System and method for the continuous production of bio-diesel
AssigneeRedland Industries, Inc.
InventorWesley Drew Marr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous biofuel production process includes the steps of introducing a feedstock containing fatty acids and triglycerides into a first reaction vessel, in which alkyl esters are produced through esterification of free fatty acids. The alkyl esters and triglycerides are introduced into a second reaction vessel, in which at least a portion of the triglycerides are converted to alkyl esters and glycerin through transesterification. The alkyl esters, glycerin, and remaining triglycerides are introduced into a third reaction vessel, in which at least a portion of the remaining triglycerides are converted to alkyl esters and glycerin through transesterification.
Claims21
A continuous biofuel production process comprising the steps of:
- introducing a selected feedstock containing fatty acids and triglycerides into a first reaction vessel, wherein alkyl esters are produced through the esterification of free fatty acids;
- introducing the triglycerides and alkyl esters into a second reaction vessel, wherein at least a portion of the triglycerides are converted to alkyl esters and glycerin through transesterification;
- introducing the alkyl esters, glycerin, and remaining triglycerides into a third reaction vessel, wherein at least a portion of the remaining triglycerides are converted to alkyl esters and glycerin through transesterification;
- passing the alkyl esters and glycerin to a first separator, wherein the first separator is configured to separate the glycerin from the alkyl esters, and wherein the alkyl esters are part of a biofuel mixture;
- passing the biofuel mixture to a fuel wash vessel, wherein the biofuel mixture is washed, and wherein the washed biofuel mixture comprises soap slurry and raw biofuel;
- and
- passing the washed biofuel mixture to a second separator, wherein the second separator is configured to separate the soap slurry from the raw biofuel.
An alkyl ester production process in which alkyl esters are produced from feedstock containing free fatty acids and triglycerides, comprising the steps of:
- reacting the feedstock in an esterification reaction vessel, wherein the free fatty acids are esterified into alkyl esters;
- sequentially passing the alkyl esters and triglycerides through a plurality of transesterification reaction vessels, wherein the plurality of transesterification reaction vessels are configured to accept the alkyl esters and triglycerides in a continuous flow, and wherein transesterification of triglycerides in the plurality of second reaction vessels produces alkyl esters and glycerin;
- separating the alkyl esters from the glycerin in a first separator, wherein the first separator is configured to accept the alkyl esters and glycerin in a continuous flow;
- washing the alkyl esters in a fuel wash vessel, wherein the fuel wash vessel is configured to accept the alkyl esters in a continuous flow, and wherein a soap slurry is produced in the fuel wash vessel;
- and
- separating the washed alkyl esters from the soap slurry in a second separator, wherein the second separator is configured to accept the alkyl esters and soap slurry in a continuous flow.
A biofuel production process comprising the steps of:
- introducing a selected feedstock comprising triglycerides and free fatty acids into a first reaction vessel, wherein the first reaction vessel is a continuous flow reaction vessel configured and operated to promote the esterification of the free fatty acids to alkyl esters;
- introducing the alkyl esters and triglycerides into a second reaction vessel, wherein the second reaction vessel is a continuous flow reaction vessel configured and operated to promote the transesterification of triglycerides to alkyl esters and glycerin;
- introducing the alkyl esters and triglycerides into a third reaction vessel, wherein the third reaction vessel is a continuous flow reaction vessel configured and operated to promote the transesterification of triglycerides to alkyl esters and glycerin;
- passing the alkyl esters and glycerin to a first separator, wherein the separator is a continuous flow separator configured to separate the glycerin from the alkyl esters;
- passing the alkyl esters to a fuel wash vessel, wherein the fuel wash vessel is configured as a continuous flow fuel wash vessel;
- and
- passing the washed alkyl esters to a second separator, wherein the separator is a continuous flow separator configured to separate soap from the washed alkyl esters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.