# US 2018/0023013 A1 · Method and apparatus for torrefaction of biomass with a cyclonic bed reactor

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- Number: US 2018/0023013 A1
- Document ID: US20180023013A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/597,796
- Filed: 2017-05-17
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-25
- Assignees: Airex Energie Inc.
- Applicants: Airex Energie Inc.
- Inventors: Guy PRUD'HOMME
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023013A1

## CPC

- C10L 5/442: {Wood or forestry waste}
- C10L 5/40: essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
- C10L 5/445: {Agricultural waste, e.g. corn crops, grass clippings, nut shells or oil pressing residues}
- C10L 9/083: {Torrefaction}
- C10L 2290/02: Combustion or pyrolysis
- C10L 2290/06: Heat exchange, direct or indirect
- C10L 2290/08: Drying or removing water
- C10L 2290/50: Screws or pistons for moving along solids
- C10L 2290/58: Control or regulation of the fuel preparation of upgrading process
- 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 system for pre-conditioning of biomass for subsequent torrefaction of the biomass comprises a burner producing combustion gases. A feed screw unit has an inlet for receiving the biomass, an outlet for outletting the biomass, and a feed screw for displacing the biomass from the inlet to the outlet. A sleeve surrounds and is in heat exchange relation with at least part of the feed screw unit. A pneumatic circuit receives combustion gases from the burner, the pneumatic circuit connected to an inlet of the sleeve for directing combustion gases therein to heat the biomass by indirect contact via the heat exchange relation, the pneumatic circuit having a pipe section extending from the outlet of the feed screw unit to a torrefaction reactor with combustion gases flowing from the outlet of the sleeve to the torrefacton reactor to convey the biomass and the combustion gases to the torrefaction reactor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for pre-conditioning of biomass for subsequent torrefaction of the biomass comprising:
at least one burner producing combustion gases;
a feed screw unit having an inlet configured for receiving the biomass, an outlet configured for outletting the biomass, and a feed screw configured for displacing the biomass from the inlet to the outlet;
a sleeve surrounding and in heat exchange relation with at least part of the feed screw unit;
a pneumatic circuit receiving combustion gases from the at least one burner, the pneumatic circuit connected to an inlet of the sleeve for directing combustion gases therein to heat the biomass in the feed screw unit by indirect contact via the heat exchange relation, the pneumatic circuit having a pipe section extending from the outlet of the feed screw unit to a torrefaction reactor with combustion gases flowing from the outlet of the feed screw unit to the torrefacton reactor to convey the biomass and the combustion gases to the torrefaction reactor.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, comprising a rotary valve at the inlet of the feed screw unit to limit gas flow between the feed screw unit and an environment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising means to control a temperature in the feed screw unit in a range of 250 C to 400 C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger with refrigerant in the pneumatic circuit to cool the combustion gases.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has baffle walls to increase a residency time of the combustion gases in the sleeve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve and the baffle walls concurrently define a path to optimize heat exchange.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic circuit is connected to an outlet of the sleeve to receive combustion gases exiting the sleeve and direct them into said pipe section.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising a water injection unit connected to the feed screw unit to humidify the biomass therein.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the feed screw unit operates at speed of at least 10 Hz.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the feed screw unit is a twin feed screw.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the feed screw unit has a cylindrical conduit enclosing the feed screw.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust pipe connected to the sleeve of the pneumatic circuit between the burner and the torrefaction reactor, to controllably exhaust a portion of the combustion gases.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system according to claim 13, wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to the sleeve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic circuit comprises a return pipe portion adapted to direct torrefaction gases from the torrefaction reactor to said pipe section.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic circuit directs a portion of the combustion gases directly from an exhaust of the burner to the pipe section.