In-feed hopper and meter for carbon-based feedstock processing system

Abstract

A meter for controlling the flow of feedstock from an in-feed hopper to a distillation unit, including a cylindrical roller having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter, the roller defining a recess that extends helically substantially from the first end to the second end, a sleeve circumscribing a portion of the outer diameter of the cylindrical roller, the sleeve having an open first side that allows the passage of feedstock into the recess of the roller, and an open second side that allows the passage of feedstock out of the recess of the roller as the roller rotates relative to the sleeve, and a housing fixedly attached to the sleeve and capable of attachment to the in-feed hopper and the distillation unit such that feedstock must pass through the housing to get from the in-feed hopper to the distillation unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing feedstock to a distillation unit, the method comprising:
 a) filling a first hollow chamber with feedstock through an inlet in the first hollow chamber;   b) sealing the inlet of the first hollow chamber;   c) pressurizing the first hollow chamber until the pressure within the first hollow chamber is about equal to the pressure inside a second hollow chamber;   d) opening a passage between the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber so that the feedstock can pass from the first hollow chamber to the second hollow chamber; and   e) discharging the feedstock from the second hollow chamber into a feed meter having a roller with a recess, the roller designed to accept feedstock into the recess, rotate the feedstock away from the second hollow chamber, and discharge the feedstock to a distillation unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 between steps b) and d), purging oxygen from the first hollow chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 replacing the oxygen in the first hollow chamber with nitrogen.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 shearing fragments of the feedstock with a wear plate located adjacent the roller in the meter to a size that fits within the recess of the roller.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising discharging the feedstock from the meter into the distillation unit evenly to prevent the feedstock from massing inside the distillation unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recess in the roller is helical and extends across a horizontal length of the roller and curves across the length so that the cross-section of the helical recess at the first end of the roller is offset substantially 90° from the cross-section of the helical recess at the second end. 
     
     
         7 . A method of providing feedstock to a distillation unit, the method comprising:
 providing feedstock to an infeed hopper;   discharging the feedstock from the infeed hopper into a feed meter having a cylindrical roller with a helical recess extending across a horizontal length of the roller and curving across the length so that the cross-section of the helical recess at a first end of the roller is offset substantially 90° from the cross-section of the helical recess at a second end of the roller;   rotating the roller within a roller housing of the feed meter, the roller housing having an open upper side and an open lower side;   accepting feedstock into the recess via the open upper side of the roller housing; and   discharging the feedstock from the recess through the open lower side of the roller housing into the distillation unit.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of discharging the feedstock from the recess further comprises dropping all the feedstock held in the recess along the length of the roller evenly and contemporaneously into the distillation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of dropping all the feedstock evenly and contemporaneously into the distillation unit comprises the open lower side of the roller housing being a helical opening corresponding in shape and size to the recess of the roller and when the recess of the roller aligns with the helical opening, the feedstock passes through the helical opening all at once into the distillation unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the helical recess extends through an arc of substantially 90° from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 restricting the flow of gases from the distillation unit to the in-feed hopper.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of restricting the flow of gases comprises maintaining a distance between an outer diameter of the roller and the roller housing to about ⅛ of an inch or less. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 shearing fragments of the feedstock with a wear plate located adjacent the roller in the feed meter to a size that fits within the recess of the roller.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of providing feedstock to an infeed hopper comprises:
 filling a first hollow chamber of the infeed hopper with feedstock through an inlet in the first hollow chamber   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 sealing the inlet of the first hollow chamber;   pressurizing the first hollow chamber until the pressure within the first hollow chamber is about equal to the pressure inside a second hollow chamber; and   opening a passage between the first hollow chamber and the second hollow chamber so that the feedstock can pass from the first hollow chamber to the second hollow chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 between the steps of sealing the inlet and opening a passage, purging oxygen from the first hollow chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 replacing the oxygen in the first hollow chamber with nitrogen.