US2008040970A1PendingUtilityA1
Systems for producing biodiesel and processes for using the same
Est. expiryMar 30, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas Anthony Davanzo
Y02E50/10C10L 1/026
29
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Cited by
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Claims
Abstract
The present invention relates to systems for producing biodiesel, including a batch-continuous flow system, and to processes using the system.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modified1 ) A system for producing a biodiesel from at least one batch load of feedstock, the system having at least one batch reactor, the batch reactor comprising at least one agitator substantially disposed inside the batch reactor, at least one baffle disposed inside the batch reactor, and at least one pump and at least one mixer disposed outside the batch reactor.
2 ) The system of claim 1 , further comprising a post-reactor network, the post-reactor network comprising at least one co-product storage vessel and at least one biodiesel storage vessel, wherein the batch reactor is in fluid communication with the post-reactor network.
3 ) The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one reagent storage vessel, which is in fluid communication with the batch reactor.
4 ) The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one reagent mixing vessel, which is in fluid communication with the batch reactor.
5 ) The system of claim 2 , wherein the post-reactor network further comprises at least one separator holding vessel, wherein the separator holding vessel is in fluid communication with the batch reactor, the at least one co-product storage vessel or a combination thereof.
6 ) The system as in claim 2 , wherein the post-reactor network further comprises at least one separator, wherein the at least one separator is in fluid communication with the batch reactor, the at least one separator holding vessel, the at least one co-product storage vessel or a combination thereof.
7 ) The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one separator is a liquid phase separator or a centrifuge.
8 ) The system of claim 2 , wherein the post-reactor network further comprises at least one polishing vessel, wherein the at least one polishing vessel is in fluid communication with the batch reactor, the at least one separator holding vessel, the at least one separator, the at least one co-product storage vessel, the at least one biodiesel storage vessel, or combination thereof.
9 ) The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one polishing vessel comprises a plurality of wash heads.
10 ) The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of wash heads comprises from about 1 to about 20 wash heads.
11 ) The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of wash heads is disposed in the roof of the polishing vessel, on an internal wall of the polishing vessel, on a pole inside the polishing vessel, on a rod inside the polishing vessel or a combination thereof.
12 ) The system of claim 2 , wherein the post-reactor network further comprises at least one drying vessel, wherein the at least one drying vessel is in fluid communication with the at least one polishing vessel, the at least one biodiesel storage vessel, at least one reagent storage vessel or combination thereof.
13 ) The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one drying vessel comprises a heating element and a vacuum.
14 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further produces a co-product.
15 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, chromium plated steel, copper, aluminum, metal alloy, thermally conductive polymer, polyvinyl chloride, expoxy, fluroroplastic, polypropylene, polyimide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyetheretherketone, polybutylene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, liquid crystal polymer, and a combination thereof.
16 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle is affixed at an angle of about 90 degrees to an interior wall of the batch reactor.
17 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle is heated.
18 ) The system of claim 17 , wherein the temperature of the heated baffle is from about 50° F. to about 200° F.
19 ) The system of claim 17 , wherein the baffle comprises piping that is in fluid communication with a heat source.
20 ) The system of claim 19 , wherein the piping is disposed substantially vertical to the height of the batch reactor.
21 ) The system of claim 19 , wherein the heat source is steam.
22 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the batch reactor comprises from about 2 baffles to about 10 baffles.
23 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle comprises a cavity that allows the baffle to be substantially offset from an interior side of the batch reactor.
24 ) The system of claim 23 , wherein the cavity is formed from two arms of the baffle disposed perpendicular to a main body of the baffle.
25 ) The system of claim 24 , wherein the baffle further comprises a second cavity, which is disposed in the main body of the baffle.
26 ) The system of claim 23 , wherein the cavity is formed from a concave nature of the baffle.
27 ) The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump and the miser reintroduce a portion of reaction mixture into a remaining portion of reaction mixture, thereby providing a substantially homogeneous reaction mixture.
28 ) A process for producing a biodiesel from a feedstock using a batch reactor system having at least one baffle, the process involving the steps of:
a) feeding the feedstock into the batch reactor system; b) delivering at least one reagent to the feedstock in the batch reactor system to create a reaction mixture; c) heating the reaction mixture; d) mixing the reaction mixture; and e) rotating the reaction mixture using the at least one baffle, wherein steps a) to e) are performed for a predetermined time and under predetermined, conditions to produce a biodiesel-containing composition; and f) separating the biodiesel of the biodiesel-containing composition from a non-biodiesel composition, thereby obtaining a crude biodiesel product; and g) polishing the crude biodiesel product, thereby obtaining a polished biodiesel product.
29 ) The process of claim 28 , further comprising the steps of:
a) mixing the at least one reagent with a second reagent, thereby creating a reagent mixture; and b) delivering the reagent mixture to the feedstock in the batch reactor, thereby, creating the reaction mixture.
30 ) The process of claim 28 , further comprising the step of delivering a second reagent to the feedstock in the batch reactor.
31 ) The process of claim 28 , further comprising the step of transferring the non-biodiesel composition to a co-product storage tank.
32 ) The process of claim 31 , wherein the co-product comprises glycerin, fatty acids and alcohol.
33 ) The process of claim 32 , wherein on a compositional basis the glycerin is from about 30% to about 40% v/v of the co-product, the fatty acids are from about 50% to about 60% v/v of the co-product and the alcohol is from about 5% to about 10% v/v of the co-product.
34 ) The process of claim 32 , wherein on a compositional basis the glycerin is from about 34% to about 38% v/v of the co-product, the fatty acids are from about 55% to about 60% v/v of the co-product and the alcohol is from about 6% to about 7% v/v of the co-product.
35 ) The process of claim 32 , wherein the co-product comprises a fuel source.
36 ) The process of claim 35 , wherein the co-product fuel source fuels the batch reactor system.
37 ) The process of claim 31 , wherein the co-product comprises a fuel extender.
38 ) The process of claim 31 , further comprising the step of processing the co-product to provide a food grade product, pharmaceutical grad product, a livestock feed grade product or a generally recognized as safe product.
39 ) The process of claim 37 , further comprising the step of drying the polished biodiesel product to obtain the biodiesel product.
40 ) The process of claim 39 , wherein the drying step comprises heating the polished biodiesel under vacuum.
41 ) The process of claim 40 , further comprising the steps of condensing vaporized residual reagent and polishing agent, and transferring condensed residual reagent and polishing agent to a reagent storage vessel.
42 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the feedstock comprises an organic oil.
43 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the feed stock comprises an animal fat.
44 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the feedstock comprises a plant source.
45 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the process further produces a co-product.
46 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the at least one reagent is an alcohol.
47 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the at least one reagent is a catalyst.
48 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the polishing step comprises a polishing agent.
49 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the predetermined time and the predetermined conditions for processing the feedstock; are selected from the group consisting of:
Caustic
Temperate Range
Processing Time
Methanol
Soda
Oil
(° F.)
(Mins.)
(% v/v)
(lbs.)
(Gals.)
about 60 to about 70
about 475 to about 500
about 20
about 475
about 8650;
about 70 to about 80
about 375 to about 400
about 20
about 475
about 8650;
about 80 to about 90
about 275 to about 300
about 20
about 475
about 8650;
about 90 to about 100
about 225 to about 250
about 20
about 475
about 8650;
about 100 to about 110
about 175 to about 200
about 21
about 500
about 8650;
about 110 to about 120
about 120 to about 130
about 22
about 500
about 8650;
about 120 to about 130
about 100 to about 110
about 24
about 500
about 8650;
about 130 to about 140
about 80 to about 90
about 26
about 525
about 8650;
about 140 to about 150
about 60 to about 70
about 27
about 525
about 8650;
about 150 to about 160
about 45 to about 50
about 28
about 525
about 8650; and
about 160 to about 170
about 35 to about 40
about 29
about 525
about 8650.
50 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the predetermined time and the predetermined conditions for processing the feedstock are selected from the group consisting of:
Caustic
Temperate Range
Processing Time
Methanol
Soda
Oil
(° F.)
(Mins.)
(% v/v)
(lbs.)
(Gals.)
about 60 to about 70
about 475 to about 500
about 20
about 450
about 8650;
about 70 to about 80
about 375 to about 400
about 20
about 450
about 8650;
about 80 to about 90
about 275 to about 300
about 20
about 450
about 8650;
about 90 to about 100
about 225 to about 250
about 20
about 450
about 8650;
about 100 to about 110
about 175 to about 200
about 21
about 475
about 8650;
about 110 to about 120
about 120 to about 130
about 22
about 475
about 8650;
about 120 to about 130
about 100 to about 110
about 24
about 475
about 8650;
about 130 to about 140
about 80 to about 90
about 26
about 475
about 8650;
about 140 to about 150
about 65 to about 70
about 27
about 500
about 8650;
about 150 to about 160
about 45 to about 50
about 28
about 500
about 8650; and
about 160 to about 170
about 35 to about 40
about 29
about 500
about 8650.
51 ) The process of claim 28 , wherein the predetermined time and the predetermined conditions for processing the feedstock are selected from the group consisting of:
Caustic
Temperate Range
Processing Time
Methanol
Soda
Oil
(° F.)
(Mins.)
(% v/v)
(lbs.)
(Gals.)
about 60 to about 70
about 440 to about 450
about 20
about 300
about 8650;
about 70 to about 80
about 350 to about 375
about 20
about 300
about 8650;
about 80 to about 90
about 250 to about 275
about 20
about 300
about 8650;
about 90 to about 100
about 200 to about 225
about 20
about 300
about 8650;
about 100 to about 110
about 150 to about 175
about 21
about 325
about 8650;
about 110 to about 120
about 110 to about 120
about 22
about 325
about 8650;
about 120 to about 130
about 90 to about 100
about 24
about 325
about 8650;
about 130 to about 140
about 70 to about 80
about 25
about 325
about 8650;
about 140 to about 50
about 55 to about 65
about 26
about 350
about 8650;
about 150 to about 160
about 45 to about 50
about 27
about 350
about 8650; and
about 160 to about 170
about 30 to about 35
about 28
about 350
about 8650.Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
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