Method of manufacturing bio-diesel and reactor

{
  "publication_number": "US9475029B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method of manufacturing bio-diesel and reactor",
  "abstract": "A reactor and process for the production of bio-diesel. The reactor includes one or more coiled reaction lines. The lines are positioned within a tank containing a heat transfer media such as molten salt, maintained at about 750° F. A pump circulates the media within the tank. An emulsion of alcohol; refined feed stock, including glycerides and/or fatty acids; and preferably water is pumped through the reaction lines at temperatures and pressures sufficient to maintain the alcohol in a super-critical state. The curvature of the coils, pump pulsing, and the flow rate of the emulsion keep the emulsion in a turbulent state while in the reactor, ensuring thorough mixing of the alcohol and feed stock. The alcohol reacts with the glycerides and fatty acids to form bio-diesel. The reaction is fast, efficient with regard to energy input and waste generation, and requires minimal alcohol.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A reactor comprising: a substantially fluid tight tank comprising an interior and an exterior; a heat transfer media positioned within said tank; at least one reaction line positioned within said tank, wherein said reaction line is in thermal communication with said heat transfer media and wherein said reaction line is in fluid communication with said exterior of said tank; at least one heater in thermal communication with said heat transfer media; at least one pump configured to drive reactant fluids through said at least one reaction line; at least one shell positioned within said tank and substantially surrounded by said heat transfer media; a packing material positioned within said at least one shell; and wherein said at least one reaction line is positioned within said at least one shell and wherein said at least one reaction line is substantially surrounded by said packing material.",
    "2. A reactor according to claim 1 further comprising at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with said reactant fluids, whereby said fluids may be heated to a desired temperature prior to entering said reaction line.",
    "3. A reactor according to claim 2 wherein said at least one pump is configured to pressurize said reactant fluids to a desired pressure prior to entering said reaction line.",
    "4. A reactor according to claim 3 wherein said reaction line is configured to maintain said reactant fluids at about said desired pressure.",
    "5. A reactor according to claim 4 where said at least one reaction line is in fluid communication with at least one back pressure valve.",
    "6. A reactor according to claim 4 wherein said at least one reaction line is configured to maintain substantially non-laminar flow of said reactant fluids.",
    "7. A reactor according to claim 6 wherein said at least one reaction line has a spiral configuration.",
    "8. A reactor according to claim 2 further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with said tank, wherein said reservoir contains an excess of said heat transfer media.",
    "9. A reactor according to claim 8 wherein said reservoir is at least about twenty-five percent the volume of said tank.",
    "10. A reactor according to claim 8 further comprising at least one circulation pump, said at least one circulation pump configured to mix said heat transfer media within said tank and said reservoir, whereby said heat transfer media in said tank and said reservoir may be maintained at about the same temperature.",
    "11. A reactor according to claim 8 wherein said at least one heat exchanger is positioned in said reservoir.",
    "12. A reactor according to claim 11 wherein said at least one heat exchanger is substantially surrounded by said heat transfer media.",
    "13. A reactor according to claim 12 wherein said heat transfer media comprises molten salt.",
    "14. A reactor according to claim 13 wherein said heat transfer media is selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, and mixtures thereof.",
    "15. A reactor according to claim 1 wherein said packing material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, sand, glass and mixtures thereof.",
    "16. A reactor according to claim 1 wherein said heat transfer media has a thermal conductivity and wherein said packing material has a thermal conductivity and wherein said thermal conductivity of said heat transfer media is greater than the thermal conductivity of said packing material.",
    "17. A reactor according to claim 1 wherein said at least one shell is substantially torus shaped.",
    "18. A reactor according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of shells, each said shell containing at least one reaction line.",
    "19. A reactor according to claim 1 wherein said at least one shell has substantially no internal corners.",
    "20. A reactor according to claim 19 wherein said at least one shell has substantially no internal flat surfaces.",
    "21. A reactor according to claim 18 wherein said reaction lines within said plurality of shells are in fluid communication.",
    "22. A reactor according to claim 21 further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with said reaction lines within said plurality of shells, said manifold configured to regulate flow between and around individual shells within said plurality of shells.",
    "23. A reactor according to claim 22 wherein said plurality of shells are substantially torus shaped.",
    "24. A reactor according to claim 23 wherein said reaction lines are configured to maintain substantially non-laminar flow of said reactant fluids.",
    "25. A reactor according to claim 24 wherein at least one of said reaction lines is positioned in a spiral configuration within at least one of said plurality of shells.",
    "26. A reactor comprising: a substantially fluid tight tank comprising an interior and an exterior; a heat transfer media positioned within said tank; at least one reaction line positioned within said tank, wherein said reaction line is in thermal communication with said heat transfer media and wherein said reaction line is in fluid communication with said exterior of said tank; at least one heater in thermal communication with said heat transfer media; at least one pump configured to drive reactant fluids through said at least one reaction line; at least one shell positioned within said tank and substantially surrounded by said heat transfer media; and wherein said at least one reaction line is positioned within said at least one shell.",
    "27. A reactor according to claim 26 further comprising at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with said reactant fluids, whereby said fluids may be heated to a desired temperature prior to entering said reaction line.",
    "28. A reactor according to claim 27 wherein said at least one pump is configured to pressurize said reactant fluids to a desired pressure prior to entering said reaction line.",
    "29. A reactor according to claim 28 wherein said at least one reaction line is configured to maintain substantially non-laminar flow of said reactant fluids.",
    "30. A reactor according to claim 29 wherein said at least one reaction line has a spiral configuration.",
    "31. A reactor according to claim 30 wherein said at least one heat exchanger is substantially surrounded by said heat transfer media.",
    "32. A reactor according to claim 31 wherein said heat transfer media comprises molten salt."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe invention relates to the production of bio-diesel in general and high efficiency production of bio-diesel in particular.\n\n2. Prior Art\n\nThe production of bio-diesel from waste oils is known. The feed stock is commonly comprised of glycerides and free fatty acids. Glycerides consist of one to three long chain fatty acids bound to a glycerol molecule. Glycerides are often present in the form of vegetable or animal oils or fats, such as those available as used cooking grease (fats, oils, and grease - FOG). The feed stock may also often contain soluble and insoluble impurities such as proteins, sugars, detergents, emulsifiers and degradation products of the FOGs generated during their use or storage.\n\nThe raw stock is usually quite viscous. In the prior art, the raw stock is commonly heated to temperatures greater than 180° F. to make the raw stock flowable and filterable. Heating the raw stock creates several problems. It is energy intensive, and thus expensive. It also results in the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These either must be captured, which increases costs or they are released into the atmosphere, resulting in pollution. Heating the raw stock is also responsible for the release of nuisance odors into the atmosphere. While not necessarily a health hazard, the emission of these odors is unpleasant for workers and those who work or live proximate to a location where the raw stock is being processed.\n\nHeating the raw stock also has adverse effects on sulfur content.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01J 19/24",
    "B01J 19/0053",
    "B01J 19/2415",
    "B01J 19/242",
    "B01J 19/2425",
    "B01J 19/243",
    "B01J 2219/00083",
    "B01J 2219/00085",
    "B01J 2219/00087",
    "B01J 2219/00099",
    "B01J 2219/185",
    "B01J 2219/1943",
    "C07C 67/03",
    "C07C 67/08",
    "C07C 67/39",
    "C07C 69/58",
    "C10L 1/026",
    "C10L 2200/0469",
    "C10L 2290/06",
    "C11C 3/003",
    "F28D 1/0472",
    "F28D 1/06",
    "F28D 7/04",
    "F28D 7/085",
    "F28D 7/106",
    "Y02E 50/10",
    "Y02E 50/13",
    "Y02E 60/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01J 19/00",
    "B01J 19/24",
    "C07C 67/03",
    "C07C 67/39",
    "C10L 1/02",
    "C11C 3/00",
    "F28D 1/047",
    "F28D 1/06",
    "F28D 7/04",
    "F28D 7/08",
    "F28D 7/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LOUISIANA ECO GREEN LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kemper J. McSpadden",
    "Gerard M. Thomassie"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-08-28",
  "publication_date": "2016-10-25",
  "grant_date": "2016-10-25",
  "priority_date": "2013-08-28",
  "application_number": "US-201314012810-A",
  "family_id": "52583538",
  "cited_by_count": 11,
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}