Toroidal Pyrolysis Chamber with Dual Heating Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pyrolysis processes for biomass face inefficiencies in heat transfer to particulate biomass feedstock, limiting the overall efficiency and requiring longer equipment setups.

Innovation Solution

A pyrolysis chamber arrangement featuring a toroidal passage with inner and outer heating elements and an auger and ram assembly that forms compacted feedstock toroids, allowing for enhanced heat conduction and distribution, along with a gas feed system for simultaneous methane pyrolysis to produce hydrogen gas and mixed pyrolysis oil vapor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional pyrolysis processes are used with particulate biomass feedstock, then the equipment can process biomass, but the heat transfer efficiency is poor and the equipment footprint is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidequipment footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state of the biomass feedstock from particulate to compacted toroidal form. This parameter change in feedstock morphology enables significantly improved heat transfer efficiency while reducing the equipment footprint required for pyrolysis processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses toroidal (ring-shaped) compacted feedstock form instead of conventional particulate or cylindrical forms. The toroidal geometry provides optimal heat transfer characteristics from both inner and outer heating elements, improving energy efficiency while allowing for more compact equipment design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If conventional single heating element configuration is used, then the equipment structure is simple, but the heat distribution is insufficient and pyrolysis efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepyrolysis efficiencyVSAvoidheating element configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into two independent heating elements positioned inside and outside the toroidal passage. This segmentation allows each heating element to independently contribute to heat transfer, with the inner heating element heating the interior surface and the outer heating element heating the exterior surface, thereby improving overall pyrolysis efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the functions of inner and outer heating elements to work simultaneously on the same toroidal feedstock. This combination of heating sources from opposite directions creates synergistic heat transfer that significantly improves pyrolysis efficiency beyond what a single heating element could achieve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration improves energy efficiency, reduces equipment footprint, and enables faster pyrolysis with improved heat transfer, producing a carbon-neutral fuel while preventing backflow of hot gases.

Implementation Method 1

The inner and outer heating elements extend outside inner and outer walls of the toroidal passage, respectively, and supply thermal input therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The fast pyrolysis of biomass utilizes high temperatures (typically in excess of 450 degrees Celsius) to rapidly heat biomass in the absence of oxygen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPyrolysis: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

The auger and ram assembly forms compacted feedstock toroids within the toroidal passage at the inlet end which are advanced through the toroidal passage by the formation of subsequent toroids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

methane pyrolysis occurs in the inner passage simultaneously with the biomass pyrolysis in the toroidal chamber, resulting in mixing of hydrogen gas and the pyrolysis oil vapor at the outlet end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPyrolysis: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS20240301292A1Toroidal pyrolysis chamber arrangement and related systems and methods

Publication Date: 2024.09.12 AMERICAN BIO ENERGY CONVERTING

AI summary

A pyrolysis chamber arrangement includes a pyrolysis chamber, a solid feed system and inner and outer heating elements. The pyrolysis chamber defines a toroidal passage extending along a chamber axis between inlet and outlet ends. The solid feed system includes an auger and ram assembly operable to supply particulate feedstock to the toroidal passage at the inlet end. The inner and outer heating elements extend outside inner and outer walls of the toroidal passage, respectively, and supply thermal input therethrough. An inner passage can be defined in the pyrolysis chamber, allowing gas or other pyrolysis to be accomplished simultaneously with the pyrolysis in the toroidal chamber.