# US 9,352,329 B2 · Modularized system and method for urea production using a bio-mass feedstock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,352,329 B2 - Document ID: US9352329B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/143,890 - Filed: 2013-12-30 - Published: 2014-08-07 - Granted: 2016-05-31 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-12 - Assignees: 4A Technologies, LLC - Applicants: 4A Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Terry R. Collins; James L. Simonton; Mario G. Beruvides; Jessie Lozada; Ernesto Iznaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9352329B2 ## CPC - C07C 273/10: combined with the synthesis of ammonia - B02C 19/0056: {specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for} - B02C 21/00: Disintegrating plant with or without drying of the material (for grain B02C9/04) - B03B 9/061: {the refuse being industrial} - C10J 3/72: Other features - C10J 3/82: Gas withdrawal means - C10L 5/363: {Pellets or granulates} - C10L 5/44: on vegetable substances - C10J 2300/0903: Feed preparation - C10J 2300/0906: Physical processes, e.g. shredding, comminuting, chopping, sorting - C10J 2300/0916: Biomass - C10J 2300/1668: to urea; to ammonia - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) - B03B: SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS - C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A modular system and method for producing urea from bio-mass includes means and steps for “homogenizing” a biomass feedstock stream having components with different bulk density BTU content into a stream having a consistent bulk density BTU content. The steps include cleaning the incoming bio-mass feedstock stream to remove non-organic matter, blending the cleaned bio-mass feedstock stream to obtain a homogeneous blend having a consistent bulk density BTU content, and milling the homogeneous blend bio-mass feedstock stream to a predetermined size no greater than 12 mm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of preparing a bio-mass feedstock for use in a gasifier, the method comprising the steps of: (i) cleaning a bio-mass feedstock stream to remove non-organic matter, the bio-mass feedstock stream including a feedstock component having a different bulk density BTU content than at least one other feedstock component, the cleaned bio-mass feedstock stream including no more than 1% foreign matter by weight; (ii) blending the cleaned bio-mass feedstock stream to obtain a homogeneous blend having a consistent bulk density BTU content; (iii) milling the homogeneous blend bio-mass feedstock stream to a predetermined size. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the feedstock component and the at least one other feedstock component are from two different sources of bio-mass feedstock. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of routing the milled bio-mass feedstock stream to a gasifier, the routing step providing a feed rate to maintain a constant temperature of the gasifier within a predetermined temperature range. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3 wherein the constant temperature is held within a range of ±25° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3 wherein the temperature of the gasifier in a range of 800° to 1100° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of injecting at least one of a combustible liquid and a combustible solid into the gasifier to maintain the constant temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined size for the milling step is in a range of 6-10 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined size for the milling step is no greater than 12 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of pelletizing the homogeneous blend bio-mass feedstock stream to a uniform size prior to the milling step. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of drying the bio-mass feedstock stream after the milling step to a moisture content of less than or about 15% by weight. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10 wherein the dried bio-mass feedstock stream has a moisture content in a range of 6 to 12% by weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10 wherein the dried bio-mass feedstock stream has a moisture content no greater than 10% by weight.