# US 8,772,559 B2 · Biochar generator and associated methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,559 B2 - Document ID: US8772559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/947,221 - Filed: 2013-07-22 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-26 - Assignees: Data Flow Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Data Flow Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772559B2 ## CPC - C10B 47/00: Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials with indirect heating, e.g. by external combustion - A01D 43/00: Mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing (A01D37/00, A01D39/00, A01D41/00, take precedence) - C10B 49/02: with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge - C10B 53/02: of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00) - C10C 5/00: Production of pyroligneous acid {distillation of wood, dry distillation of organic waste}(carbonisation of wood C10B) - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - C10C: WORKING-UP PITCH, ASPHALT, BITUMEN, TAR; PYROLIGNEOUS ACID (compositions of bituminous materials C08L95/00; carbon filaments by decomposition of organic filaments D01F9/14) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A biochar generator may include a pyrolysis chamber, a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber and a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber. A biochar collection chamber sensor may sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar. A controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor may utilize the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biochar generator comprising: a pyrolysis chamber; a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber; a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber; a biochar collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar; and a controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor; wherein the controller utilizes the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 further comprising: a vapor condenser connected to the pyrolysis chamber; a synthesis gas collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect synthesis gas from the vapor condenser; and a bio oil collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect bio oil from the vapor condenser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The biochar generator according to claim 2 further comprising a bio oil collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the bio oil collected in the bio oil collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the bio oil; and wherein the controller utilizes the sensed composition of the bio oil to dynamically alter conditions in at least one of the pyrolysis chamber or the vapor condenser to alter the composition of the bio oil. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The biochar generator according to claim 2 further comprising a synthesis gas collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the synthesis gas collected in the synthesis gas collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the synthesis gas; and wherein the controller utilizes the sensed composition of the synthesis gas to dynamically alter conditions in at least one of the pyrolysis chamber or the vapor condenser to alter the composition of the synthesis gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 wherein the conditions altered in the pyrolysis chamber are at least one of oxygen content in the pyrolysis chamber, temperature in the pyrolysis chamber, time that bio mass is pyrolysized in the pyrolysis chamber, flow of the bio mass into the pyrolysis chamber or pressure inside the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 wherein the conditions dynamically altered in the pyrolysis chamber modify at least one of carbon content of the biochar, absorption properties of the biochar, or a ratio of biochar, synthetic gas and bio oil produced by the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 wherein the biochar collection chamber sensor is a laser sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 further comprising an auger having an opening formed therein and connected to the pyrolysis chamber to accept a flow of biomass. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The biochar generator according to claim 1 further comprising a biochar application device to selectively permit application of the biochar. ### Claim 10 A biochar generator comprising: a pyrolysis chamber; a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber; a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber; a vapor condenser connected to the pyrolysis chamber; a synthesis gas collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect synthesis gas from the vapor condenser; a bio oil collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect bio oil from the vapor condenser; a biochar collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar; a bio oil collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the bio oil collected in the bio oil collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the bio oil; a synthesis gas collection chamber sensor to sense a composition of the synthesis gas collected in the synthesis gas collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the synthesis gas; and a controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor, the bio oil collection chamber sensor and the synthesis gas collection chamber; wherein the controller utilizes the sensed composition of at least one of the biochar, the bio oil and the synthesis gas to dynamically alter conditions in at least one of the pyrolysis chamber and the vapor condenser to alter the composition of at least one of the biochar, the bio oil and the synthesis gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The biochar generator according to claim 10 wherein the conditions altered in the pyrolysis chamber are at least one of oxygen content in the pyrolysis chamber, temperature in the pyrolysis chamber, time that bio mass is pyrolysized in the pyrolysis chamber, flow of the bio mass into the pyrolysis chamber or pressure inside the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The biochar generator according to claim 10 wherein the conditions dynamically altered in the pyrolysis chamber modify at least one of carbon content of the biochar, absorption properties of the biochar, or a ratio of biochar, synthetic gas and bio oil produced by the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The biochar generator according to claim 10 wherein at least one of the biochar collection chamber sensor, the bio oil collection chamber sensor and the synthesis gas collection chamber sensor is a laser sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The biochar generator according to claim 10 further comprising an auger having an opening formed therein and connected to the pyrolysis chamber to accept a flow of biomass. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The biochar generator according to claim 10 further comprising a biochar application device to selectively permit application of the biochar. ### Claim 16 A method of generating biochar using a biochar generator that includes a pyrolysis chamber, a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber, a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber, a biochar collection chamber sensor and a controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor, the method comprising: sensing a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar; and utilizing the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the biochar generator further comprises a vapor condenser connected to the pyrolysis chamber, a synthesis gas collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect synthesis gas from the vapor condenser, and a bio oil collection chamber in communication with the vapor condenser to collect bio oil from the vapor condenser. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 wherein the biochar generator further comprises a bio oil collection chamber sensor; and wherein the method further comprises sensing a composition of the bio oil collected in the bio oil collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the bio oil; and utilizing the sensed composition of the bio oil to dynamically alter conditions in at least one of the pyrolysis chamber or the vapor condenser to alter the composition of the bio oil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 wherein the biochar generator further comprises a synthesis gas collection chamber sensor; and wherein the method further comprises sensing a composition of the synthesis gas collected in the synthesis gas collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the synthesis gas; and utilizing the sensed composition of the synthesis gas to dynamically alter conditions in at least one of the pyrolysis chamber or the vapor condenser to alter the composition of the synthesis gas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the conditions altered in the pyrolysis chamber are at least one of oxygen content in the pyrolysis chamber, temperature in the pyrolysis chamber, time that bio mass is pyrolysized in the pyrolysis chamber, flow of the bio mass into the pyrolysis chamber or pressure inside the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the conditions dynamically altered in the pyrolysis chamber modify at least one of carbon content of the biochar, absorption properties of the biochar, or a ratio of biochar, synthetic gas and bio oil produced by the pyrolysis chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the biochar collection chamber sensor is a laser sensor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the biochar generator further comprises an auger having an opening formed therein and connected to the pyrolysis chamber to accept a flow of biomass. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the biochar generator further comprises a biochar application device; and further comprising selectively permitting application of the biochar.