a second product comprising bark from the feedstock, wherein a remaining third product comprises bast, and
- separate outlets for each of the first product, the second product and the third product;
- the counter current extractor comprising:
- an elongate housing having an inlet adjacent a first end and an outlet adjacent a second end, a longitudinal axis of the housing being inclined upwardly from the first end to the second end;
- a rotatable screw conveyor having at least one substantially helical flight disposed within the housing and rotatable about the longitudinal axis for moving a feedstock to be extracted from the inlet to the outlet;
- means for introducing an extracting liquid into the housing such that the extracting liquid flows down the housing and in counter current with the feedstock being extracted;
- means for withdrawing liquid extracted from the feedstock and returning the liquid into the housing such that the returned liquid contacts the feedstock being extracted;
- a pump for reducing pressure within the housing;
- and
- an airlock chamber located adjacent the inlet such that the feedstock to be extracted can be introduced through the inlet to the rotatable screw conveyor;
- wherein the system is configured to:
- (i) pass the feedstock through the decorticator to separate the feedstock into bast, hurd and bark;
- and
- (ii) pass at least one of the bast, hurd and bark through the counter current extractor, the press and the dryer.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.