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US 4,344,770 AGranted
Method and apparatus for converting solid organic material to fuel oil and gas
AssigneeWilwardco, Inc.
InventorsErwin L. Capener, James M. Low
Life of this patent
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AssigneeWilwardco, Inc.
InventorsErwin L. Capener, James M. Low
Estimating the term…
Method and means for converting organic materials, such as garbage, sewage sludge, wood and agricultural products, and the like, to fuels are disclosed which include pre-drying the organic feed material and feeding the same to a reactor for the pyrolysis thereof. Pyrolytic off-gases are fed to a condenser where a condensable fraction comprising, generally, oil and water is removed. The gas phase from the condenser is scrubbed by means of a scrubber, passed through an activated charcoal filter, and burned to supply heat for at least partially drying the reactor feed material. First gravity separating means separates the liquid phase from the condenser into oil and water fractions. Similarly, second gravity separating means, to which scrubber liquid is supplied, separates the scrubber liquid into oil and water fractions. The water fraction from the second gravity separating means is supplied as scrubbing liquid for scrubbing the gas phase. If desired, the oil fractions from said first and second gravity separators may be passed through distillation means for removal of water which may be included therein. In accordance with the present invention, the water fraction from at least one of the first and second gravity separating means is distilled for the separation of pyrolytic oil therefrom, which heavy oil is combined with the light oil fractions from the first and second gravity separating means to lower the viscosity thereof and to add energy to the fuel. After such distillation, excess water is dumped, after first cleaning by passing the same through activated charcoal filter means. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, fuel oil obtained by pyrolysis may be blended with methyl alcohol for esterification thereof to lower the viscosity of the oil, decrease its acidity, and increase its BTU content.
A method of converting organic material such as sawdust, wood chips, sewage sludge, agricultural products, and the like, to fuel oil comprising,
A method of converting organic material such as sawdust, wood chips, sewage sludge, agricultural products, and the like, to fuel oil comprising,
A method of converting organic material such as sawdust, wood chips, sewage sludge, agricultural products, and the like, to fuel oil comprising,
Apparatus for recovering fuel oil from organic feed material such as sawdust, wood chips, and the like, comprising,
A liquid fuel suitable for burning in furnaces, and the like, obtained by esterification of organic acid-containing pyrolytic oil.
A process for enhancing properties of organic acid-containing fuel oil suitable for use in burning in furnaces, and the like, comprising esterification of organic acid contained in said fuel oil for reducing the acidity, corrosiveness and viscosity of the fuel oil.
A liquid fuel suitable for use in burning in furnaces, and the like, obtained by blending of organic acid-containing pyrolytic oil and methyl alcohol for reduction of the viscosity of the pyrolytic oil without degrading the BTU content thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.