Other

Energy Products of Idaho

Outotec Oyj

Michael L Murphy

Norman K Sowards

James M Scranton

LeRoy B Pope

Ronald A Siverson

Ben H Cosby

Greg Dahlstrom

Michael E Tracey

Michael K Kologi

James R Thomas

Mark R Castle

Peter Mohr

Douglas W Scrafford

A fluidized bed is described and which includes a multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds positioned in spaced relation one relative to the others; an enclosure positioned in gravity receiving relation relative to the multiplicity of fluidizing manifolds and which has an intake and a discharge end, and wherein particulate matter received in the fluidized bed moves under the influence of gravity from the intake end to the discharge end, and a moveable gate is mounted on the second discharge end of the enclosure and which is operable to selectively occlude a discharge aperture and which further facilitates the selective removal of particulate matter and waste material entrained with same, and which moves under the influence of gravity to the discharge end thereof.

Fluidized bed

A biomass gasifier apparatus () produces low BTU gas from biomass, while removing the char and ash in an efficient manner. A fluidized bed gasifier cell () receives biomass fuel from a fuel input system (). A preferred fluidized bed gasifier cell includes a vertically oriented cylindrical enclosure. A layer of bed material (), typically having a consistency similar to sand, is carried at the base of the enclosure. A plenum () supplies hot compressed gas to a plurality of parallel manifolds (), each of which support a number of nozzles (). Gas released by the nozzles fluidizes the bed, catalyzing the process of gasification of the biomass, while a low oxygen environment prevents excessive combustion. A bed change-out system () removes waste introduced into the fluidized bed gasifier with the biomass. Gas discharged from an upper portion of the fluidized bed gasifier includes low BTU gas that is the desired output of the system. In a preferred application, this gas is injected into a cyclone (). An upper portion of the cyclone discharges low BTU gas at high-temperature, for use in a boiler or other application, often along with a fossil fuel.

Biomass gasifier apparatus and method

An apparatus (,) for recovering hydrocarbons or other volatile material from granular solids includes an infeed conveyor (,) that moves the mud, containing a mixture of particulate solids and hydrocarbons, into the fluid bed (,). The fluid bed fluidizes the mud; i.e. transforms the mud from a first condition wherein it is a mass having a consistency with elements of similarity with oatmeal, to a second condition wherein it is a mass of swirling particles. Some of the particles leave the fluid bed through a slide gate at the bottom. Other particles, gas and the hydrocarbons leave the fluid bed through an opening at the top, and are transferred to one or more cyclones (,). In the cyclones, the rapid circular motion of the gas, hydrocarbons and particles results in the particles hitting the inside surface of the cyclone, sliding downwardly, and leaving the cyclone through a slide gate. The mixture of gas and hydrocarbons leave the cyclone and moves through a spray apparatus (,), which removes the hydrocarbons from the mixture, and into an oil-condensing tank (,). A fan assembly (,) draws gas from an upper portion of the oil-condensing tank and delivers it to a preheater (,) where the temperature of the gas is elevated. The heated gas is then recirculated by release through a plurality of nozzles within the fluid bed. A thermal fluid heat source (,) provides heat energy to in-bed tubes within the fluid bed and to the gas preheater.

Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from granular solids

A continuously operable fluidized bed vessel system and method for incinerating and disposing of materials which produce high tramp residue. The system is particularly effective in combusting shredded tires and disposing of large amounts of wire tramp without requiring down-time for cleaning. Emission of undesirable gases is controlled by a sensing and controlling system which provides for automatic injection of combustion by-product-modifying gases and solids. Further control of undesirable gas emission is controlled by employing sealed combustible material input and solid waste output ports. Fluidizable bed material which is entrapped and discharged with the other residue is separated from magnetic tramp and larger grain sized non-magnetic tramp and recycled to continuously replenish the fluidized bed. The bottom of the fluidized bed comprises layers of sloping, overlapping plates which offer no impediment to movement of wire and other tramp moving downwardly, away from the periphery of the vessel, toward a discharge chute and which may be numerically increased to form the bottom of a vessel of unlimited size. The wire and other tramp are continuously urged toward the discharge chute by gravitational force combined with air streaming from spaces between the overlapping plates in the downward plane of the plates. The same air stream ultimately vectors upward toward the vessel outlet to provide support for the fluidized bed.

Fluidized bed combustion

A continuously operable fluidized bed vessel system and method for incinerating and disposing of materials which produce high tramp residue. The system is particularly effective in combusting shredded tire and disposing of large amounts of wire tramp without requiring down-time for cleaning. Emission of undesirable gases is controlled by a sensing and controlling system which provides for automatic injection of combustion by-product-modifying gases and solids. Further control of undesirable gas emission is controlled by employing sealed combustible material input and solid waste output ports. Fluidizable bed material which is entrapped and discharged with the other residue is separated from magnetic tramp and larger grain sized non-magnetic tramp and recycled to continuously replenish the fluidized bed. The bottom of the fluidized bed comprises layers of sloping, overlapping plates which offer no impediment to movement of wire and other tramp moving downwardly, away from the periphery of the vessel, toward a discharge chute and which may be numerically increased to form the bottom of a vessel of unlimited size. The wire and other tramp are continuously urged toward the discharge chute by gravitational force combined with air streaming from spaces between the overlapping plates in the downward plane of the plates. The same air stream ultimately vectors upward toward the vessel outlet to provide support for the fluidized bed.

Growing community of inventors

Coeur d'Alene, ID, United States of America

Michael L Murphy