System and method for refining combustible pellets or wood chips

The system addresses combustion and moisture issues in pellet refining by using a baffled drum with superheated steam in a low-oxygen, controlled-speed process, achieving enhanced water-repellency and reduced COD in combustible pellets or wood chips.

WO2026132116A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-06-25E3 CARBON GMBH
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
E3 CARBON GMBH
Filing Date
2025-12-17
Publication Date
2026-06-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing methods for refining combustible pellets and wood chips are prone to dust explosions and combustion due to high oxygen content and high streaming speeds, leading to moisture absorption and structural degradation.

Method used

A system using a rotatable drum with baffles and superheated steam as a heating medium, which circulates pellets or wood chips in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere at controlled low speeds, ensuring minimal oxygen content and direct contact with the heating medium to enhance water-repellency and reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD).

Benefits of technology

The system effectively prevents combustion and moisture absorption, enhancing the water-repellency and energy content of pellets or wood chips while significantly reducing COD in leachates, making them suitable for outdoor storage.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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    Figure EP2025087821_25062026_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

A system (1) for refining pellets or wood chips (2) by heat comprises a driven rotatable drum (3) which extends along and is rotatable around a longitudinal axis (4). The drum (3) has a product inlet (6) for receiving the pellets (2) or wood chips at a first end (7) of the drum (3) and a product outlet (8) for dispensing the pellets (2) at a second end (9) of the drum (3). The drum (3) comprises multiple baffles which, upon rotation of the drum (3), are adapted to circulate the pellets or wood chips (2) in the drum (3) and to convey the pellets or wood chips (2) from the product inlet (6) to the product outlet (8) along a conveying direction (12). The baffles extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) from the first end (7) towards the second end (9) of the drum (3). The baffles are mounted at equal angular distances from one another in a circumferential direction of the drum (3), thereby forming multiple openings through which a heating medium streams into and out of the drum (3). The system (1) further comprises a housing (110) surrounding the drum (3). The housing (110) comprises an inlet port (13) for introducing the heating medium into the housing (110) and towards the drum (3) and an outlet port (14) for dispensing the heating medium from the housing (110) and away from the rotatable drum (3). The system (1) further comprises a heating system (15) for heating the pellets or wood chips (2) in the drum (3) comprising at least one heating circuit (16) with the heating medium and with a heat source (17). The heating circuit (16) has a supply line (19) connecting the heat source (17) and the inlet port (13) of the housing and a return line (20) connecting the outlet port (14) of the housing (110) and the heat source (17). The heating medium is superheated steam, which is supplied through the supply line (19) from the heat source (17) to the inlet port (13) of the housing (110), streams through the housing (110) and through the rotatable drum (3) and returns through the return line (20) from the outlet port (14) to the heat source (17). The heat source (17) is adapted to deliver heat to the heating medium to produce superheated steam.
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