Aries Clean Technologies LLC

Sundrop Fuels, Inc.

Aries Gasification, LLC

Other

Sundrop IP Holdings, LLC

Renus Kelfkens

Brandon Davis

Matthew Newman

Wayne W Simmons

Douglas S Jack

Steve C Lythgoe

Joel Thornton

Ron Hudson

Mark Robertson

Deon John Potgieter

Mark Oliver Loftin

Jeffrey Scott Brown

Jerrod Wayne Hohman

Billy Freeman Hopper

William P Jepson

Gerald M Cox

Paul Cairney

Douglas R Bull

Ross Patten

Andrew W Broerman

Sidney P White

Herbert Mark Kosstrin

Joseph Mikhail

Andrew Argo

Exemplary apparatus or method implementations for a universal feeder system configured with a transfer screw feeder within a multi-section clamshell pipe permitting access to the feed screw and pipe interior for inspection, maintenance and/or cleaning during production, without disassembly or screw removal. The clamshell screw feeder pipe provides access to the screw by opening or removing the multi-section top portion of the clamshell pipe. The top pipe section is bolted and or hinges to the bottom portion of the clamshell pipe. The number of segmented multiple clamshell top sections depends on the length of the screw. One or more clamshell top sections may be configured with an inspection port. The universal feeder system configured with a transfer screw feeder within a multi-section clamshell pipe transfers feedstock feed from one or more feed vessels to one or more reactor vessel.

Universal feeder with clamshell transfer screw

An apparatus and methods to eliminate PFAS from wastewater biosolids through fluidized bed gasification. The gasifier decomposes the PFAS in the biosolids at temperatures of 900-1800&#xb0; F. Synthesis gas (syngas) exits the gasifier which is coupled to a thermal oxidizer and is combusted at temperatures of 1600-2600&#xb0; F. This decomposes PFAS in the syngas and creates flue gas. Heat can be recovered from the flue gas by cooling the flue gas to temperatures of 400-1200&#xb0; F. in a heat exchanger that is coupled with the thermal oxidizer. Cooled flue gas is mixed with hydrated lime, enhancing PFAS decomposition, with the spent lime filtered from the cooled flue gas using a filter system that may incorporate catalyst impregnated filter elements. The apparatus and methods thereby eliminate PFAS from wastewater biosolids and control emissions in the resulting flue gas.

Method of elimination of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a wastewater biosolids gasification process using a thermal oxidizer and hydrated lime injection

A method and system for continuous production of contaminant free and size specific biochar using downdraft gasification of variable quality feedstock. The system and process of the present invention includes the transfer of biochar from a gasifier after gasification to a temperature-controlled cooling screw conveyor, into a drum magnet for ferrous metal removal into multiple diverters to separate and remove ungasified materials and non-ferrous metal contaminants, then transferred into a granulator for grinding and screening the biochar to a pre-selected size. By directly attaching a novel and continuous product treatment process to the biochar stream as it exits the gasifier, the particle size, moisture content, carbon content and yield of a contaminant free biochar product can be narrowly controlled and improved to meet strict product quality specifications required by specialty applications.

System and process for continuous production of contaminate free, size specific biochar following gasification

Elimination of poly- and perfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) in a wastewater biosolids gasification process using a thermal oxidizer and hydrated lime injection

A universal feeder system that combines with a fluidized bed gasification reactor for the treatment of multiple diverse feedstocks including sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, wood waste, refuse derived fuels, automotive shredder residue and non-recyclable plastics. The invention thereby also illustrates a method of gasification for multiple and diverse feedstocks using a universal feeder system. The feeder system comprises one or more feed vessels and at least one live bottom dual screw feeder. The feed vessel is rectangular shaped having three vertical sides and an angled side of no less than 60 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate proper flow of feedstock material that have different and/or variable flow properties. The feedstocks are transferred through an open bottom chute to a live bottom dual screw feeder and through another open bottom chute to a transfer screw feeder that conveys feedstock to the fuel feed inlets of a gasifier.

Universal feeder for gasification reactors

An interconnected set of two or more stages of reactors to form a bio-reforming reactor that generates syngas for a number of different liquid fuel or chemical processes is discussed. A first stage includes a circulating fluidized bed reactor that is configured to cause a chemical devolatilization of the biomass into its reaction products of constituent gases, tars, chars, and other components, which exit through a reactor output from the first stage. A second stage of the bio-reforming reactor has an input configured to receive a stream of some of the reaction products that includes the constituent gases and at least some of the tars as raw syngas, and then chemically reacts the raw syngas within a vessel of the second stage to make the raw syngas from the first stage into a chemical grade syngas by further cracking the tars, excess methane, or both.

Integrated process plant having a biomass reforming reactor using a fluidized bed

A large-scale fluidized bed biogasifier provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel with a pipe distributor and at least two fuel feed inlets for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired fuel feed rate of more than 40 tons per day with an average of about 100 tons per day during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the targeted fuel feed rate such that the superficial velocity of gas is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In operation, biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900&#xb0; F. (482.2&#xb0; C.) and 1600&#xb0; F. (871.1&#xb0; C.).

Gasification reactor with pipe distributor

A downdraft gasifier and method of gasification with high yield biochar that utilizes a plurality of high throughput, vertically positioned tubes to create a pyrolysis zone, an oxidation zone beneath the pyrolysis zone and a reduction zone beneath the oxidation zone. A rotating and vertically adjustable rotating grate is located beneath the reduction zone of the gasifier. In addition, a drying zone is located above the pyrolysis zone so the heat of the gasifier can be used to dry feedstock before it enters the gasifier. By optimizing the grate height and rpm, feedstock retention time in the drying zone, the drying zone temperature and feedstock moisture content, the result is gasification of biomass with a high yield and continuous biochar production.

Method for gasifying feedstock with high yield production of biochar

Multiple stages of reactors form a bio-reforming reactor that generates chemical grade bio-syngas for any of 1) a methanol synthesis reactor, 2) a Methanol-to-Gasoline reactor train, 3) a high temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train, and 4) any combination of these three that use the chemical grade bio-syngas derived from biomass fed into the bio-reforming reactor. A tubular chemical reactor of a second stage has inputs configured to receive chemical feedstock from at least two sources, i) the raw syngas from the reactor output of the first stage via a cyclone, and ii) purge gas containing renewable carbon-based gases that are recycled back via a recycle loop as a chemical feedstock from any of 1) the downstream methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) the downstream methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, or 3) purge gas from both trains. The plant produces fuel products with solely 100% biogenic carbon content as well as fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content.

Multi-purpose application of the second stage of a 2-stage bio-reforming reactor system for reforming bio-syngas, natural gas and process recycle streams

A bio-reforming reactor receives biomass to generate chemical grade syngas for a coupled downstream train of a low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train that uses this syngas derived from the biomass in the bio-reforming reactor. A renewable carbon content of the produced gasoline, jet fuel, and/or diesel derived from the coupled downstream train the low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train are optimized for recovery of renewable carbon content to produce fuel products with 100% biogenic carbon content and/or fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content. The low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train produces syncrude, transportation fuels such as bio-gasoline or bio-diesel, or a combination thereof.

Flexible options for utilizing naphtha from a low temperature Fischer-Tropsch process in a plant converting biomass to syncrude or transportation fuels

A bio-reforming reactor receives biomass to generate chemical grade syngas for a coupled downstream train of any of 1) a methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) a methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, and 3) a high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train, that use this syngas derived from the biomass in the bio-reforming reactor. A renewable carbon content of the produced gasoline, jet fuel, and/or diesel derived from the coupled downstream trains of any of 1) the methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) the methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, or 3) the high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train are optimized for recovery of renewable carbon content to produce fuel products with 100% biogenic carbon content and/or fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content. A carbon-dioxide gas feedback loop cooperates with a CO2 separation unit to supply a fraction of the CO2 gas that is removed from the chemical grade syngas produced from the reactor output of the BRR to supply extracted CO2 gas to the biomass feed system.

Integrated biofuels process configurations, employing a 2-stage bio-reforming reactor system, in which renewable carbon content of gasoline and diesel are optimized for value

An integrated plant to generate chemical grade syngas from a steam biomass reforming in a multiple stage bio reforming reactor for use with either a high temperature or low temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process to produce fuel from biomass is discussed. The first stage has a reactor to cause a chemical devolatilization of a biomass feedstock from the biomass feedstock supply lines into its constituent gases of CO, H2, CO2, CH4, tars, chars, and other components into a raw syngas mixture. A second stage performs further reforming of the raw syngas from the first stage into the chemical grade syngas by further applying heat and pressure to chemically crack at least the tars, reform the CH4, or a combination of both, into their corresponding syngas molecules. The second stage feeds the chemical grade syngas derived from the biomass feedstock to the downstream Fischer-Tropsch train to produce the fuel from the biomass. One or more recycle loops supply tail gas or FT product back into the plant.

Biomass to transportation fuels using a Fischer-Tropsch process

An integrated plant is provided to improve carbon utilization of carbon molecules from gasified woody biomass to be converted into methanol. Detectors ensure a minimized sulfur content of less than 0.05% by dry weight of the woody biomass. A biomass gasifier reacts woody biomass in a rapid gasification reaction to produce a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon dioxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. Parallel to the gasifier, a hydrocarbon reforming reactor provides a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. The combined syngas mixture from the biomass gasifier and the hydrocarbon reforming reactor comprises feed to a methanol synthesis plant, such that a majority of the carbon dioxide produced by the biomass gasification reaction and the hydrogen produced by the hydrocarbon reforming reactor are synthesized into methanol.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Renus Kelfkens