US 7,744,671 B1Granted

Biomass heating system

OwnerJoseph P. Ouelletteinventor

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Abstract

Improved systems, methods, apparatus and compositions for generating, extracting and distributing the renewable heat energy produced by microbial decomposition of organic biomass within a contained and controlled environment. This heat energy is preferably transferred and distributed, preferably by the use of heat pipes, to the interior of a greenhouse or other structure to be heated, either directly or via heat exchange apparatus such as hot water heating systems. In one embodiment heat transfer and distribution mechanism customized to the application requirements of a greenhouse heating batch-type process is disclosed, along with a recipe for a readily available biomass material composition. Additional continuous and batch process embodiments of biomass heating systems are also disclosed that extract heat energy from decomposing biomass for heating uses. In some embodiments gaseous products generated in a biological decomposition process, primarily CO2, are utilized to enhance plant growth in the greenhouse environment.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of recovering heat energy from a quantity of biomass material residing in a composting array while in a bacteria active stage, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a biomass composting vessel constructed and arranged to define a first chamber and containing the quantity of the biomass material in an array for undergoing aerobic decomposition to thereby generate heat energy in the biomass material,
(b) providing a heat energy recovery system,
(c) providing a heat pipe having a gas/liquid phase changeable fluid contained therein, said heat pipe having an evaporator section disposed in non-contacting but operable heat transfer relationship to the biomass material in said vessel and having a condenser section in operable heat transfer relation with said heat energy recovery system to thereby transfer, by change of phase between gas and liquid phases of the phase-changeable fluid internally contained within said heat pipe, heat energy generated by decomposition of the biomass material from the first chamber to the heat energy recovery system, and
(d) transferring such decomposition-generated heat energy from the biomass material to the heat pipe evaporation section by causing a flow of an atmosphere containing oxygen into and through the biomass material to support aerobic decomposition of the biomass material and also thereby entrain in such flow of such atmosphere water vapor generated by such aerobic decomposition and then causing such water-vapor-laden flow exiting the biomass material to contact and thereby condense on the external surface of the heat pipe evaporator section so that the heat of condensation of such condensed water vapor is given up to such heat pipe evaporator section.

1 more element

A method of recovering heat energy from biomass material disposed in a heating system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a vessel constructed and arranged to define a first chamber for containing a quantity of biomass material for undergoing aerobic decomposition to thereby generate heat energy in the biomass material,
(b) providing an adjacent structure defining a second chamber for containing a fluid to be heated,
(c) providing a heat pipe having a gas/liquid phase changeable fluid contained therein, said heat pipe having an evaporator section disposed for operable heat transfer relation to the biomass material in said first chamber of said vessel and having a condenser section disposed for operable heat transfer relation with the fluid in said second chamber to thereby transfer, by change of phase between gas and liquid phases of the phase-changeable fluid internally contained within said heat pipe, the energy generated by decomposition of the biomass material from the first chamber to the fluid of said second chamber to thereby heat such second chamber fluid,
(d) providing an aeration system for inducing a flow of air through the biomass material in said first chamber of said vessel to thereby entrain in such flow water vapor and other gases being generated by the decomposition process occurring in the biomass material, and
(e) providing a heat pipe support system for supporting the heat pipe evaporation section outside said first chamber in the flow of air in said aeration system and out of physical contact with said biomass material such that the operable heat transfer relation of the evaporation section to the biomass material results from the heat of condensation of water vapor generated by aerobic decomposition of the biomass material and then entrained in such flow of air, such condensation occurring after such water vapor exits the biomass material and as such water vapor contacts and thereby condenses on the external surface of the heat pipe evaporation section.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/529,589Filed 28 Sep 2006 · division
Priority: 12 Jul 2001
Granted: 29 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

C05F 17/964
Apparatus therefor: constructional parts, e.g. floors, covers or doors
C05F 17/60
Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation: heating or cooling during…
C05F 17/939
Devices in which the material is conveyed essentially horizontally between inlet and discharge means: means for mixing or moving with…
F24V 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Family

Application60/304,949Us provisional application · filed 12 Jul 2001
Application60/337,896Us provisional application · filed 5 Nov 2001
Application60/379,915Us provisional application · filed 13 May 2002
Application10/191,261Parent of this division · filed 8 Jul 2002
US 7,135,332 B2Parent of this division · filed 11 Nov 2006
US 2003/0024686 A1Published application
US 7,744,671 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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