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US 2024/0353099 A1Published application
Thermochemical system and method
OwnerBernardo del Campoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermochemical system & method may be configured to convert an organic feedstock to various products. A thermochemical system may include a solid material feed module, a reactor module, an afterburner module, and a solid product finishing module. The various operational parameters (temperature, pressure, etc.) of the various modules may vary depending on the desired products. The product streams may be gaseous, vaporous, liquid, and/or solid.
Claims20
A thermochemical system comprising:
- a) a solid material feed module comprising a feed module conveying member providing motive force to move said solid material from said solid material feed module;
- b) a reactor module comprising:
- i) a reactor vessel positioned within a vessel shroud, wherein a reactor conveying member is positioned within said reactor vessel;
- ii) a ventilation/combustion chamber defined as a space between said reactor vessel and said vessel shroud;
- iii) a first horizontal section defining a first zone within said reactor vessel;
- c) a chimney engaged with said reactor module, wherein said chimney is in fluid communication with a portion of said ventilation/combustion chamber;
- d) a solid product finishing module comprising:
- i) a solid product conveying member;
- ii) a solid product outlet;
- and,
- e) an external heat source positioned adjacent said solid material feed module.
8 more elements
A method for controlling the temperature of a thermochemical system, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an organic material to an organic material feed module of said thermochemical system, said solid material feed module comprising a feed module conveying member providing motive force to move said organic feedstock from said solid material feed module;
- b) moving said organic material to a reactor module of said thermochemical system using said feed module conveying member, said reactor module comprising:
- i) a reactor vessel positioned within a vessel shroud, wherein a reactor conveying member is positioned within said reactor vessel, and wherein an aperture in said reactor vessel allows for removal of a gas or a vapor from said organic material positioned within said reactor vessel;
- ii) a ventilation/combustion chamber defined as a space between said reactor vessel and said vessel shroud;
- iii) a first horizontal section defining a first zone;
- c) providing a first portion of thermal energy to said organic material via an external heat source, wherein said external heat source is positioned adjacent said reactor module;
- d) removing a combustible gas from said organic material via said first portion of thermal energy from said external heat source;
- e) igniting said combustible gas within said ventilation/combustion chamber and providing a second portion of thermal energy to said reactor vessel, wherein said second portion of thermal energy is sufficient to sustain a reaction that causes said combustible gas to be removed from said organic material;
- f) moving said organic material along a length of said reactor module via said reactor conveying member;
- g) providing a flow of ambient air to said ventilation/combustion chamber using a blower fluidly connected to said ventilation/combustion chamber, wherein a direction of said ambient air is countercurrent to a direction of said organic material;
- and,
- h) adjusting a volumetric flow rate of said flow of ambient air to affect a temperature within said reactor module.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.