Abstract: A method of drying a moisture-containing or water-laden biomass material is provided that includes the steps of sending the biomass material into an apparatus having a feeding device, a rotary biomass dryer, a reflux condenser, an aftercooler, and an exit mechanism. The biomass material may be pretreated, and then heated in order to separate the moisture-containing or water laden biomass material into steam and dry biomass material. The steam is removed as the steam and the dry biomass material passes through the reflux condenser, the dry biomass is cooled in the aftercooler stage, and the dry biomass material is collected after exiting the apparatus through the exit mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system, and a method for heat treating a moisture-containing or water-laden material are provided. The heat treatment can be drying for dehydration, gasification, or full carbonization. The system comprises a feeding mechanism, and a rapid compression unit (RCU) apparatus having a screw, a barrel, and one or more flow disrupters. The system can further include a reflux condenser, an aftercooler stage, a second condenser for particle filtering, and an exit mechanism. The one or more flow disrupters are located on an inner surface of the barrel and project into the passageway created by the screw and the barrel. The screw is sized to fit within the barrel such that flow disrupter does not contact the screw. The one or more flow disrupters cause the water-laden material to fold over onto its self, thereby, allowing for the occurrence of more uniform drying.

Abstract: A system for producing biocoal and biochar includes at least one rotary compression unit (RCU) having a barrel, a compression screw housed within the barrel, a feed for receiving biomass and at least one exit for releasing biochar and gasses formed in the RCU. A first exit stream is produced that includes biochar and a portion of the remaining gasses, and a second exit stream is produced that includes biocoal. A gas crossover is provided that connects the first and second exit stream having a mechanism for transporting gasses from the first exit stream to the second exit stream thereby condensing a portion of the remaining gasses into the biocoal. In one form two RCUs are included connected to two condensers.

Abstract: A fertilizer/soil conditioner or a fuel source material is formed by processing animal waste by-products through the use of a rotary biomass dryer system. The animal waste by-product includes without limitation manure obtained from cattle or swine; feed lot bedding, poultry litter, a digestate of animal waste by-products obtained from an anaerobic digester, municipal waste, waste meat renderings, waste meat, or a mixture thereof. The processed material may comprise a higher amount of ash and a lower amount of volatile material than the animal waste by-product. The processed material may be stored as a powder or processed into pellets, logs, pucks, briquettes or another convenient shape form.

Abstract: A bio-product such as biochar, bio-coal, bio-oil, coke, and/or activated carbon material is formed by processing a starting biomass material comprising water-laden material. The starting biomass material is heated to below or above an autoignition temperature through a rotary compression unit (RCU) by generating steam through releasing unbound and bound waters in the biomass thus forming a bio-product. The biomass material being processed may be, without limitation, a woody or non-woody biomass material, such as cellulosic material and/or grain. The process can also form bio-oil from pyrolysis vapors which can be processed to other bio-products.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system, and a method for heat treating a moisture-containing or water-laden material are provided. The heat treatment can be drying for dehydration, gasification, or full carbonization. The system comprises a feeding mechanism, and a rapid compression (RCU)apparatus having a screw, a barrel, and one or more flow disrupters. The system can further include a reflux condenser, an aftercooler stage, a second condenser for particle filtering, and an exit mechanism. The one or more flow disrupters are located on an inner surface of the barrel and projects into the passageway created by the screw and the barrel. The screw is sized to fit within the barrel such that flow disrupter does not contact the screw. The one or more flow disrupters cause the water-laden material to fold over onto its self, thereby, allowing for the occurrence of more uniform drying.

Abstract: A fuel package comprising a biomass fire-log bound by an adhesive consisting of a starch and a hydroxide and at least one ignition aid is provided along with a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A method of drying a moisture-containing or water-laden biomass material is provided that includes the steps of sending the biomass material into an apparatus having a feeding device, a rotary biomass dryer, a reflux condenser, an aftercooler, and an exit mechanism. The biomass material may be pretreated, and then heated in order to separate the moisture-containing or water laden biomass material into steam and dry biomass material. The steam is removed as the steam and the dry biomass material passes through the reflux condenser, the dry biomass is cooled in the aftercooler stage, and the dry biomass material is collected after exiting the apparatus through the exit mechanism.

Abstract: A method for processing grains, crop residues, agricultural waste materials, processing waste materials, or mixtures thereof, is provided that includes using a rotary biomass dryer to process the materials and subjecting them to a steam explosion in order to form a processed material that exhibits an increase in porosity and/or absorption potential.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: A rotary friction dryer or gasifier and a method of using the same is provided. The rotary friction dryer generally comprises an entrance stage, an exit stage, a decompression zone located such that it separates the entrance and exit stages, a multi-stage compression screw, a mixing means coupled to the screw, at least one exhaust vent located in the decompression zone, and at least one discharge outlet located in the exit stage. The entrance stage includes an intake throat and the temperature of each stage (entrance and exit) is controllable.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: A carbonaceous compact is provided by the present disclosure that includes a body having a partially or fully carbonaceous biomass composition and an adhesive additive. The adhesive additive includes a starch and a hydroxide. The porous nature of the carbonaceous material provides means for nutrient retention or filtering means. Carbon is activated through chemical or thermal reaction from pyrolyized wood/nut.

Abstract: An animal feed compact is provided by the present disclosure that includes a body having a various feed composition and an adhesive additive. The adhesive additive includes a starch and a hydroxide. Further additives may also be provided, which include any edible/digestible alfalfa meal, sunflower meal grain, ruffage [roughage], soybean meal wheat mids, hay, stover, whey dicalcium phosphate, limestone molasses, minerals, vitamins and medication. Various geometries and compositions for the biomass fuel compact are also provided by the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method of processing a biomass fuel compact is provided that includes combining a composition of combustible biomass materials, comminuting the composition of biomass materials, adding an adhesive to the biomass materials to form a composite biomass, the adhesive having a starch and a hydroxide, forming the composite biomass into a shapeform, and heat treating the composite biomass shapeform at a base temperature sufficient to break O—H bonds, the base temperature being below a mean torrefication temperature of the composite biomass such that torrefaction of a substantial portion of the biomass materials does not occur.

Abstract: A system and method for energy use is provided that includes a sustainability campus of co-located facilities, with associated facilities such as an energy development center, a source, and a processing or collection facility. The sustainability campus incorporates design principles and processes to decrease environmental impact per unit energy usage, increase waste reuse within the sustainability campus, and increase the receipt of financial credits.

Abstract: A biomass fuel compact is provided by the present disclosure that includes a body having a combustible biomass composition and an adhesive additive. The adhesive additive includes a starch and a hydroxide. Further additives may also be provided, which include a silicate additive, a viscosity additive, a preservative, and a BTU additive, wherein each of the silicate additive, the viscosity additive, the preservative, and the BTU additive are combustible materials. Various geometries and compositions for the biomass fuel compact are also provided by the present disclosure.