Patents by Inventor Odd Egil Solheim

Odd Egil Solheim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240053005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a char collector (1) for a pyrolysis system (2), the pyrolysis system (2) featuring a pyrolysis reactor (17) comprising a hot char outlet (3), the char collector comprises a container (4) and a longitudinal char conveyor unit (5), and —the container (4) comprises a chamber (6), a first inlet (7) connectable to the hot char outlet (3) and a first outlet (8), wherein the first inlet (7) is arranged in an upper portion of the chamber (6) and the first outlet (8) is arranged in a lower portion of the chamber (6); and —the char conveyor unit (5) comprises a first end section (9) connected to the first outlet (8), a second end section (10) featuring a second outlet (11) for cooled char and a conveying mechanism (12) configured to transport char from the first end section (9) to the second outlet (11) during use; wherein the second outlet (11) is at a level above the first outlet (8), such that a gas trap is formed between the first inlet (7) and the second outlet (11) when the chamber
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Pal Jahre Nilsen, Per Langoy, Joachim Oelschlagel, Odd Egil Solheim, Svein Gåsbak
  • Patent number: 10183265
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and device for pretreatment of organic material, more specific bio mass, for energy conversion, where said method comprises a first preheating step with a preheating vessel (4), a hydrolysis step with a hydrolysis reactor (5) and a pressure reducing step with a pressure reduction vessel (6), where the transfer of said organic material from the preheating vessel (4) to the hydrolysis rector (5) is effected by gravity and by creating a vacuum in the reactor (5). This method results in a very fast transfer of material from the preheating vessel (4) to the reactor (5). In addition, the filling volume of the reactor (5) is being controlled by a high frequency pressure sensor and supply of steam (3A) to the top of the reactor in order to provide the necessary head space. The invention also describes a device for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cambi Technology AS
    Inventors: Odd Egil Solheim, Pål Jahre Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20150367308
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and device for pretreatment of organic material, more specific bio mass, for energy conversion, where said method comprises a first preheating step with a preheating vessel (4), a hydrolysis step with a hydrolysis reactor (5) and a pressure reducing step with a pressure reduction vessel (6), where the transfer of said organic material from the preheating vessel (4) to the hydrolysis rector (5) is effected by gravity and by creating a vacuum in the reactor (5). This method results in a very fast transfer of material from the preheating vessel (4) to the reactor (5). In addition, the filling volume of the reactor (5) is being controlled by a high frequency pressure sensor and supply of steam (3A) to the top of the reactor in order to provide the necessary head space. The invention also describes a device for performing said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Cambi Technology AS
    Inventors: Odd Egil SOLHEIM, Pål Jahre NILSEN
  • Publication number: 20140251902
    Abstract: A method is described for thermal biological breakdown and dewatering of biomass, which is characterised in that it comprises the following steps: lead the biological residue material (8) from a digesting tank (6) to a dewatering device (9) and dewater the material to typically 15-25% dry matter, lead the dewatered material (10) to a device (12) and carry out a thermal hydrolysis at typically 145-170° C. for typically 10-40 minutes, subject the hydrolysed biomass (14) to a quick pressure reduction that results in a steam explosion in the biomass, dewater the thermally hydrolysed and steam exploded hot biomass (14), at typically 85-105° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Cambi Technology AS
    Inventors: Odd Egil SOLHEIM, Pål Jahre Nilsen
  • Patent number: 8673112
    Abstract: It is described a process for thermal hydrolysis and team explosion of biomass, said method comprising the steps of: (i) leading the biomass approximately continuous to a first preheating step and preheat the biomass, (ii) leading the preheated biomass into at least two reactors sequentially, (iii) heating and pressurising the reactor by addition of steam, (iv) keeping the reactor(s) at a certain temperature and pressure for a certain time, (v) leading the heated and pressurized biomass from the reactor(s) to a first pressure relief tank without any substantial pressure reduction and quickly relief the pressure of the biomass by means of a nozzle, in order to disintegrate the biomass, (vi) leading the biomass from the first pressure relief tank to a second pressure relief tank having a lower pressure than the pressure of the first pressure relief tank, (vii) leading the so treated biomass to a downstream facility for subsequent treatment. The invention also comprises a device for thermal treatment of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cambi Technology AS
    Inventors: Pål Jahre Nilsen, Odd Egil Solheim, Paul Walley
  • Patent number: 8585785
    Abstract: A method for production of fuel pellets from a biological material, preferably saw dust, wood or similar, where the method comprises the following steps: supplying the material to a drying step (1) and dry the material to a relative humidity from 40-65 weight-percent to 30-45 weight-percent; supplying the material from the dryer step (1), optionally via an intermediate storage step (2), to a reactor step (3, 3?) and heat the material to 200-300° C. by supply of steam; keeping the material in the reactor at the achieved temperature in sufficient time to soften the material; reducing the pressure of the reactor step (3, 3?) in at least two steps, in order to defibrate the material and release of lignin, and supply the material from the reactor step (3, 3?) to an additional drying step (5), optionally via an intermediate storage step (4), and optionally pelletizing of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Arbaflame Technology AS and Cambi Technology AS
    Inventors: Rune Brusletto, Odd Egil Solheim, Hans Rasmus Holte
  • Publication number: 20120111515
    Abstract: It is described a process for thermal hydrolysis and team explosion of biomass, said method comprising the steps of: (i) leading the biomass approximately continuous to a first preheating step and preheat the biomass, (ii) leading the preheated biomass into at least two reactors sequentially, (iii) heating and pressurising the reactor by addition of steam, (iv) keeping the re-actor(s) at a certain temperature and pressure for a certain time, (v) leading the heated and pressurised biomass from the reactor(s) to a first pressure relief tank without any substantial pressure reduction and quickly relief the pressure of the biomass by means of a nozzle, in order to disintegrate the biomass, (vi) leading the biomass from the first pressure relief tank to a second pressure relief tank having a lower pressure than the pressure of the first pressure relief tank, (vii) leading the so treated biomass to a downstream facility for subsequent treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Pål Jahre Nilsen, Odd Egil Solheim, Paul Walley
  • Publication number: 20100297742
    Abstract: A method for thermal enzymatic hydrolysis of ligno cellulose is provided by feeding a raw material based on ligno cellulose, pH-adjusting and other additives and possibly thinner liquid into one or more reactors, supplying steam to heat and increase the pressure in the reactor, relieving the pressure in the reactor in two steps and provide a hydrolysing of the treated material based on ligno cellulose, mixing the treated material with an enzyme solution and thinner fluid in a mixing step, and feeding the mixture to a liquefaction step and enzymatic saccharificate the treated ligno cellulose material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: CAMBI AS
    Inventors: Odd Egil Solheim, Hans Rasmus Holte
  • Patent number: 6913700
    Abstract: A method of and an arrangement for continuous hydrolysis of organic material in the form of sludge with a dry solids content of 1-20%. A sludge containing the organic material with a low content of abrasive components and a dry solids content of 1-20% is heated to a temperature of approximately 100° C. The sludge is mixed with steam at a pressure of 1-4 bars. The sludge/steam mixture is lead to a preheating tank. The pressure of the sludge/steam mixture is increased from 3 to 10 bars. The sludge-steam mixture is lead to a reactor. A depressurizing tank depressurizes the sludge/steam mixture to 1-4 bars. The sludge and steam are separated and may be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Cambi AS
    Inventor: Odd Egil Solheim
  • Publication number: 20040168990
    Abstract: A method of and arrangement for continuous hydrolysis of organic material in the form of sludge with a dry solids content of 1-20% are described. The method includes the following steps: (a) heating a sludge containing the organic material with a low content of abrasive components and a dry solids content of 1-20%, to a temperature of approximately 100° C.; (b) mixing the sludge with steam at a pressure of 1-4 bar a; (c) leading the sludge/steam mixture to a preheating tank (4); (d) increasing the pressure of the sludge/steam mixture from 3 to 10 bar a; (e) leading the sludge/steam mixture to a reactor (7); (e) depressurising the sludge/steam mixture to 1-4 bar a in a depressurising tank (10); (f) separating sludge and steam, and possibly (g) cooling the sludge further.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Odd Egil Solheim
  • Patent number: 5888307
    Abstract: Hydrolyzing organic waste material in a multi-stage reactor comprising a heated first stage, a further heated second stage, a still further heated third stage, and a fourth stage, with a valved exit way connected to the fourth stage and a valve entryway connected to the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Cambi AS
    Inventor: Odd Egil Solheim