Biomass Bio Oil Upgrade Method

Abstract

A bio oil pyrolysis and conditioning system produces a useful fuel oil. The pyrolysis system includes an auger carrying biomass feed material though an oxygen rare pyrolysis chamber. Vapor phase bio oil is collected at three locations along the length of the pyrolysis chamber and carried from the pyrolysis chamber to condensers and quenched by a water spray before release into the condensers. The water also serving as a solvent to reduce pH in the liquid phase raw bio oil. The raw bio oil is carried to a conditioning system where the raw bio oil resides in a separation tank where the water separates and is removed producing refined bio oil. Ethanol is mixed with the refined bio oil to provide the fuel oil.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to biomass bio oil and in particular to a method for converting biomass feed material into a useful fuel oil.

[0002] Biomass is comprised mainly of cellulose, hemi cellulose and lignin. A typical woody biomass may contain 40-50% cellulose, 25-35% hemi cellulose, and 15-18% lignin. Typical yields from a slow pyrolysis machine are 30% charcoal containing 70% plus carbon, 35% non-condensable gases containing hydrogen, methane, carbon mono oxide, carbon dioxide primarily, and 35% pyrolysis oil, also known as bio oil or bio crude, consisting tar, aldehydes, formic acid, acetic acid, water, esters, phenols, sugar derivatives, lignins. Such typical slow pyrolysis machine yields oil and charcoal in nearly equal portions. Slow pyrolysis involves heating of dried biomass (<8% moisture) in an oxygen free environment at 450-500 degrees centigrade in heated auger tubes. The process involves thermo chemical conversion of solid biomas...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0032]A pyrolysis system 10 for producing bio oil according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The pyrolysis system 10 primarily includes a pyrolysis chamber 12 and condensers 38a, 38b, and 38c. An auger 16 residing in an auger housing 14 extends through the length of the pyrolysis chamber 12 and is rotated by a motor 18. Biomass feed material 20, for example dry sawdust, is fed through an entry 21 into the auger housing 14 at one end of the pyrolysis chamber 12 and charcoal material 22 is released from the auger housing 14 through a chute 23 at an opposite end of the pyrolysis chamber 12. The interior of the pyrolysis chamber 12 is subs...

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to biomass bio oil and in particular to a method for converting biomass feed material into a useful fuel oil.

[0002] Biomass is comprised mainly of cellulose, hemi cellulose and lignin. A typical woody biomass may contain 40-50% cellulose, 25-35% hemi cellulose, and 15-18% lignin. Typical yields from a slow pyrolysis machine are 30% charcoal containing 70% plus carbon, 35% non-condensable gases containing hydrogen, methane, carbon mono oxide, carbon dioxide primarily, and 35% pyrolysis oil, also known as bio oil or bio crude, consisting tar, aldehydes, formic acid, acetic acid, water, esters, phenols, sugar derivatives, lignins. Such typical slow pyrolysis machine yields oil and charcoal in nearly equal portions. Slow pyrolysis involves heating of dried biomass (<8% moisture) in an oxygen free environment at 450-500 degrees centigrade in heated auger tubes. The process involves thermo chemical conversion of solid biomas...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0032]A pyrolysis system 10 for producing bio oil according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The pyrolysis system 10 primarily includes a pyrolysis chamber 12 and condensers 38a, 38b, and 38c. An auger 16 residing in an auger housing 14 extends through the length of the pyrolysis chamber 12 and is rotated by a motor 18. Biomass feed material 20, for example dry sawdust, is fed through an entry 21 into the auger housing 14 at one end of the pyrolysis chamber 12 and charcoal material 22 is released from the auger housing 14 through a chute 23 at an opposite end of the pyrolysis chamber 12. The interior of the pyrolysis chamber 12 is subs...

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