A system for torrefaction of waste material comprising biogenic material and plastic material may comprise a material pre-processing system, a heating and compaction unit, a reactor system comprising a reaction portion and an extrusion portion, and a cutting unit adjacent an outlet of the reactor system. A method for operating a system for torrefaction of waste material comprising biogenic and plastic material may comprise processing the waste material to generate waste material having an aspect ratio between 0.8:1 and 1.2:1 and a largest dimension of less than 4 millimeters (mm); compressing and heating the pre-processed waste material in the heating and compaction unit; heating the compacted waste material in the reactor system to a temperature of 280? C.-500? C.; extruding material from the reactor system; and cutting the extruded material into pellets.

A system for pre-conditioning of biomass for subsequent torrefaction of the biomass comprises a burner producing combustion gases. A feed screw unit has an inlet for receiving the biomass, an outlet for outletting the biomass, and a feed screw for displacing the biomass from the inlet to the outlet. A sleeve surrounds and is in heat exchange relation with at least part of the feed screw unit. A pneumatic circuit receives combustion gases from the burner, the pneumatic circuit connected to an inlet of the sleeve for directing combustion gases therein to heat the biomass by indirect contact via the heat exchange relation, the pneumatic circuit having a pipe section extending from the outlet of the feed screw unit to a torrefaction reactor with combustion gases flowing from the outlet of the sleeve to the torrefaction reactor to convey the biomass and the combustion gases to the torrefaction reactor.

This disclosure relates to a processing that includes a first shell and a second shell disposed within the first shell. The second shell includes a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end. The second shell also defines a cavity and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis includes a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.

A system for forming a woody biomass component and a binder component into a solid fuel element having a predetermined density. The system includes a first compression assembly for compressing an uncompressed mixture of the woody biomass component and the binder component to provide a first compressed mixture formed into a preliminary element having a preliminary density. The system also includes a second compression assembly for compressing the preliminary element to form the solid fuel element having the predetermined density, which is greater than the preliminary density.

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.

A pumping system for a hydrothermal biomass converter comprising one or more cylinders, each cylinder having an inlet end and an outlet end, and each cylinder having both a low pressure valve and a high pressure valve at both the inlet and the outlet end respectively, and each cylinder comprising an inner hydraulic actuator segment (1) which is separated from an inlet segment (2) on the inlet end and from an outlet segment (3) on the outlet end by a lower-pressure zone (8) sealed by two or more gaskets (7). Each cylinder further comprises an axially displaceable piston (5) fitted with a piston ring (6), which piston is adapted to move back and forth within the hydraulic actuator segment (1) so as to alternately displace volume in the inlet segment (2) when piston movement is towards the inlet end and in the outlet segment (3) when piston movement is towards the outlet end. When applied to a hydrothermal biomass converter, a biomass feed input system is in fluid communication with each of the low pressure valves at the inlet ends of the one or more cylinders, and a product output system is in fluid communication with each of the low pressure valves at the outlet ends of the one or more cylinders.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

A pelleting device, designed as a field-guided stalk-crop harvesting machine for connection to a tractor and a chopper, wherein a diesel engine drives a current generator and an annular die press, configured such that chopped stalk material passes into a drying chamber and is propelled via a screw conveyor into the die press, wherein the annular die of the die press is mounted in ring bearings on a base, on which a pair of pivot levers for a pan grinder roller is also hinged.

Provided is a method that produces a solid fuel having a relatively high strength from a powder fuel. The method includes: blending a coal-derived powder fuel with a pulverized fuel having a greater mean particle diameter than the coal-derived powder fuel to obtain a mixture; compression-molding the mixture to obtain a solid fuel; and pulverizing a part of the solid fuel, in which the part of the pulverized solid fuel is used as the pulverized fuel in the blending. A blending proportion of the pulverized fuel with respect to the blending mixture is preferably at least 5 mass % and at most 50 mass %. A cohesive fine coal having a superior cohesive property to the coal-derived powder fuel is preferably further blended in the blending. A blending proportion of the cohesive fine coal with respect to the blending mixture is preferably at least 5 mass % and at most 30 mass %.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.