Abstract:
A method of drying a moisture-containing or water-laden biomass material is provided that includes the steps of sending the biomass material into an apparatus having a feeding device, a rotary biomass dryer, a reflux condenser, an aftercooler, and an exit mechanism. The biomass material may be pretreated, and then heated in order to separate the moisture-containing or water laden biomass material into steam and dry biomass material. The steam is removed as the steam and the dry biomass material passes through the reflux condenser, the dry biomass is cooled in the aftercooler stage, and the dry biomass material is collected after exiting the apparatus through the exit mechanism.
Abstract:
A bio-product such as biochar, bio-coal, bio-oil, coke, and/or activated carbon material is formed by processing a starting biomass material comprising water-laden material. The starting biomass material is heated to below or above an autoignition temperature through a rotary compression unit (RCU) by generating steam through releasing unbound and bound waters in the biomass thus forming a bio-product. The biomass material being processed may be, without limitation, a woody or non-woody biomass material, such as cellulosic material and/or grain. The process can also form bio-oil from pyrolysis vapors which can be processed to other bio-products.
Abstract:
A fertilizer/soil conditioner or a fuel source material is formed by processing animal waste by-products through the use of a rotary biomass dryer system. The animal waste by-product includes without limitation manure obtained from cattle or swine; feed lot bedding, poultry litter, a digestate of animal waste by-products obtained from an anaerobic digester, municipal waste, waste meat renderings, waste meat, or a mixture thereof. The processed material may comprise a higher amount of ash and a lower amount of volatile material than the animal waste by-product. The processed material may be stored as a powder or processed into pellets, logs, pucks, briquettes or another convenient shape form.
Abstract:
A system for producing biocoal and biochar includes at least one rotary compression unit (RCU) having a barrel, a compression screw housed within the barrel, a feed for receiving biomass and at least one exit for releasing biochar and gasses formed in the RCU. A first exit stream is produced that includes biochar and a portion of the remaining gasses, and a second exit stream is produced that includes biocoal. A gas crossover is provided that connects the first and second exit stream having a mechanism for transporting gasses from the first exit stream to the second exit stream thereby condensing a portion of the remaining gasses into the biocoal. In one form two RCUs are included connected to two condensers.
Abstract:
A method for processing grains, crop residues, agricultural waste materials, processing waste materials, or mixtures thereof, is provided that includes using a rotary biomass dryer to process the materials and subjecting them to a steam explosion in order to form a processed material that exhibits an increase in porosity and/or absorption potential.