Material moving apparatus

Abstract

Described herein is a material moving apparatus that includes a chamber into which a compressible material is introduced. The chamber includes an input opening for receiving the material, a discharge opening and a sealing mechanism to prevent flow of air or other gasses between the input opening and the discharge opening. In one embodiment, the material moving apparatus can be used to introduce compressible biomass into a gasification reactor.

1 . A material moving apparatus comprising:
 (a) a chamber having an input opening located proximate an upstream end for receiving a compressible material and a discharge opening defined in a downstream end of the chamber;   (b) a ram mounted in the chamber configured to compress the material and urge the compressed material out of the discharge opening of the chamber; and   (c) a valve located downstream of the discharge opening configured to control movement of the compressed material out of the discharge opening of the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ram has a retracted position and a terminal position such that the terminal position of the ram is located upstream of the downstream surface of the chamber thereby forming a sealing chamber in a downstream portion of the chamber for accumulation of compressed material. 
     
     
         3 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a pumping chamber and a sealing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pumping chamber defines a first enclosure having a first cross-sectional dimension and the sealing chamber defines a second enclosure with a second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the second enclosure defined by the sealing chamber is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the pumping chamber 
     
     
         5 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pumping chamber defines a first enclosure having a first cross sectional shape and the sealing chamber defines a second enclosure having a second cross-sectional shape, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the sealing chamber is different than the cross-sectional shape of the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a check valve. 
     
     
         7 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the check valve has an open position and a closed position and the valve is configured to remain in the closed position until the compressed material is at a specified pressure whereupon the valve moves to the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the check valve opens at a pressure of at least 5 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the check valve opens at a pressure between about 10 psi and about 1000 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the check valve comprises a flap valve. 
     
     
         11 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge pipe operably connecting the material moving apparatus to a gasification reactor. 
     
     
         12 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible material comprises biomass. 
     
     
         13 . The material moving apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible material is selected from the group consisting of: bio-solids, including, saw dust, yard trimmings, compost, wood chips, straw, grass, corn cobs, and corn stover; garbage or waste material, including, bottles, cans, clothing, disposables, food packaging, and food scraps; paper materials, including, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, office paper, and paper bags; plastic materials, including milk jugs and other storage containers; and mixtures and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for moving a compressible material, the method comprising:
 (a) placing a compressible material in a chamber having an input opening for receiving the compressible material and a discharge opening;   (b) compressing the material to form a compressed material;   (c) controlling the compression of the material using a valve located downstream of the discharge opening; and   (d) pumping the compressed material out of the discharge opening of the chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 pumping the compressed material out of the discharge opening of the chamber into a discharge pipe, wherein the discharge pipe operably connects the material moving apparatus to a gasification reactor.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 compressing the material under a pressure sufficient to form a compressed material that is air-impermeable.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the material is compressed under a pressure of at least about 5 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transporting the compressed biomass to a downstream receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the downstream receptacle comprises a discharge pipe, a gasification reactor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gasification reactor is operated under a vacuum of between about 0.5 psi to about 5 psi.