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US4334026A
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Hybrid bio-thermal liquefaction
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1980-09-11
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Granted: 1982-06-08
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Expires: 2000-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A hybrid bio-thermal liquefaction process for improved carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing fuels wherein an organic carbonaceous feed is subjected to active fermentation producing alcohol containing liquid fuel product and fermentation residue, the fermentation residue being introduced into a thermochemical converter and at least a substantial portion of the organic carbon component of the residue converted under elevated temperature conditions producing thermochemical converter products and thermochemical residue with a portion of at least one of the thermochemical products or their derivatives, or thermochemical residue being passed to the fermentation reactor. The process provides high overall process energy efficiencies and utilizes the total agricultural biomass crop thereby greatly reducing waste disposal problems. The alcohol content (ethanolmethanol) of the liquid fuels produced can be increased by utilization of embodiments of the process emphasizing thermochemical gas production followed by catalytic synthesis while the fuel oil and gasoline content of the liquid fuels produced can be increased by embodiments of the process emphasizing thermochemical liquefaction.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Chynoweth
- 👤 Paul B. Tarman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:55
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10J; C10J3/00; C10J3/46; C10J3/54; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/10; C02F3/00; C02F3/28; C05; C05F; C05F9/00; C05F9/04; C10K; C10K3/00; C10K3/02; C10K3/04; C12; C12P; C12P5/00; C12P5/02; C12P5/023; C10J2300/00; C10J2300/09; C10J2300/0903; C10J2300/0913; C10J2300/0916; C10J2300/092; C10J2300/0946; C10J2300/16; C10J2300/164; C10J2300/1656; C10J2300/1659; C10J2300/1668; C10J2300/1681; C10J2300/1696; C10J2300/18; C10J2300/1807; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/20; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/30; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/141; Y02P20/145; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/52; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/30; Y02W10/37; Y02W10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A hybrid bio-thermal liquefaction process for improved carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing liquid fuels comprising: adding organic carbonaceous feed to a fermentation reactor; fermenting said organic carbonaceous feed under alcohol producing conditions in an active alcohol producing biological liquid culture; separating alcohol containing liquid fuel product and fermentation residue and dewatering and introducing said fermentation residue into a thermochemical converter; thermochemically converting at least a substantial portion of the organic carbon component of said fermentation residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermochemical converter products and thermochemical residue, a portion of at least one of said thermochemical products or their derivatives or thermochemical residue being passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A hybrid bio-thermal liquefaction process for improved carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing liquid fuels comprising: adding organic carbonaceous feed to a fermentation reactor; fermenting said organic carbonaceous feed under alcohol producing conditions in an active alcohol producing biological liquid culture; separating alcohol containing liquid fuel product and fermentation residue and dewatering and introducing said fermentation residue into a thermochemical converter; thermochemically converting at least a substantial portion of the organic carbon component of said fermentation residue under elevated temperature conditions producing thermochemical converter products and thermochemical residue, a portion of at least one of said thermochemical products or their derivatives or thermochemical residue being passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermochemical products comprises hydrogen containing gas passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of said thermochemical products or their derivatives comprises ammonia passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein thermochemical residue comprising nutrients for said active fermentation culture are passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said thermochemical converting comprises gasification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said gasification is conducted at temperatures about 1200° to 1800° F. in the presence of steam and oxygen containing gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said thermochemical converter products comprise gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is utilized to provide thermal energy for said process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is fed to an ammonia synthesis means to produce ammonia to pass to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is fed to a shift reaction means and catalytic synthesis means to produce additional alcohol containing liquid fuels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said thermochemical converting comprises thermochemical liquefaction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said thermochemical liquefaction products comprise liquid fuels comprising lower alcohols, fuel oils and gasoline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said thermochemical liquefaction products comprise gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is utilized to provide thermal energy for said process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is fed to an ammonia synthesis means to produce ammonia to pass to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said product gas is fed to a shift reaction means and catalytic synthesis means to produce additional alcohol containing liquid fuels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said thermochemical liquefaction comprises flash pyrolysis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fermentation residue is dewatered to less than about 80 weight percent water prior to introduction into said thermochemical converter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the supernatant from said dewatering is recycled to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said organic carbonaceous feed comprises terrestrial plant material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said organic carbonaceous feed comprises aquatic plant material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said organic carbonaceous feed comprises organic waste.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said organic carbonaceous feed comprises peat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said portion of thermochemical products comprises ammonia containing gas passed to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein carbon dioxide and hydrogen from extra-process sources are added to said fermentation reactor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1 wherein additional organic carbonaceous feed is added to said thermochemical converter, said thermochemical converter producing gaseous product comprising fuel gas, said produced fuel gas and thermal transfer from said thermochemical converter providing all overall process energy requirements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the overall process energy efficiency is greater than 50 percent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said additional organic carbonaceous feed comprises crop residues.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein over about 50 percent of said organic carbon component of said fermentation residue is thermochemically converted to gaseous or liquid thermochemical products.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a process for carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing liquid fuels, the improvement comprising beneficiation of fermenting organic carbonaceous feed under alcohol producing conditions in an active alcohol producing biological liquid culture by addition of a beneficiation agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a process for carbonaceous liquefaction to produce alcohol containing liquid fuels, the improvement comprising beneficiation of fermenting organic carbonaceous feed under alcohol producing conditions in an active alcohol producing biological liquid culture by addition of a beneficiation agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said beneficiation agent is hydrogen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said beneficiation agent is carbon dioxide.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said beneficiation agent is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-07 | 1985-12-07 | 1986-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-07 | 1989-12-07 | 1990-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-07 | 1993-12-07 | 1994-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |