US 11,912,637 B1
Systems and/or methods for producing synthetic hydrocarbons from biomass
Matthew D. Merrill, Charlottesville, VA (US)
Filed by Matthew D. Merrill, Charlottesville, VA (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/220,409.
Application 18/220,409 is a continuation of application No. 17/959,478, filed on Oct. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,767,274.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C07C 1/04 (2006.01); C10J 3/00 (2006.01); C07C 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 1/0485 (2013.01) [C07C 1/0475 (2013.01); C07C 1/0495 (2013.01); C07C 1/12 (2013.01); C10J 3/00 (2013.01); C10J 2300/0906 (2013.01); C10J 2300/0916 (2013.01); C10J 2300/1684 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system configured for converting biomass to synthetic hydrocarbons, the system comprising:
a biomass preparer configured to:
sort and/or change a particle size, density, and/or dryness of a received biomass provided to the biomass preparer sufficiently for a resulting prepared biomass to have, on average, dimensions between approximately 0.5 and approximately 30 centimeters, a bulk density between approximately 0.2 and approximately 0.9 kilogram/liter, and/or a dryness between 0 and approximately 30 weight percent; and
convey and/or store sufficient prepared biomass to operate a first thermal decomposer for at least 2 hours at approximately a nameplate input flow rate of the first thermal decomposer;
the first thermal decomposer, wherein the first thermal decomposer is configured to convert prepared biomass, combined with a hydrocarbon-comprising gas supplied from an external source, into synthesis gas;
a synthesis gas cleaner configured to produce cleaned synthesis gas from synthesis gas;
a hydrocarbon synthesizer configured to produce synthetic hydrocarbons from synthesis gas and/or hydrogen-comprising gas; and
a mass and/or heat integrator configured to recycle and supply carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water, steam, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen-comprising gas, and/or material received from the hydrocarbon synthesizer to the first thermal decomposer, a second thermal decomposer, a hydrogen generator, and/or the hydrocarbon synthesizer.