Gas Collection Apparatus

Abstract

The disclosure provides a gas collection apparatus. The present apparatus may be used, for example, in a system for producing biocoal or biochar or bio-oil from biomass. The present gas collection apparatus may be part of a thermochemical biomass reactor. The present gas collection apparatus may be part of a syngas management system. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a gas collection apparatus for fluidly communicating with a retort of a biomass reactor, said collection apparatus comprising two or more gas collection pipes in fluid communication with spaced apart sections of said retort; and a gas collection manifold in fluid communication with said pipes. The gas collection apparatus is designed such that the gases collected by one pipe do not mix with those collected by another within the piping network.

1 . A gas collection apparatus in fluid communication with a retort of a biomass reactor, said collection apparatus comprising:
 two or more gas collection pipes in fluid communication with spaced apart sections of said retort; and   a gas collection manifold in separate fluid communication with each of said pipes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising three or more gas collection pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the spaced apart sections of the retort are at different temperatures. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one of the spaced apart sections corresponds with the section of the retort where hemicellulose is decomposed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one of the spaced apart sections corresponds with the section of the retort where cellulose is decomposed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one of the spaced apart sections corresponds with the section of the retort where lignin is decomposed. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one of the spaced apart sections corresponds with the section of the retort where hemicellulose is decomposed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  7  wherein at least one of the gas collection pipes is configured for heating. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claims 1  to  7  wherein at least one of the gas collection pipes comprises heating tape. 
     
     
         10 . A system for pyrolysis of biomass, the system comprising:
 (a) a reactor having at least one retort extending therethrough, said retort comprising a conveyor, an inlet, and an outlet; the reactor further comprising at least one thermosensor, the thermosensor capable of generating a signal when the temperature is below a predetermined level;   (b) a heating system adapted to heat the reactor;   (c) a syn-gas management system; the management system comprising at least two gas collection pipes in fluid communication with said retort, the gas collection pipes in separate fluid communication with a gas collection module, a syn-gas storage tank having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet in fluid communication with the gas collection module, and said outlet in fluid communication with the heating system the communication being controlled with a valve; and   (d) a controller in communication with the reactor and the syn-gas outlet;   wherein the controller switches the valve to allow syn-gas to flow to the heating system upon receiving a signal from the thermosensor that the temperature in the reactor is below a predetermined level.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , comprising three or more gas collection pipes. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10  or  11  wherein the spaced apart sections of the retort are at different temperatures. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claims 10  to  12  wherein at least one of the spaced apart sections corresponds with the section of the retort where hemicellulose, cellulose, and/or lignin is decomposed. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claims 10  to  13  wherein at least one of the gas collection pipes is configured for heating. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claims 10  to  14  wherein at least one of the gas collection pipes comprises heating tape. 
     
     
         16 . A syn-gas management system comprising;
 at least two gas collection pipes in separate fluid communication with a retort of a biomass reactor, the gas collection pipes separately communicating with a gas collection module such that the gases collected by one pipe do not mix with those collected by another pipe within the piping network,   a syn-gas storage tank having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet in communication with said gas collection module, and said outlet in communication with a heating system for the reactor.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  comprising three or more gas collection pipes. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16  or  17  wherein the gas collection pipes communicate with spaced apart sections of the retort at different temperatures. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claims 16  to  18  wherein the gas collection pipes communicate with spaced apart sections corresponding with the section of the retort where hemicellulose, cellulose, and/or lignin is decomposed. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claims 16  to  19  wherein at least one of the gas collection pipes is configured for heating.