Apparatus to convey material to a pressurized vessel and method for the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for conveying fibrous, solid and slurry materials, such as granulated wood, rice hulls, chopped cane and the like, to a pressurized vessel, wherein the material being conveyed is compacted in the feeder in a controlled manner to create a seal at the feeder exit into the pressurized vessel whereby the processing pressure in the vessel is maintained. The invention is particularly useful when used in conjunction with a biomass reactor for the production of gas selectively rich in hydrogen and carbon containing components, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane, which in turn, may be converted into a select end product fuel, such as methanol or ethanol or used as a feed gas for an industrial power plant, such a the biomass reactor for producing gas.

1 . A conveying apparatus for adding fibrous solids or slurries to a pressurized vessel comprising:
 a feed hopper containing a fibrous material for addition to a pressurized vessel;   a pipe having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet connected to said feed hopper;   an auger for transporting said material from said inlet to said outlet enclosed in said pipe, said auger extending from said inlet to said outlet;   a discharge housing intermediate to said pipe outlet and said pressurized vessel, said discharge housing having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;   a material retention chamber for collecting and discharging said fibrous material having a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, said chamber inlet connected to said pipe outlet and projecting through said first opening into said discharge housing such that said material is discharged to said discharge housing when said chamber outlet is not sealed;   a piston having a conical end for sealing said material retention chamber outlet, said piston disposed for horizontal movement with respect to said discharge housing and positioned across from said material retention chamber outlet, said conical end engaging said chamber outlet thereby creating a seal when said conical end is engaged and preventing the discharge of said material into said discharge housing; and   said pressurized vessel having a feed inlet adjacent to said third opening of said discharge housing whereby said material is transferred from said discharge housing to said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       2 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a metering device intermediate to said feed hopper and said pipe inlet for regulating flow of said fibrous material.   
   
   
       3 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a grinder intermediate to said third opening in said discharge housing and said feed inlet of said pressurized vessel for maintaining uniform flow into said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       4 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a feed valve intermediate to said third opening in said discharge housing and said feed inlet of said pressurized vessel for controlling flow into said pressurized feeder.   
   
   
       5 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said conical end of said piston has a angle of vertex of about 45 degrees; and   said material retention chamber and chamber outlet have a diameter of about three inches.   
   
   
       6 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said conical end of said piston has a angle of vertex ranging between 45 and 80 degrees; and   said material retention chamber and chamber outlet have a diameter ranging between three and eight inches.   
   
   
       7 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a reactor for processing said material connected to said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       8 . A conveying apparatus for adding biomass feed to a pressurized vessel comprising:
 a feed hopper containing a biomass material for addition to a pressurized vessel;   a pipe having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet connected to said feed hopper;   an auger for transporting said material from said inlet to said outlet enclosed in said pipe, said auger extending from said inlet to said outlet;   a discharge housing intermediate to said pipe outlet and said pressurized vessel, said discharge housing having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;   a material retention chamber for collecting and discharging said fibrous material having a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, said chamber inlet connected to said pipe outlet and projecting through said first opening into said discharge housing such that said material is discharged to said discharge housing when said chamber outlet is not sealed;   a piston having a conical end for sealing said material retention chamber outlet, said piston disposed for horizontal movement with respect to said discharge housing and positioned across from said material retention chamber outlet, said conical end engaging said chamber outlet thereby creating a seal when said conical end is engaged and preventing the discharge of said material into said discharge housing; and   said pressurized vessel having a feed inlet adjacent to said third opening of said discharge housing whereby said material is transferred from said discharge housing to said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       9 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a metering device intermediate to said feed hopper and said pipe inlet for regulating flow of said biomass material.   
   
   
       10 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a grinder intermediate to said third opening in said discharge housing and said feed inlet of said pressurized vessel for maintaining uniform flow into said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       11 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a feed valve intermediate to said third opening in said discharge housing and said feed inlet of said pressurized vessel for controlling flow into said pressurized feeder.   
   
   
       12 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a biomass reactor for gasification of said biomass material connected to said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       13 . The conveying apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 a biomass reactor for production of synthesis gas by pyrolysis of said biomass material connected to said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       14 . A method of transferring fibrous solids or slurries to a pressurized vessel utilizing said fibrous material to maintain a seal to prevent backflow of gas from said pressurized vessel which comprises:
 engaging a conical end of a piston with a material retention chamber intermediate to a feed hopper and a pressurized vessel by applying an external pressure to a rear end of said piston thereby blocking an outlet of said material retention chamber;   conveying a fibrous material from a feed hopper to said material retention chamber causing said material to accumulate in said material retention chamber forming a material plug which creates a seal between said feed hopper and said pressurized vessel to prevent backflow of gas from said pressurized vessel, said material plug applies an internal pressure on said conical end of said piston; and   forcing said conical end of said piston to disengage with said material retention chamber when said internal pressure exceeds said external pressure thereby discharging said material from said material retention chamber to said pressurized vessel but retaining said material plug in said material retention chamber to prevent backflow of gas from said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 metering said material into said material retention chamber at a controlled rate.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 grinding said material that is discharged from said material retention chamber before it enters said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 controlling flow of material into said pressurized vessel utilizing a valve intermediate to said material retention chamber outlet and said pressurized vessel.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 a vessel pressure of about 30 psig is maintained in said pressurized vessel; and   said external pressure applied to said rear end of said piston is about 60 psig.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 said fibrous material is a biomass material.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 mixing said biomass material with a transport gas in said pressurized vessel; and   transferring said biomass material and transport gas mixture to a biomass reactor for production of a synthesis gas by pyrolysis.