Other

Xtrudx Technologies, Inc.

James D Flynn

Thomas Erik Loop

Graham G Allan

G Graham Allan

Kevin O Gaw

Steven C Van Swearingen

The machinery and methods disclosed herein are based on the use of a specialized extruder configured to continuously convey and plasticize/moltenize selected lignocellulosic biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a novel variable volume tubular reactor, wherein the plasticized/moltenized material undergoes reaction with circumferentially injected supercritical water&#x2014;thereby yielding valuable simple sugar solutions and/or liquid hydrocarbon mixtures (e.g., 'neodiesel'), both of which are key chemical commodity products. The reaction time may be adjusted by changing the reactor volume. The machinery includes four zones: (1) a feedstock conveyance and plasticization/moltenization zone; (2) a steam generation and manifold distribution zone; (3) a central supercritical water reaction zone; and (4) a pressure let-down and reaction product separation zone. The machinery and methods minimize water usage&#x2014;thereby enabling the economic utilization of abundant biomass and waste plastics as viable renewable feedstocks for subsequent conversion into alternative liquid transportation fuels and valuable green-chemical products.

Tubular reactor for supercritical water reaction

Machine and methods for transforming biomass and/or waste plastics via supercritical water reaction

A method for transforming selected plant or plant-derived materials, and optionally selected waste plastics, into a plurality of phenolic reaction products having a lower sulphur content than the original feedstock, via supercritical water is disclosed. The method comprises: conveying the selected plant or plant-derived materials, and optionally waste plastic material, through an extruder, wherein the extruder is configured to continuously convey the selected feedstock to a supercritical fluid reaction zone; injecting hot compressed water into the supercritical fluid reaction zone, while the extruder is conveying the selected plant and/or plant-derived mixture and optionally waste plastic material into the supercritical fluid reaction zone so as to yield a water-containing mixture; retaining the mixture within the reaction zone for a period of time sufficient to yield the plurality of phenolic reaction products having a lower sulphur content than the original feedstock. The reaction zone may be characterized by a tubular reactor having an adjustably positionable inner tubular spear, wherein the tubular reactor and the inner tubular spear further define an annular space within the reaction zone, and wherein the mixture flows through the annular space and into a reaction products chamber for separation into three phases.

Phenolic resin precursors via supercritical water

A method for transforming selected renewable oils and fats, and optionally polyester waste plastic materials, into a plurality of reaction products via supercritical water is disclosed. The method comprises: conveying the selected oils and fats material through an extruder, wherein the extruder is configured to continuously convey the selected oils and fats material to a supercritical fluid reaction zone; injecting hot compressed water into the supercritical fluid reaction zone, while the extruder is conveying the selected oil and fats material into the supercritical fluid reaction zone so as to yield a mixture; retaining the mixture within the reaction zone for a period of time sufficient to yield the plurality of reaction products. The reaction zone may be characterized by a tubular reactor having an adjustably positionable inner tubular spear, wherein the tubular reactor and the inner tubular spear further define an annular space within the reaction zone, and wherein the mixture flows through the annular space and into a reaction products chamber.

Production of biodiesel from oils and fats via supercritical water

A method for transforming a selected polymeric material into a plurality of reaction products via supercritical water is disclosed. The method comprises: conveying the selected polymeric material through an extruder, wherein the extruder is configured to continuously convey the selected polymeric material to a supercritical fluid reaction zone; injecting hot compressed water into the supercritical fluid reaction zone, while the extruder is conveying the selected polymeric material into the supercritical fluid reaction zone so as to yield a mixture; retaining the mixture within the reaction zone for a period of time sufficient to yield the plurality of reaction products. The reaction zone may be characterized by a tubular reactor having an adjustably positionable inner tubular spear, wherein the tubular reactor and the inner tubular spear further define an annular space within the reaction zone, and wherein the mixture flows through the annular space and into a reaction products chamber.

Biomass and waste plastics depolymerization machine and methods via supercritical water

A novel dog training device for preventing a dog from breaking before the dog's trainer releases the dog to retrieve an object is disclosed herein. The dog training device comprises: a restraining strap for restraining the dog; a device body attachable to the ground; and a pin assembly that includes a releasable strap pin. The pin assembly is connected to the device body. The restraining strap is attached to the releasable strap pin and configured to loop around the dog. The releasable strap pin includes a catch configured to engage a movable latch positioned adjacent to the strap pin, and the movable latch is connected to an actuator configured to move the latch in a back and forth direction to thereby engage or disengage the latch from the catch. The actuator is activated by a remote control device.

Dog training device

A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as 'neodiesel.' In one embodiment, a supercritical fluid reaction apparatus for transforming a selected polymeric material flowstream into a plurality of reaction products is disclosed and comprises, in fluidic series: an extruder; a supercritical fluid reaction zone fluidicly connected to the extruder, the supercritical fluid reaction zone being proximate to a circumferentially positioned heater, with the heater being configured to transfer heat to the selected polymeric material flowstream admixed together with water to supercritical conditions to thereby facilitate chemical reaction; and a reaction products separation chamber fluidicly connected to the supercritical fluid reaction zone.

Biomass and waste plastics to neodiesel and valuable chemicals via supercritical water

The invention disclosed herein is directed to a chair mount assembly and related kit for retrofitting a bench-style boat seat or thwart. The inventive chair mount assembly kit includes (1) first and second rails; (2) first and second sliders having respective first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion of the first slider section includes a first rail connector and the first end portion of the second slider section includes a second rail connector, and wherein the first rail connector is matingly and slidably engagable to the first rail and the second rail connector is matingly and slidably engagable to the second rail; and (3) an interconnecting base plate adjustably connectable to the second end portions of the first and second sliders and movable together with the first and second sliders back and forth along the first and second rails.

Chair mount assembly and related kit for retrofitting a bench-style boat seat or thwart

Disclosed herein are supercritical fluid biomass conversion machines, systems, and methods for converting a wide range of biomass materials into a plurality of reaction products including fermentable sugars and various aromatic substances. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that comprises the steps of: providing an extruder; conveying a mixture of the selected biomass material and water through the extruder and into a supercritical fluid biomass conversion zone; heating and further pressurizing the mixture within the supercritical fluid biomass conversion zone to yield at least supercritical water, wherein heat energy is supplied by means of an induction heating coil positioned circumferentially about the supercritical fluid biomass conversion zone; retaining the mixture within the supercritical fluid biomass conversion zone for a period of time sufficient to yield the plurality of reaction products; and separating the plurality of reaction products into at least a water soluble fraction and an organic solvent soluble fraction.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, WA, United States of America

James D Flynn