Environmentally compatible integrated food and energy production system

Abstract

The present invention relates to the collection of food and energy production units with attendant processing units into an integrated system capable of substantially boosting the efficiency and economics of food and energy production while greatly reducing the impact on the environment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system and process further includes sufficient land area for crop production and uptake of nutrients and water.

1 . An energy production system for the production of biofuel utilizing separated biological solids from an animal production facility as an energy source for biofuel production. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said separated biological solids are dried prior to utilization in said biofuel production system. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said processed biological solids are dried to greater than about 20 percent solids. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said separated biological solids are processed prior to utilization in said biofuel production system. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said separation comprises segregating said biological solids into at least one component containing a preponderance of one of cellulosic solids, hemicellulosic solids, and lignin materials, and at least one other component. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       8 . An integrated food and energy production system comprising:
 a biofuel production facility producing energy products from fermentable materials through a fermentation process;   an animal production facility comprising animals from the group consisting of dairy cows, beef cattle, poultry, and pigs;   an environmental management facility comprising a means to process waste from at least one of said animal production facility and said biofuel production facility; and   an energy conversion facility, wherein at least one from the group consisting of biological solids from said environmental management facility and biogas containing methane from said environmental management facility are converted into usable forms of heat energy; wherein said heat energy is utilized in said biofuel facility.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a soil crop facility, wherein output from said environmental management facility is applied for uptake of water and processing of nutrients on agriculturally productive land. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a food and commercial products facility producing at least one of a food and a commercial product. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 36 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one of food and commercial product is from the group consisting of milk, cheese, ice cream, vegetable canning, vegetable freezing, fruit juice, wine, soft drinks, eggs, and meat. 
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one of food and commercial product is from the group consisting of saw mills and paper. 
   
   
       49 . An integrated food and energy production system comprising:
 a biofuel production facility producing energy products from fermentable substrates through a fermentation process;   at least two animal production facilities each comprising animals from the group consisting of dairy cows, beef cattle, poultry, and pigs;   at least two environmental management facilities each comprising a means to process waste from at least one of said at least two animal production facilities and said biofuel production facility; and   at least two energy conversion facilities, wherein at least one from the group consisting of biological solids from at least one of said at least two environmental management facilities and biogas containing methane from at least one of said at least two environmental management facilities are converted into usable forms of heat energy; and wherein said heat energy is utilized in said biofuel facility.   
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 51 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       62 . (The system of  claim 49 , further comprising at least one soil crop facility, wherein effluent from said environmental management facility is applied for uptake of water and processing of nutrients on agriculturally productive land. 
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 64 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       74 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising at least one food and commercial products facility producing at least one of a food and a commercial product. 
   
   
       76 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein at least a portion of said fermentation byproducts from said biofuel production facility are utilized in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       77 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein said biofuel production facility produces a spirit through distillation of fermentation liquor creating wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       78 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein said spirit is one from the group consisting of ethanol, butanol and biodiesel. 
   
   
       79 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       80 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein all of said wet distillers grains is fed to said animals as rations. 
   
   
       81 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein said heat energy is in the form of one from the group consisting of high grade heat energy and low grade heat energy. 
   
   
       82 . The system of  claim 77 ; wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said distillation process, the drying of biological solids, and heating said biofuel production facility's fermentation liquid and process. 
   
   
       83 . The system of  claim 75 , further comprising the utilization of said heat energy in said animal production facility. 
   
   
       84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein said utilization comprises use of said heat energy for at least one from the group consisting of said drying of biological solids, heating said animal production facility during cold weather, and heating of biological processing components. 
   
   
       85 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein said dried solids are utilized as bedding in said animal production facility for said animals. 
   
   
       86 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 3 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein said animal production facility comprises a CAFO with a herd concentration greater than about 20 cows per acre of land. 
   
   
       88 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein said at least one of food and commercial product is from the group consisting of milk, cheese, ice cream, vegetable canning, vegetable freezing, fruit juice, wine, soft drinks, eggs, and meat. 
   
   
       89 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein said at least one of food and commercial product is from the group consisting of saw mills and paper. 
   
   
       90 . A method to produce transportable high energy content biological solids comprising:
 collecting organic waste at an animal production;   separating said organic wastes by various means to separate cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and lignin materials from other materials;   drying said separated organic wastes to create dried organic solids greater than about 20 percent solids; and   converting said dried organic wastes into usable forms of heat energy.   
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising transporting said dried organic solids to a biofuel production facility. 
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising utilizing said heat energy in at least one of a biofuel production facility, an animal production facility, and an environmental management facility. 
   
   
       93 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein said converting of said dried organic wastes comprises combustion of said organic waste. 
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said drying of said separated organic waste comprises use of heat from said combustion. 
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising production of spirits through a dry milling fermentation process utilizing corn grains and heat from said combustion. 
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein said production of spirits comprises the production of wet distillers grains. 
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein at least a portion of said wet distillers grains are fed to animals as rations.