Waste to fuel processes, systems, methods, and apparatuses

{
  "publication_number": "US10385276B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Waste to fuel processes, systems, methods, and apparatuses",
  "abstract": "A waste material process reactor is configured to convers waste to fuel by exposing a carbon-based material to liquid media to form hydrocarbon fuel. Heat exchangers, power generation processes and combustion turbine exhaust apparatus are also provided. Fuel generation processes and generation systems are provided. Reaction media conduit systems as well as processes for servicing reactant media pumps coupled to both inlet and outlet conduits containing reactant media, are also provided.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A waste material processing reactor configured to convert waste to fuel, the reactor comprising: a substantially columnar vessel extending along the vessel walls from a base portion to a top portion; an opening within the top portion of the vessel, the opening configured to receive solid carbon-based waste material; a liquid media conduit extending from the base portion to the top portion of the vessel, the conduit configured to circulate liquid media from within the base portion of the reactor to the top portion of the reactor; and a plurality of nozzles arranged around the top portion within the vessel, the nozzles in fluid communication with the liquid media conduit and configured to provide the liquid media to within the vessel.",
    "2. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the vessel is constructed primarily of carbon steel material.",
    "3. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising an atmosphere exchange conveyor coupled to the opening, the exchange conveyor configured to exchange an oxygen-comprising atmosphere associated with the waste material with a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere within the reactor.",
    "4. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the opening is also configured to receive an agitation apparatus.",
    "5. The reactor of claim 4 wherein the agitation apparatus comprises a mechanical agitation apparatus that extends to within the vessel and proximate the base of the vessel.",
    "6. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a hydrocarbon fuel recovery conduit coupled to the reactor and in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel.",
    "7. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the liquid media conduit extends along the vessel walls on the exterior of the reactor.",
    "8. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the liquid media conduit is coupled to a heat exchanger."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to production processes and more specifically to fuel production processes.\n\nEach day the need for economically reasonable fuel sources becomes increasingly important. Similarly the need to dispose of waste in an economical yet environmentally friendly method is also highly desirable. The present disclosure provides processes for the conversion of carbon-based material such as waste material into fuel, fuel that may be used to power turbines and/or vehicles.\n\nThe present disclosure provides production processes that can include exposing a carbon-based material to liquid media to form hydrocarbon fuel.\n\nWaste to fuel conversion processes are also provided that can include providing a low-moisture carbon-based waste material, and exposing the waste material to a liquid reaction media under a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere within a reactor. The processes can further provide for recovering gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from the reactor.\n\nWaste to fuel processes can also include exposing a solid carbon-based material to a liquid reaction media to form a hydrocarbon fuel mixture. The fuel mixture can include non-condensable hydrocarbon fuel and condensable hydrocarbon fuel. Processes can proceed by separating the non-condensable hydrocarbon fuel from the condensable hydrocarbon fuel.\n\nWaste material processing reactors are provided that can be configured to convert waste to fuel. The reactors can include a substantially columnar vessel extending along the vessel walls from a base portion to a top portion.",
  "cpc": [
    "C10G 1/06",
    "B01J 19/1812",
    "B01J 19/2415",
    "B01J 2219/00103",
    "B01J 2219/24",
    "C10G 1/08",
    "C10G 1/083",
    "C10G 1/086",
    "C10G 1/10",
    "C10G 2300/1003",
    "C10G 2300/1014",
    "C10G 2300/301",
    "C10G 2400/04",
    "C10G 2400/08",
    "C10L 1/04",
    "C10L 1/08",
    "C10L 2200/0469",
    "C10L 2290/06",
    "Y02E 50/10",
    "Y02E 50/14",
    "Y02E 50/30",
    "Y02P 30/20"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01J 19/18",
    "B01J 19/24",
    "C10G 1/06",
    "C10L 1/04",
    "C10G 1/08",
    "C10G 1/10",
    "C10L 1/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GPI PATENT HOLDING LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Michael P. Spitzauer",
    "James D. Osterloh"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-06-20",
  "publication_date": "2019-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2019-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2008-04-23",
  "application_number": "US-201615187506-A",
  "family_id": "40090099",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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}