US 2012/0266529 A1Published application

Fast pyrolysis system

OwnerJohn Scahillinventor

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Abstract

A fast pyrolysis system includes an auger housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner wall. A rotatable auger is mounted in the housing. The auger has surfaces defining at least one spiral channel. The spiral channel is tapered from a first depth adjacent the housing inlet to a second lesser depth adjacent the housing outlet. The auger is rotatable to propel particulate materials from the housing inlet toward the housing outlet to heat the particulate material to a first temperature sufficient to convert at least a portion of the particulate material into a vapor. A heat exchanger transfers a heat of vaporization from a heated medium to the auger housing inner wall. A filter assembly is connected downstream to the housing outlet in order to filter char fines from the vapor. A condenser is connected downstream to the filter assembly and is adapted to condense the vapor stream into bio-oil.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In combination with an ablative gasification reactor having, an auger housing having an inner and an outer wall, an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable auger mounted in the housing, the auger having surfaces defining at least one spiral channel, the spiral channel being tapered from a first depth adjacent the housing inlet and to a second lesser depth adjacent the housing outlet, the auger rotatable to propel particulate materials from the housing inlet toward the housing outlet, and adapted to heat the particulate material to a first temperature sufficient to convert at least a portion of the particulate material into a vapor, a fast pyrolysis system, comprising:

(a) a heat exchanger connected to the outer wall of the auger housing having a heated medium adapted for transferring a heat of vaporization to the auger housing inner wall;
(b) a filter assembly having an inner and an outer wall and an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the auger housing outlet for receiving the vapor, the filter assembly adapted to filter a char component of the particulate material from the vapor;
and
(c) a condenser having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the outlet of the filter assembly, the condenser adapted to thermally quench the vapor so that a bio-oil is captured from the vapor.

1 more element

A method for converting a particulate substrate into a bio-oil, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an auger housing having an inner and an outer wall, an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable auger mounted in the housing, the auger having surfaces defining at least one spiral channel, the spiral channel being tapered from a first depth adjacent the housing inlet and to a second lesser depth adjacent the housing outlet, the auger rotatable to propel the particulate materials from the housing inlet toward the housing outlet;
(b) providing a heat exchanger connected to the outer wall of the auger housing having a heated medium adapted for transferring a heat of vaporization to the auger housing inner wall;
(c) providing a filter assembly having an inner and an outer wall and an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the housing outlet for receiving the vapor, the filter assembly adapted to filter a char component of the particulate material from the vapor;
(d) providing a condenser having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the outlet of the filter assembly, the condenser adapted to thermally quench the vapor so that a bio-oil is captured from the vapor;
(e) heating the auger housing with the heated medium;
(f) feeding the particulate material to be converted into the auger housing inlet;
(g) rotating the auger so that the particulate material is propelled from the housing inlet toward the housing outlet;
(h) heating the particulate material to a first temperature sufficient to convert at least a portion of the particulate material into a vapor;
(i) filtering a char portion of the particulate material from the vapor;
and
(j) condensing the vapor into a bio-oil.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.