System and method for processing and treating an agricultural byproduct

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of applying a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct, the method comprising:
 fragmenting a material into particles in a fragmenting chamber;   screening the particles such that particles of a desired size flow from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone; and   regulating an application of a treatment agent such that a first quantity of the treatment agent is applied to particles in the fragmenting chamber and a second quantity of the treatment agent is applied to screened particles in the recovery zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the application includes dispensing the treatment agent in the fragmenting chamber and the recovery zone at a ratio of approximately one to four. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an agricultural byproduct. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the screened particles have an effective diameter of approximately 50 to 100 mm, and wherein regulating the application includes spraying the screened particles with the treatment agent as the screened particles enter the recovery zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fragmenting the material includes processing the material using a rotor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the application of the treatment agent includes increasing or decreasing a flow of the treatment agent into the fragmenting chamber based on a measured moisture level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein increasing or decreasing the flow based on a measured moisture level includes increasing the flow if the measured moisture level is less than 50%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the application of the treatment agent includes increasing or decreasing the concentration of the solution based on at least one of a measured moisture level or a measure weight. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein increasing or decreasing the concentration of the solution includes increasing or decreasing the rate at which the treatment agent is dissolved in a liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein increasing or decreasing the rate at which the treatment agent is dissolved in a liquid includes increasing or decreasing a rate at which the treating agent is metered into a mixer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment agent comprises an impregnating agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the agricultural byproduct comprises corn stover. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment agent comprises a solution of calcium hydroxide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises one or more of particulated paper, wood chips and fibers. 
     
     
         15 . A method of applying a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct, the method comprising:
 fragmenting a material into particles in a fragmenting chamber;   screening the particles such that particles of a desired size flow from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone;   regulating an application of a treatment agent such that a first quantity of the treatment agent is applied to particles in the fragmenting chamber and a second quantity of the treatment agent is applied to screened particles in the recovery zone; and   regulating the concentration of a solution including the treatment agent, such that a dispensing system can increase or decrease the concentration.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the treatment agent comprises an impregnating agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprises one or more of particulated paper, wood chips and fibers.