Integrated unit for treatment and drying lignocellulosic material

Abstract

An integrated boiler-dryer consisting in a sealable vessel capable of sustaining high humidity and variable gas pressures and into which is placed a lignocellulosic material, and a compound in mist form. The sealable vessel provides dry heat so as to dry the lignocellulosic material while the compound is impregnated within the lignocellulosic material.

Claims

1) An integrated unit for the treatment and the drying of lignocellulosic material is comprised of a chamber having walls on three sides, and a doorway on a fourth side, a ceiling, and a floor that slopes towards a collecting basin section to collect a substance and a leachate; at least two of said walls have track members onto which are installed a plurality of spraying nozzles; at least one vent opening to vent off excess humidity within said chamber; at least one fan, and at least one heating element within said chamber; a rolling carriage configured to carry a load of lignocellulosic material and sized to fit inside said chamber; said nozzles spraying a liquid mist coming from external pipes and wherein said liquid mist consisting in said substance designed for treating said lignocellulosic material.

2) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said heating element being an electrical heating element.

3) The integrated unit of claim 2 wherein said heating element being a coil inside which flows a hot fluid.

4) The integrated unit of claim 3 wherein said hot fluid is heated electrically.

5) The integrated unit of claim 3 wherein said hot fluid is heated by way of a flame.

6) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said heating element is an open flame.

7) The integrated unit of claim 5 wherein said flame is from a carbon based source.

8) The integrated unit of claim 6 wherein said open flame is from a carbon based source.

9) The integrated unit of claim 6 wherein said open flame is from a bio-mass source.

10) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one fan and said at least one heating element are located inside a container.

11) The integrated unit of claim 10 wherein said container is located above deflectors which are located above said carriage.

12) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein hoppers provide ingredients that are admixed in a mixing tank so as to create said substance, and said substance being pumped by way of a main pump into pipes.

13) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said floor has rails onto which rolls said carriage.

14) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said collecting basin section collects said substance and leachate from said ligno cellulosic material.

15) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein a secondary pump pumps said substance and said leachate through a filter to separate said leachate from said substance and delivers said recuperated substance into a secondary mixing tank.

16) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said main pump pumps from both said main mixing tank and said secondary mixing tank and delivers said substance through said pipes.

17) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein said substance is heated before being pumped into said chamber.

18) The integrated unit of claim 1 wherein compounds used can be dissolved in diluents including, but not limited to water, alcohol, monomers, polymers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 Isometric view of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 Front view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The invention allows for combining the teachings of Applicant's own previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,452, describing a method for heat treating preservative-treated wood, along with the teachings of Applicant's other patent, namely U.S. Pat. No. 7,754,284, describing a method for treating lignocellulosic material, both patents being incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] An integrated unit (10) is comprised of a chamber (12) having three walls (14), a doorway (16), a ceiling (18), and a floor (20) that slopes towards a collecting basin (22). At least two walls (14) have tracks (24) onto which are installed a plurality of spraying nozzles (26). There is also at least one vent (29) to vent off excess humidity.

[0032] The floor (20) has rails (30) onto which rolls a carriage (32) supporting a racking system (34), which is generally nothing more than slats separating rows of lignocellulosic material (36) to be processed.

[0033] The chamber (12) also has fans (28), and heating elements (38) located inside a container (39) and over deflectors (40). The heat comes either from electricity or from a hot fluid circulating inside coils. Alternatively, heat can be produced by direct flames from carbon based sources or bio mass. The heat for the fluid can come from electricity from carbon based sources, or bio mass.

[0034] The nozzles (26) are spraying a mist of fine liquid droplets that can travel in between rows and into the material (36). The mist consist in one of several possible substances which are admixed outside of the chamber (12), in a main mixing tank (32) which takes its ingredients from hoppers (34). From the hoppers (34) if the ingredients are granular, they may be fed by gravity, if in liquid, either by gravity or by pump to the mixing tank. From the main mixing tank (32), the ingredients are pumped by a main pump (35) and directed towards the nozzles (26) by way of pipes (37).

[0035] The base ingredients can be granular salts mixed with water but several other ingredients can be used for the treatment. While the various substances are admixed, they are also heated so as to increase the dilution characteristics as well as not to cause a cooling effect upon entering the chamber (12).

[0036] Because the mist is sprayed equally inside of the chamber (12), as much as 80% of it may not reach the intended target and as such, condenses and rains down to the floor (20) and then to the collecting basin (22). From there, a second pump (36) pumps it through a filter (38) to remove contaminants gathered during the process, then a secondary mixing tank (42), and then back through the main pump (35).

[0037] By combining the method of treatment in the same unit as the drying process, the material (36) can be dried to a desired moisture content and be treated without having to move the material (36). Drying can even be continued long after the treatment with the compound is completed, if necessary. Furthermore, the unit (10) allows the use of different compounds at different concentrations and/or a combination of compounds.

[0038] The unit (10) greatly reduces the costs associated with the combination of these two stages of production (energy, handling, transportation, logistics, labor).

[0039] This unit (10) also has the advantage of recovering the water and the compounds used (residuals). The other advantage is the recycling of the residuals. This recycling is not made in current dryers, but is mandatory in processing units for the protection of the environment.

[0040] The unit (10) can be fixed or mobile. It only requires connection (electricity, water and heat energy) to be operational.

[0041] With respect to the above description, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.