Systems And Methods For Converting Biomass In The Field To A Combustible Fluid For Direct Replacement Or Supplement To Liquid Fossil Fuels

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices convert biomass from the field to provide heat, motive working gas, electrical energy, or fuel such that the biomass directly replaces or supplements liquid fossil fuels wherever these fuels may be used. The methods include procedures for harvesting the biomass, reducing it to a transportable form, purifying it and blending additives as necessary, and finally reducing the refined biomass to an explosible particle size distribution generally finer than 80 mesh for heating applications or 200 mesh for application in internal or external combustion engines. The present invention preferably includes transportation of the finished powder to storage units at the end user site, where the fuel is used by continuous delivery, metering, and dispersal in air to produce a continuous supply of an explosible fluid dispersion for direct energy conversion. Systems of automatic production for a variety of applications are also described.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61 / 090,714, filed Aug. 21, 2008, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONVERTING BIOMASS IN THE FIELD TO A COMBUSTIBLE FLUID FOR DIRECT REPLACEMENT OR SUPPLEMENT TO LIQUID FOSSIL FUELS”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.[0002]The subject matter of this application is related to the subject matter in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 419,946, filed Apr. 7, 2009, entitled “POWDERED FUEL CONVERSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 074,244, filed Jun. 20, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 042,996, filed Apr. 7, 2008. The subject matter of this application is also related to the subject matter in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 1...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Methods, systems, and devices convert biomass from the field to provide heat, motive working gas, or electrical energy and for directly replacing or supplementing liquid fossil fuels wherever these fuels are used. The methods include procedures for harvesting the biomass, reducing it to a transportable form, purifying or enhancing it by removal or addition of certain volatile components or certain impurities by various procedures including aqueous extraction, and finally reducing the refined biomass to a particle size distribution generally finer than an explosible threshold, which, for example, is about 200 microns (0.2 mm) for wood. About 80 mesh is preferred for h

Problems solved by technology

Fossil fuels are currently being used much more rapidly than they are being produced, and as such, fossil fuels are not a viable long term source of energy.

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