Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10B—DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
  • C10B53/00—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form
  • C10B53/02—Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of cellulose-containing material
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B17/00—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement
  • F26B17/12—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft
  • F26B17/14—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft the materials moving through a counter-current of gas
  • F26B17/1408—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft the materials moving through a counter-current of gas the gas being supplied and optionally extracted through ducts extending into the moving stack of material
  • F26B17/1416—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed solely by gravity, i.e. the material moving through a substantially vertical drying enclosure, e.g. shaft the materials moving through a counter-current of gas the gas being supplied and optionally extracted through ducts extending into the moving stack of material the ducts being half open or perforated and arranged horizontally
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B21/00—Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or other gases for drying solid materials or objects
  • F26B21/20—Circulating air or gases in closed cycles, e.g. wholly within the drying enclosure
  • F26B21/25—Circulating air or gases in closed cycles, e.g. wholly within the drying enclosure partly outside the drying enclosure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B23/00—Heating arrangements
  • F26B23/02—Heating arrangements using combustion heating
  • F26B23/022—Heating arrangements using combustion heating incinerating volatiles in the dryer exhaust gases, the produced hot gases being wholly, partly or not recycled into the drying enclosure
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
  • Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
  • Y02P20/141—Feedstock
  • Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin

Definitions

• This invention was primarily designed for the continuous production of charcoal from wood feed material. However, the invention has been found to be useful in many other areas. While its primary use is still as a charcoal producing apparatus, it can also be used in grain drying, bulk powder storage, various calcining processes, such as CaCO 3 ⁇ CaO and in many other instances. The apparatus can be used any time it is desired to dry or heat feed material such as powders, grains or chips. As the invention was primarily designed to produce charcoal, its use as a charcoal producer will be described in detail.
• the basic problem of charring wood chips, or sawdust, or any wood feed to produce charcoal is to uniformly heat a significant mass of the feed material in an oxygen deficient atmosphere while efficiently collecting and managing the evolved gases.
• the present invention allows for the hot gases heating the charcoal producing feed material, to be uniformly circulated therethrough, and to be uniformly collected along with the gases and vapors produced by the charcoal producing reaction.
• feed material is made into charcoal in a short time, using little energy.
• the present invention also provides for efficient control and collection of the gases, preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere, thereby eliminating pollution.
• An advantage of this invention is that some of the released and collected gases and vapors are burned to provide energy to be used in the process; thus, the external energy needed for the process is reduced. Further, some of the collected hot gases are cir culated in the charcoal producing process, thereby preserving energy.
• the invention comprises a process and apparatus for the heating and drying of materials in powder, chip, or grain form.
• an apparatus embodying the invention as used as a charcoal producer is described below.
• the apparatus comprises means for circulating hot gases through woody feed material in a reactor which provides an oxygen deficient atmosphere; wherein said means include an array of input channels extending through the feed material, through which hot gases introduced into the feed material, and an interleaved ar ray of output channels extending through the feed material col lect, manage, and discharge said hot gases and any gases and vapors released by the charcoal producing reaction.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus
• Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the filled reactor of apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a reactor module
• Fig. 6 is a side view of the conveyor of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the conveyor taken along line
• Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the conveyor taken along lines
• Fig. 9 is a side view of another reactor unit embodying invention.
• Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of the reactor of Fig. 9 taken along lines 10-10 of Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view of the reactor of Fig. 9 taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 9;
• Fig. 12 is a persepctive view of a wall of the reactor of Fig. 9.
• the present invention was originally designed as a charcoal producer. While numerous oth.er uses have been found for it, its primary purpose is still as a charcoal producer; thus, the detailed description will describe the apparatus in its charcoal producing function. No limitations as to the uses of the apparatus or process are intended. In addition, while the description is of the apparatus, the inventive process is embodied in that apparatus, and the invention is not limited to an apparatus.
• Charcoal is produced by heating wood feed material in oxygen deficient atmosphere.
• the apparatus and process for continuous production of charcoal there are essentially two systems involved; first, the movement. of the hot gases, and second, the movement of the wood feed material into and out of the apparatus.
• the movement of the hot gas is shown schematically in the apparatus of Fig. 1.
• Fuel gas enters heating system 14 through valve 32 and is burned by upper burner 33 of the pair of burners 33 and 35. Its fumes rise and exit through chimney 47.
• Fan 19 blows air around cylinder 76 of heating unit 14 where it is heated by the burning fuel gas and kept from mixing with the fuel gas or its fumes.
• air is used as the heat carrier; however, there are no limits as to the type of gas to be heated and used as the carrier of heat, other than those imposed by charring process itself.
• air meaning O 2 and N 2
• the feed material 12 is heated up to reaction temperature.
• the hot gases then circulate through the feed material 12 in reactor unit 11, as will be described below in greater detail.
• the hot gases and any gases produced by the charring process are collected and exit reactor unit 11 through output pipes 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. From there it goes through escape pipe 46, through valve 31 and pipe 72, and into chamber 37 which is positioned along a length of conveyor 13.
• chamber 37 condensible vapors, in the hot gases supplied thereto, condense and move into liquid traps 16, 17 and 18.
• the hot gases then exit chamber 37 through pipe 38, and go down chimney 47 via pipe 20 where they are preheated by the fumes rising off burner 33.
• the hot recycled gases go through valve 34, into fan 19, and then, in part, go through valve 75 to be burned in burner 35 and, in part, go through cylinder 76 to be reheated and recycled.
• feed material 12 moves as follows. It is first placed on conveyor 13 and is carried up conveyor 13 by screw auger 36 while being heated and dried by the hot gas in chamber 37. The feed material 12 is then dropped through connection 39 into the top 49 of reactor unit 11. Feed material 12 at the top 49 of reactor unit 11, slowly makes its way down through reactor while being heated by the hot gas and made into charcoal. The charcoal is then removed from the bottom 50 of the reactor unit 11 by removal auger 48.
• Feed material 12 moves down the reactor unit 11 due to the removal of charcoal by removal auger 48 and due to th.e continuous shrinkage of the feed material 12 during th.e charring process. Therefore, the speed of conveyor 13, of fan 19, and of removal auger 48 are set such, that feed material 12 is converted into charcoal by the time it reaches the bottom 50.
• Reactor unit 11 has a wall 45 on its one side, and opposed alternatingly stacked input 51 and output 40 reactor modules.
• Fig. 5 shows a typical output module 40.
• Output pipe 26 is connected to output module 40 which has angled members 44 connected to its core 42 at holes 43.
• the only difference between an input module 51 and an output module 40 is the number and position of the holes 43 of the angled members 44 and 52.
• An input module 51 h.as five holes 43 and three full angled members 44 and two half angled members 52, whereas an output module has four holes 43 and four full angled members 44. (See Fig. 3).
• Fig. 3 shows a more detailed picture of the alignment of modules 40 and 51 and of their respective holes 43 and angled members 44 and 52.
• Feed pipe 41 is shown connected to input pipes 22-25 which, are, in turn, connected to input modules.
• Escape pipe 46 is connected to output pipes 26-30 which are in turn connected to output modules 40.
• the holes 43 of input reactor module 51 and output reactor module 40 are offset as shown. The ratio of holes 43 and their relative alignment is a mere preferred embodiment of the invention and is not required.
• Fig. 4. shows the flow of gases.
• Diamond shaped channels 53 are created in feed material 12, as it is deflected by angled pieces 44 and 52 (52 not shown in Fig.4) while moving downward through reactor unit 11.
• Hot gases flow from feed pipe 41, through input pipe 22, into core 42 on through the five holes 43, and into channels 53 created by angled members 44 and 52. The hot gases then circulate through feed material 12 and are collected by and exit through channels 53 created by angled members 44 of the output modules 40.
• These channels 53 provide large surface areas for the hot gases to uniformly penetrate the feed material 12. In addition the gases have short distances to travel preventing condensation of the gas vapors in cool areas of the feed material 12.
• Channels 53 extend through feed material 12 and are created by angled members 44 and 52 which push feed material 12 aside as it moves downward. Any other means for producing such channels 53 is equally within the scope of this invention. Not only angled members 44 will create channels 53 within the scope of the invention, but also flat members, flat members with slightly curved edges, inverted U-shaped members, or even cylindrical members with apertures at their bottom. In this embodiment, the means for creating a channel also break up and stir the feed around as it moves downward.
• Channels 53 allow the introduction of the hot gases throughout their entire length, which is substantially the entire width of reactor unit 11.
• feed material 12 along the entire width of reactor unit 11 is uniformly heated by the hot gases.
• the hot gas would enter the reactor unit 11 at a point or series of points and char the feed material 12 immediately surrounding the point or points.
• the hot gases would then go straight to an exit and only the feed material 12 along that path would get heated and char. If it charred at all, the other feed material 12 would only char after a long time, as little heat would reach it.
• a large waste of energy would be created as, after being made into charcoal, feed material 12 near the input channel would be heated until the heat reached feed material 12 far from the input channels.
• the channels 53 also inhibit packing or densification of material 12 in the reactor. Any local settling merely alters the bottom V-angle of channel 53 without significantly compacting material 12. At no depth in the reactor does the feed material 12 "feel" the entire load of the column of material about it, rather, the array of angled members 44 and 52 share some of the load. Furthermore, more of the individual angled members 44 and 52 bear a heavy load.
• the array of output channels 53 similarly allows for the uniform collection of both the hot gas. and any gases or vapors produced by the charring process; thus, preventing them from merely escaping into the atmosphere and polluting it. Some of these gases can be burned, to provide energy, be used again in the charring process, or be used to dry the feed material.
• FIG. 6 shows feed material 12 being pushed up conveyor 13 by screw auger 36 which is driven by a motor (unseen).
• Fig. 7 shows a cross section of conveyor 13 at a point which does not contain chamber 37.
• U-shaped trough 55 with, its molding 56 is shown containing screw auger 36.
• Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view of conveyor 13 at a point containing chamber 37.
• U-shaped trough 55 and U-shaped container 57 have their upper parts welded together at point 58. Between U-shaped trough 55 and U-shaped container 57 is chamber 37.
• Feed material 12 is then added to conveyor auger 36 whose speed is set to ensure that the feed material 12 is dry when it reaches the top of conveyor 13.
• valve 15 is switched to direct hot air into reactor module 11.
• the speed of fan 19 is adjusted so that the air exits heat exchange cylinder 76 at temperatures typically ranging from 750° to 1000 °F.
• the dampers 74 are adjusted to allow hot air to enter the reactor unit 11 only through input, pipes 24 and 25.
• the feed material 12 initially at the bottom of unit 11 has less of a distance to move; thus it will be heated for a much shorter time. Therefore, to ensure that it is fully charred when removed, it must be preheated.
• valve 75 During the start-up of the reaction, the accumulating gases being released from the recirculating " closed" circuit through valve 75 will not be combustible as they sill consist of mostly water vapor, CO 2 , O 2 and only dilute amount of combustibles (CO, H 2 , CH 3 , etc.) which will be consumed in the overhead gas flame of burner 33. However, as the reaction proceeds, the gases through valve 75 become more combustible and a flame develops in lower burner 35.
• valve 31 is set so that all gases which exit the reactor unit 11 through escape pipe 46 go through valve 31, down valve 34, through fan 19, and up through valve 69 to burner 70, where they are burned off without producing new hot gas in the apparatus.
• valve 32 and 75 are closed so that recirculating gas is not reheated
• Valve 69 is adjusted to relieve any pressure build up of gases
• Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the reactor module unit of the charcoal producing apparatus.
• the heated gases enter the reactor unit through feed pipe 59 (taking the place of pipe 41), go into the chamber 81 of the reactor, through holes 63 in wall 66, and into the chambers 53 created by inlet angled pieces 62. From there the air circulates through, the feed material 12, goes into chambers 53 created by the outlet angled pieces 61, through hole 64 on outlet wall 67, into the chamber 82 and out through outlet pipe 60 (which takes the place of pipe 46).
• the pressures in the upper and lower parts of the re actor unit must be controllable; thus, baffles 79 and 80 are located in chamber 82 and can be independently opened or closed as they revolve on hinges 77 and 78.
• the baffles 79 and 80 when the baffles 79 and 80 are in the horizontal positions, the pressures in the top and bottom areas of the reactor unit are allowed to build. As the baffles 79 and 80 rotate on hinges 77 and 78 into vertical positions, the gases are allowed to escape through outlet pipe 60 relieving the build up of pressure.
• Fig. 10 shows the inlet wall 66 with holes 63 inlet angled pieces 62 and outlet angled pieces 61.
• Fig. 11 shows outlet wall 67 with outlet holes 64 outlet angled pieces 64 and inlet angled pieces 62.
• the angled pieces in this embodiment range the whole width of the reactor unit, and are attached to the walls 66 and 67.
• the present invention with, its array of input channels extending through the feed material, allows for uniform charring of the feed material.
• the hot gases are introduced through the channels, and uniformly reach and heat the feed material to make uniform quality charcoal. Without these channels, the feed material closest to the entering hot gases would be charred first.
• no energy is wasted heating feed material that has already charred to allow hot gases to slowly make their way to feed material far from the entrance. The time necessary to char, and the energy required to char are, thereby, held to a minimum.
• the array of output channels which extend through the feed material to collect the hot gases, and through which the hot gases exit, allow for an efficient collection and management of the gases. That is, both the hot air and the gases and vapors produced by the charring reaction itself, are efficiently collected and managed instead of merely Being allowed to escape into the atmosphere to pollute.
• This efficient collection of gases has many benefits, as the collected gases can be used in the condensor conveyor to dry and heat the feed material before it enters the reactor module, or can be used again in the charring reaction after being heated. This is a benefit as these gases are already hot, and a minimum of energy is needed to bring their temperature up to that required by the charring reaction.
• any combustible gases (Including those created by the charring), which are efficient ly collected, can be used in the lower burner 35, as described
• the amount of fuel gas necessary to continue the charrin reaction is reduced, or eliminated entirely after start up.
• the present invention has been described as an apparatus for the production of charcoal, it has many other uses. those uses are grain drying, bulk powder storage and various calcining processes such, as CaCO 3 ⁇ CaO. As can be seen from the detailed description above, the present invention would be useful in those other applications.
• the present invention circulates hot gases through a mass of feed material and collects those gases efficiently. While some types of feed material undergo a reaction (wood feed material and CaCO 3 ) other types of feed material do not (grains and some powders). apparatus or process is in no way dependent upon the feed material undergoing a reaction. The invention merely supplies the hot gases efficiently and efficiently collects them.
• the present invention is excellent for the drying of any type of material as the channels through the feed material regularly break up the feed material as it moves through the reactor uni This regular breakup prevents the clumping of material, and al lows different surface areas of the feed material to be expose to the hot gases. In addition, it allows the hot gases to properly and efficiently circulate uniformly throughout the en tire mass of feed material.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
• Coke Industry (AREA)

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• 1979
  • 1979-05-30 BR BR7909012A patent/BR7909012A/pt unknown
  • 1979-05-30 WO PCT/US1979/000380 patent/WO1980002692A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1979-05-30 JP JP50178879A patent/JPS56500692A/ja active Pending
• 1980
  • 1980-12-15 EP EP19790901426 patent/EP0029427A4/fr not_active Withdrawn

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