U.S. patent application number 15/488459 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-03 for mobile biomass harvester with guidance system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jason Force. Invention is credited to Jason Force.
Application Number | 20170215340 15/488459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51428684 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170215340 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Force; Jason |
August 3, 2017 |
Mobile Biomass Harvester with Guidance System
Abstract
A mobile platform comprises a header, a biomass processor, and a
guidance system. The header is configured to harvest biomass. The
biomass processor is configured to compact the biomass into a
multitude of compressed biomass pieces. The guidance system is
configured to guide the mobile platform at a speed determined by
the operating capacity of the mobile platform.
Inventors: |
Force; Jason; (Clifton,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Force; Jason |
Clifton |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51428684 |
Appl. No.: |
15/488459 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14866971 |
Sep 27, 2015 |
9648808 |
|
|
15488459 |
|
|
|
|
14164183 |
Jan 25, 2014 |
9155247 |
|
|
14866971 |
|
|
|
|
61769689 |
Feb 26, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23G 7/10 20130101; A01D
43/0633 20130101; F23G 2209/262 20130101; F23G 2206/202 20130101;
F23G 2203/601 20130101; Y02E 20/12 20130101; A01D 34/008 20130101;
Y02E 50/30 20130101; F23G 2206/203 20130101; A01D 43/06 20130101;
A01D 34/04 20130101; F23G 5/027 20130101; A01D 43/063 20130101;
A01D 43/086 20130101; A01D 43/00 20130101; F23G 2201/303 20130101;
A01D 43/003 20130101; A01D 43/08 20130101; A01D 43/006 20130101;
Y10S 901/01 20130101; A01D 61/008 20130101; A01D 43/10 20130101;
F23G 5/40 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01D 43/00 20060101
A01D043/00; A01D 61/00 20060101 A01D061/00; A01D 34/00 20060101
A01D034/00; A01D 34/04 20060101 A01D034/04; A01D 43/063 20060101
A01D043/063; A01D 43/08 20060101 A01D043/08 |
Claims
1. A mobile platform comprising: a) a header configured to harvest
biomass; b) a biomass processor configured to compact the biomass
into a multitude of compressed biomass pieces; and c) a guidance
system configured to guide the mobile platform at a speed
determined by the operating capacity of the mobile platform.
2. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the header comprises at
least one of the following: a) a frame; b) a cutter bar; c) a
crushing roll; d) a pickup cylinder; e) a pickup reel; f) a
conveyer; g) an auger; h) a vacuum; i) a slicer; j) tines; k) a
rake bar; l) an impeller; and m) a pickup device.
3. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises at
least one of the following: a) grass; b) weeds; c) crops; d) algae;
e) biological material derived from living organisms; f) biological
material derived from recently living organisms; and g) man-made
waste materials.
4. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the multitude of
compressed biomass pieces comprise at least one of the following:
a) a pellet; b) a briquette; and c) an extruded biomass piece.
5. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the biomass processor
further comprises a shredder to shred the biomass.
6. The mobile platform of claim 5, wherein the shredder is
configured to reduce the size of the biomass.
7. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the biomass processor
further comprises an extractor to extract moisture from the
biomass.
8. The mobile platform of claim 7, wherein the extractor is
configured to press biomass with a moisture content greater than 7%
of mass.
9. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein the biomass processor
further comprises a dryer to dry the biomass.
10. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the dryer is a rotary
dryer.
11. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the dryer comprises at
least one of the following: a) an electric heating element; b) a
syngas burner; c) a heat exchanger.
12. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the dryer comprises an
auger.
13. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the dryer is configured
to move the biomass from a dryer entrance to a dryer exit.
14. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising a storage
container to receive compressed biomass pieces from the biomass
processor.
15. The mobile platform of claim 14, wherein the storage container
comprises at least one of the following: a) a container with
insulated walls; b) one or more gas ports; c) a handle for carrying
the heated storage container; d) a latching mechanism to attach the
container to the mobile platform; and e) a release mechanism to
disconnect the container from the mobile platform.
16. The mobile platform of claim 14, wherein the storage container
is configured to store excess compressed biomass pieces.
17. The mobile platform of claim 14, wherein the storage container
comprises a release mechanism to remove compressed biomass pieces
from the mobile platform.
18. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising: a) an
engine configured to generate shaft power; and b) an electrical
generator powered by the shaft power and configured to power at
least the guidance system.
19. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising a
battery.
20. The mobile platform of claim 1, further comprising a
remote-controlled control system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/866,971 filed Sep. 27, 2015, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/164,183, filed
Jan. 25, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/769,689, filed Feb. 26, 2013, which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the
present invention and, together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
[0003] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of an example mobile platform
based biomass powered harvester as per an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an aspect of a mobile platform based
biomass powered harvester as per an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an aspect of a mobile platform
based grass powered harvester as per an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an aspect of a mobile platform
based biomass powered harvester as per an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an aspect of mobile platform
based biomass powered harvesting as per an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0008] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are illustrations of an aspect of an
embodiment of a mobile platform based biomass powered
harvester.
[0009] FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of an example header as
per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are illustrations of an example
shredder/press as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E are illustrations of an example
pelletizer as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of an example biomass
gasification reactor as per an aspect of an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Embodiment of the present invention comprise a mobile
platform based biomass powered harvester. Some of the various
embodiments employ a mower and grass pellet harvester that harvests
and processes grassy biomass into a dried pellet form. Some of the
dried pellet(s) may be used to fuel the harvester. Additional dried
pellets may be used for other applications such as heating or power
generation.
[0014] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are diagrams of an example embodiment of
a mobile platform based biomass powered harvester 100. A cutting
header 110 may be mounted forward of a front axle of mobile
platform based biomass powered harvester 101. The header 110 may be
configured to harvest biomass by delivering cut crop pieces to a
shredder through an elevator. The header 110 may have articulation
to follow the ground. The header may retract to vary the cut height
and allow for higher ground clearance when not cutting.
[0015] The mobile platform based biomass powered harvester 100 may
include a mobility platform/package 101 comprising at least a
chassis, a transmission, and wheels. A mobility package 101 may be
required for mobile operation, but one skilled in the art will
recognize that there may be a variety of various mobility package
101 implementations. Various embodiments of mobility packages 101
may be configured differently depending on factors such as the
terrain the mobile package may operate on, biomass to be harvested,
manufacturer preferences, and/or the like. For example: a mobile
platform based biomass powered harvester 100 configured to collect
algae may employ an amphibious mobility package 101, a mobile
platform based biomass powered harvester 100 configured to collect
sea weed may employ a submersible mobility package 101, and a
mobile platform based biomass powered harvester 100 configured to
collect grain may employ a ground traveling mobility package
101.
[0016] Some of the various embodiments of the mobile platform based
biomass powered harvester 100 may include cameras 131, 132 and 104
to assist in navigation and control. As shown in the illustrated
examples, two forward cameras 131 and 132 may be employed. As
shown, each of these forward cameras 131 and 132 have an
overlapping field of view 143 and separate fields of view 141 and
142 respectively. These cameras 131 and 132 may also pan and tilt
to give a better view of the surrounding environment and assist in
operations such as, but not limited to, docking the mobile platform
based biomass powered harvester and/or depositing processed biomass
fuel. During normal cutting operations, the area with an
overlapping field of view 143 may allow for stereo depth
perception. This depth perception capability may be employed in
obstacle and terrain analysis, as well as in making determinations
of crop type and suitability.
[0017] Similarly, the mobile platform based biomass powered
harvester 100 may include one or more omnidirectional cameras (e.g.
camera 104) with a nearly continuous and/or variable peripheral
field of view(s) 151, 152, 153, and 154. An example embodiment of
this view type may be to use a camera 104 with a cone lens, and
then post-process a digital image from camera 104 to correct for
lens effects. The omnidirectional camera(s) 104 may be employed in
determining and/or analyzing local geometry and/or in situational
awareness capabilities of a control system. Alternatively, the
camera(s) 104 may be a multitude of sensors(s) pointing in
different directions or sensors(s) that are steerable, either
manually or automatically. The camera(s) 104 may be sensitive to a
multitude of frequencies such as visible light, infrared light,
ultraviolet light, radar frequencies, combinations thereof, and/or
the like. Some of these frequencies may be used in the
identification of bio materials.
[0018] Some of the various embodiments of the mobile platform based
biomass powered harvester 100 may include one or more electronics
bins 105 to store processor components, sensor interfaces, control
systems, support electronics, combinations thereof, and/or the
like. Some mobile platform based biomass powered harvester 100
embodiments may include system batter(ies) to provide power for the
electronics, engine and reactor start, fans, and other electrically
actuated systems. When an alternator is running, batter(ies) may
assist in stabilizing bus voltage(s).
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an aspect of a mobile platform based
biomass powered harvester 200 as per an embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated, the mobile platform based biomass
powered harvester 200 includes a header 210, cameras 203 and 204, a
chemical reactor 270, and a biomass processor mounted on a mobility
platform 201. As illustrated in this example illustration, the
biomass processor includes a shredder 220, a press 230, a dryer
240, and a densifier 250.
[0020] According to aspects of various embodiments, FIG. 3 shows a
mobile platform 300 based grass powered harvester configured to
process grass 305 into grass pellets 355. Some of the various
embodiments of the mobile platform 300 comprise a cutter 310, a
grass processor 304, a heated storage container 360, a chemical
reactor 370, a guidance system 302, a syngas engine 380 and an
electrical generator 390. This example configuration may operate in
a self-powered mode, where the grass 305 is processed into fuel
that powers the mobile platform 300. Embodiments of the grass
processor 304 may comprise a shredder 320, a press 330, a rotary
dryer 340, and a pelletizer 350. The shredder 320 may be configured
to convert the cut grass 315 into shredded grass 325. The press 330
may be configured to produce pressed grass 335 by extracting water
from the shredded grass. The rotary dryer 340 may be configured to
generate dried grass 345 from the pressed grass. The pelletizer 350
may be configured to compact the dried grass into a multitude of
grass pellets 355.
[0021] The grass processor 304 may be configured to operate in
combination with a heated storage container 360. Heated storage
container 360 may store the grass pellets 355. Chemical reactor 370
may be configured to generate syngas 375 by gasifying at least some
of the grass pellets 365. Additionally, the chemical reactor 370
may generate a first source of heat 371 for the rotary dryer 340
and/or the heated storage container 360. Excess grass pellets 355
that are not needed as fuel for the chemical reactor 370 may be
removed from the heated storage container 360. Removal of excess
grass pellets 355 may be performed manually and/or automatically.
Automatic removal may involve a removal mechanism attached to the
heated storage container 360. The removal mechanism may be
controlled by guidance system 302 and/or other suitable controller.
In some embodiments, the guidance system 302 may maneuver the
mobile platform 301 to specific locations for removal of excess
grass pellets 355. According to some of the various embodiments,
these removal locations may be predetermined and/or dynamically
determined. The guidance system may periodically report the drop
locations, either by direct download, by wireless communication,
and/or by other communication mechanism known in the art.
[0022] The harvester may operate under the control of a guidance
system 302 configured to guide the mobile platform 300 at a speed
determined by the operating capacity of the pelletizer 350. This
speed control capability may be configured to efficiently produce
grass pellets 355. It is this speed capability that may enable a
unified platform to operate more efficiently than past attempts to
generate grass pellets. In the past, separate harvesters were
required to cut the grass. This cut grass was then collected by
separate vehicles and transported to a processing location. At the
separate processing location, the grass was converted to grass
pellets by high speed and capacity processing devices. Current
embodiments eliminate the intermediate steps of collecting and
transporting the cut grass. Additionally, because the embodiments
are self-powered, the embodiments can operate for long periods of
time autonomously, thus minimizing the constant attention of human
operators.
[0023] Adjusting the speed of various embodiments may vary
depending upon specific biomass being harvested. The harvester may
be used to harvest short crops or tall crops, and the crops could
have high water content or low water content. The speed of the
mobile platform (running on, for example, tracks or wheels) may
need to be changed depending on a number of factors relating to the
crop and the processing of the crop. These factors may be external
such as the biomass density, or internal such as the amount of time
required in a dryer for different types of biomass.
[0024] An example speed control processes will now be described.
According to some embodiments, on approach to a crop, an attempt
may be made to classify the type and density using data from
sensors such as images from a camera. Crops may also be classified
using satellite or remote sensing data. Crops may be classified
externally and the information communicated to the harvester. In
yet other cases, classification may be performed by a person.
[0025] According to some embodiments, predetermined processing
information may use the classification information to anticipated
system loads in terms of, for example, dry basis biomass and water
content. Based on this anticipated load, processing variables may
be adjusted such as, for example, platform speed, cutter, press,
and/or dryer speed(s). Some embodiments may use a lookup table to
determine values for the processing variables. These variables may
then be set to operate the platform speed accordingly.
[0026] A control loop may be employed to adjust variables as the
biomass is being processed. The loop may employ sensor data to
verify factors such as platform speed. For example, geometry data
from cameras may be employed to verify platform wheel speed.
[0027] As biomass is processed, sensors may be employed to change
classification and system set points as needed. For example
pressure sensors may be employed inside the press to measure
chamber pressure for correlation with processing parameters. In yet
another example, sensors may be employed inside the dryer to
measure moisture content. One way to measure moisture content may
be to measure the input/output temperature difference of the
biomass entering and exiting the dryer. Some biomass types may
require more time in the dryer, requiring a slower system
speed.
[0028] While guidance has been available in agricultural harvesting
equipment, the function of these systems is very basic. The
guidance systems are used to help a driver keep equipment steered
along pre-planned paths such as aligning the harvester with the
same path used in a prior planting step. These systems have no
advanced functions like obstacle detection, crop classification,
route planning, group task redistribution, or automatic docking.
The guide assist is not designed to provide the vehicle with the
capability for fully autonomous operation.
[0029] While at first glance it may seem reasonable to have a
pelleting capability on a mobile harvesting platform, a quick look
into the vehicle power math shows that for the pelletizer to keep
up with a conventional crop mower, the vehicle would need to
produce almost eighteen times the power and would require twenty
times the volume to fit the needed shredder, water press, dryer,
and pelletizer. While the whole process could be scaled down, the
production rate would also scale down. The labor to guide the slow
platform plus the high consumption of fuel is prohibitive to the
cost of production. However, combining a guidance system capable of
fully autonomous operation combined with an onboard pelletizer
makes this business concept viable. The high energy use problem is
solved by internal generation of fuel derived from the crop itself
via a biomass reactor producing syngas. A new business model for
generating pelletized biofuel may be enabled by: employing a
control system that removes an operator, controlling the platform
at a speed adapted to the harvester's ability to pelletize biomass,
and generating on-board operating power from the pelletized
biomass.
[0030] Syngas engine 380 may be configured to generate shaft power
385 and generate a second source of heat 372. The second source of
heat 372 may be used by dryer 340 and/or the heated storage
container 360 via a heat transfer element 342. An electrical
generator 390 may employ the shaft power 385 to produce electricity
395. The electricity 395 may be used to power the guidance system
302 as well as any other electrical devices on the mobile platform
such as communication devices, controllers, heaters, solenoids,
and/or the like.
[0031] According to aspects of various embodiments, a mobile
platform 400 may be configured to process other biomass material
besides grass as described above. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates
an example mobile biomass powered harvester. This example mobile
biomass powered harvester may comprise a mobile platform 400, a
header 410, a biomass processor 404, a heated storage container
460, a biomass gasification reactor 470, a syngas engine 480, an
electrical generator 490, and a guidance system 402.
[0032] The header 410 may be employed to harvest biomass 405 and
generate cut biomass 415. According to some of the various
embodiments, the header 410 may be configured with various
apparatuses dependent upon the particular biomass medium being
processed. Examples of particular biomass 405 include grass, weeds,
crops, algae, biological material derived from living organisms or
from recently living organisms and/or the like types of biomass
mediums.
[0033] Examples of header apparatuses include, but are not limited
to, a frame, a cutter bar, a crushing roll, a pickup cylinder, a
pickup reel, a conveyer, an auger, a vacuum, a slicer, tines, a
rake bar, an impeller, a pickup device, a knife roll, and/or the
like. Examples of cutting bars integrated into a harvester include
MacDon FD70 and the SunJoe HJ602 Grass Shear. Another example
header for harvesting corn is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,413
to Lohrentz et al. The header may employ, for example, a knife
rolls attached to a cutter head to allow a vehicle to harvest grass
(or other types of biomass) that are larger than the vehicle
itself. Example knife rolls (some embodiments of which are called
"corn heads") may comprise cylinders with mounted blades to cut
stalks to length. Example knife rolls may be obtained from Oxbo
International Corporation of Byron, N.Y.
[0034] The biomass processor 404 may comprise a shredder 420, a
press 430, a dryer 440, and a densifier 450.
[0035] The shredder 420 may be configured to shred the cut biomass
415 into shredded biomass 425. The shredder may be configured to
reduce the size of the biomass to be compatible with the densifier
as well as to break down biomass cell walls and thereby allow
moisture to be removed from the biomass. Some example shredders may
be obtained from WEIMA America, Inc. of Fort Mill, S.C.
[0036] The press 430 may be configured to generate pressed biomass
435 by extracting water from the shredded biomass 425. According to
various embodiments, the press 430 may be, for example, a constant
output screw press, a sequential piston-type press and/or the like.
Example screw presses may be obtained from Vincent Corporation of
Tampa, Fla.
[0037] The dryer 440 may be configured to generate dried biomass
445 by drying pressed biomass 435. According to some of the various
embodiments, the dryer 440 may be a rotary dryer. The dryer 440 may
be configured with an electric heating element, a syngas burner, a
heat exchanger, and/or the like. A heat exchanger may be configured
to transport external sources of heat 442 into the dryer 440.
External sources of heat 442 may include, for example, heat 471
from the biomass gasification reactor 470, heat 481 from the syngas
engine 480, and/or the like. The construction of the dryer 440 may
be configured to control the moisture content. Additionally, the
dryer 440 may be configured to desiccate and/or rotate the biomass.
According to some of the various embodiments, dryer 440 may employ
an auger configured to move the biomass from a dryer entrance to a
dryer exit. Dryer 440 may include at least one moisture exit. For
example, dryer 440 may include openings along its length or at
either end sized to allow the exit of moisture while containing the
shredded biomass. Example rotary dryers may be obtained from
Baker-Rullman Manufacturing, Inc. of Watertown, Wis.
[0038] The densifier 450 may be configured to compact the dried
biomass 445 into a multitude of compressed biomass pieces 455. The
densifier 450 may be a pelletizer, a briquetter, an extrusion
device and/or the like. According to aspects of various
embodiments, the densifier 450 may be configured to compact biomass
at a rate that generates more compressed biomass pieces than
required to operate the mobile platform 400 based biomass powered
harvester. Maintaining this rate may assure that a surplus of
biomass pieces 455 are produced. The densifier 450 may extrude
biomass pieces 455 in various forms such as pellets, briquettes,
and/or the like extrusion elements. Pellet size may vary depending
upon intended applications and end-use considerations, but may, for
example, range between 1 and 100 millimeters in diameter for
certain applications or between 5 and 9 millimeters for other
applications. Briquette sizes may vary depending upon the intended
application, but may, for example, have a length of between 4 and
300 millimeters. The densifier 450 may be configured to be hosted
on the mobile platform 400 and may be constructed to have a weight
supportable by mobile platform 400, for example, less than 400
pounds. Example pelletizers may be obtained from MakePellets.com of
Wasco, Ill. Example briquette presses may be obtained from WEIMA
America, Inc. of Fort Mill, S.C.
[0039] The heated storage container 460 may be configured to
receive compressed biomass pieces 455 from the biomass processor
404. For example, according to some of the various embodiments, a
first feed mechanism may be provided to feed compressed biomass
pieces 455 from the densifier 450 to the heated storage container
460. According to aspects of various embodiments, the heated
storage container 460 may be configured to provide a suitable
enclosure for storing and processing biomass pieces 455. The heated
storage container 460 may comprise, for example, a container having
insulated walls, one or more gas ports for providing for heating
air, a handle configured for carrying the heated storage container,
a latching mechanism to attach the container 460 to the mobile
platform 400 and/or a release mechanism to disconnect the container
460 from the harvester. The heated storage container 460 may be
configured to remove additional moisture content from the biomass
pieces 455. Excess compressed biomass pieces 455 may be stored in
the heated storage container 460. Additionally, according to some
of the various embodiments, the heated storage container 460 may
comprise mechanism(s) to discharge biomass to a various
location(s). For example, a bidirectional auger and a spring loaded
controllable door may be employed to discharge biomass to the
various location(s). An additional release mechanism(s) may be
employed to remove excess compressed biomass pieces from the
harvester. Discharge locations may, in some cases, be
pre-determined. In other cases, the discharge locations may be
dynamically determined. The harvester may record and/or communicate
release locations.
[0040] The biomass gasification reactor 470 may be configured to
generate syngas 475 by gasifying at least some of the compressed
biomass pieces 455 received from the heated storage container 460.
Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a fuel gas mixture consisting
primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often some carbon
dioxide. The name comes from its use as intermediates in creating
synthetic natural gas and for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas
is combustible and may be used as a fuel for properly configured
internal combustion engines. Additionally, the biomass gasification
reactor 470 may generate a first source of heat 471. Heat 471 may
be transported, for example, by a heat transport mechanism, to
other components of the harvester such as dryer 440 and heated
storage container 460.
[0041] According to aspects of various embodiments, the biomass
gasification reactor 470 may be a down draft type reactor that may
be configured to operate with, for example, compressed biomass
pieces 455. The compressed biomass pieces 455 may be sized for the
biomass gasification reactor 470. For example, some biomass
gasification reactor(s) 470 may process biomass pieces 455 with
less than a 10 millimeter diameter. The reactor 470 may include a
pyrolysis stage, a combustion stage, and/or a reduction stage.
Additionally, the biomass gasification reactor 470 may be
configured to operate without an internal drying stage and may also
include a heat exchanger manifold in the combustion stage. Biomass
pieces may be fed to the biomass gasification reactor 470 through a
series of mechanisms. For example, a second feed mechanism may be
provided to feed heated biomass pieces 465 from the heated storage
container 460 to the biomass gasification reactor 470. Example
gasifiers may be obtained from All Power Labs of Berkeley,
Calif.
[0042] The syngas engine 480 may be an internal combustion engine
configured to operate on syngas. An internal combustion engine is
an engine in which the combustion of a fuel (e.g. syngas and/or
fossil fuel) occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion
chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit.
According to some of the various embodiments, examples of syngas
engine(s) 480 include an internal combustion engine in which
combustion is intermittent, such as a multiple-stroke (e.g. 2, 4, 6
stroke engines and/or the like), a rotary engine, and/or the like.
According to some other embodiments, the syngas engine 480 may
comprise a turboshaft engine. A turboshaft engine is a form of gas
turbine which is optimized to produce shaft power rather than jet
thrust. Some syngas engines may also be able to operate using other
types of combustible fuel(s). Syngas engine 480 may be configured
to generate shaft power 485 and/or a second source of heat 481.
Heat 481 may be employed by, for example, dryer 440, heated storage
container 460, and/or other components on the mobile platform 400.
Heat 481 may be transported for example, via a heat exchanger.
[0043] The electrical generator 490 may be powered by the shaft
power 485 to generate electricity 495 to power the guidance system
402. The electricity may also be employed to power other components
on the mobile platform 400 including, but not limited to: control
systems, communications devices, conveyors, wheels, cutters,
solenoids, cameras, sensors, and/or the like.
[0044] According to aspects of various embodiments, the guidance
system 402 may be configured to guide the mobile platform as it
moves to harvest biomass 405. The guidance system 402 may further
include and/or operate with a control system 403. The control
system 403 may be functionally integrated with the guidance system
402 or provided separately. The guidance system 403 may deploy
navigation signals from a GPS/Glonass and/or the like satellite
constellation. The guidance system 402 may communicate with the
control system 403 to provide, for example, steering and other
types of operation commands to the harvester. Additionally, the
control system 403 may further comprise a system for providing
telemetry data to a remote system that may be employed to track and
record harvesting data and the like. The control system 403 may be
a remote control system configured with a communication device to
receive remote control commands and to report status to a remote
operations control location.
[0045] Some embodiments may employ a control system that includes
processors, memory, interfaces, specialized hardware, software in
combination with processing hardware, and/or the like. The
interfaces may be configured to communicate with actuators,
sensors, communications equipment, and/or the like. The controller
may include application user interfaces. Some of the controllers
may include automated vehicle control functionality for braking,
stability, suspension, transmission automation, engine operations,
mechanical docking, navigation, communications, vision, specialized
payloads (e.g. bio-mass processing), remote control, and/or the
like.
[0046] Some of the various embodiments may be performed, for
example, as illustrated in example FIG. 5, as a method for
processing biomass 505 on a mobile platform. Biomass may include,
but is not limited to: grass, weeds, crops, algae, biological
material derived from living organisms, biological material derived
from recently living organisms, and/or the like.
[0047] The biomass 505 may be harvested at 510. According to some
of the various embodiments, the harvesting 510 may include
converting biomass 505 into cut biomass 515. The harvesting may
employ a cutter, header, and/or the like, several examples of which
are described herein above.
[0048] The biomass 510 may be shredded at 520 into shredded biomass
525. The shredding may employ a shredder configured to reduce the
size of the biomass as well as to break down biomass cell walls and
thereby allow moisture to be removed from the biomass.
[0049] The shredded biomass 525 may be pressed into pressed biomass
535 to extract water at 530 with a press. According to aspects of
various embodiments the press may be, for example, a constant
output screw press, a sequential piston-type press, and/or the
like.
[0050] The pressed biomass 535 may be dried into dried biomass 545
at 540. According to further aspects of various embodiments, the
drying may be performed using a dryer such as, for example, a
rotary dryer. The dryer may be configured with an electric heating
element, a syngas burner, a heat exchanger configured to transport
heat from other sources, and/or the like. The construction of the
rotary dryer may be further configured to control the moisture
content. Additionally, the dryer may be configured to desiccate
and/or rotate the biomass. In some embodiments, the dryer may
employ an auger configured to move the biomass from a dryer
entrance to a dryer exit. The dryer may also include moisture
exit(s) and/or opening(s) to allow the exit of moisture while
containing the shredded biomass.
[0051] The dried biomass 545 may be compacted into compressed
biomass pieces 555 at 550. The dried biomass 545 may be compacted
at a rate that generates more compressed biomass pieces than
required to operate the mobile platform based biomass powered
harvester. Maintaining this rate may assure that a surplus of
biomass pieces are produced. Compacting may include extruding the
biomass into various forms such as pellets, briquettes, and/or the
like. Pellet sizes may vary depending upon intended applications
and end-use considerations, but may range, for example, between 1
and 100 millimeters in diameter for certain applications or between
5 and 9 millimeters for others. Briquette sizes may vary depending
upon the intended application, but may, for example, have a length
of between 4 and 300 millimeters.
[0052] The biomass pieces 555 may be heated into heated biomass
pieces 565 at 560. According to aspects of various embodiments, the
heating may employ a heated storage container configured to provide
a suitable enclosure for storing and processing produced biomass
555. The storage container may comprise, for example, a container
having insulated walls, one or more gas ports for providing for
heating air, a handle configured for carrying the heated storage
container, a latching mechanism to attach the container to the
mobile platform, a release mechanism to disconnect the container
from the harvester, and/or the like. The heated storage container
may be configured to remove additional moisture content and to
store excess compressed biomass pieces 565. Additionally, according
to some of the various embodiments, the heated storage container
may be configured to discharge biomass pieces. For example, the
heated storage container may be configured with a bidirectional
auger and a spring loaded controllable door operable to discharge
biomass to a suitable predetermined location(s). An additional
release mechanism may be provided in some embodiments to remove
excess compressed biomass pieces from the harvester.
[0053] Some of the heated biomass pieces 565 may be gasified into
syngas 575 at 570. According to aspects of various embodiments, the
gasification may employ a biomass gasification reactor. The biomass
gasification reactor may be, for example, a down draft type biomass
gasification reactor. However, one skilled in the art will
recognize that other types of biomass gasification reactors may be
employed. The biomass gasification reactor may generate heat that
may be employed to assist heating, for example biomass pieces. The
biomass gasification reactor may be configured to operate with
various amounts of biomass pieces, such as, for example, less than
a hundred compressed biomass pieces with less than a 10 millimeter
diameter. The biomass gasification reactor may further include,
according to some of the various embodiments, a pyrolysis stage, a
combustion stage, and/or a reduction stage. Additionally, the
reactor may be configured to operate without an internal drying
stage and may also include a heat exchanger manifold in the
combustion stage.
[0054] Syngas 575 may be converted to electricity 585 at 580.
According to some of the various embodiments, the conversion may
include burning syngas in an internal combustion engine to generate
shaft power that rotates an electric generator. In these
embodiments, the syngas engine may also generate another source of
heat that may be used, for example, to heat biomass pieces.
According to some of the various embodiments, additional sources of
electricity may also be used. For example, before the generator is
operating, a battery may be employed as a power source to the
harvester to startup and/or initiate mobility before starting the
reactor and electronics. Additionally, electricity may be employed
to power ventilation equipment to reduce the formation of
CO.sub.2.
[0055] The electricity 585 may be employed to power a guidance
system at 590. The guidance system may be configured to guide the
mobile platform at a rate determined by the compacting 550.
[0056] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are illustrations of an aspect of an
embodiment of a mobile platform based biomass powered harvester
600. This example illustration shows a shredder 601, a screw press
602, a dryer 603, a pelletizer/densifier 604, a first pellet
conveyor tube 605, a second pellet conveyor tube 606, a reactor
607, a cyclone ash separator 608, a secondary heat exchanger 609,
an engine 610, a clutch control 611, a power transmission 612, an
engine starter/alternator 613, an engine heat shroud blower 614, an
engine heat shroud 615, a screw press heat shroud and an engine
filter & gas mixer 617. This configuration is being shown as an
example only as many other embodiments are possible. This
embodiment includes several components that are optional with
respect to practicing the claimed embodiments. For example,
embodiments maybe configured without specifically employing first
pellet conveyor tube 605, second pellet conveyor tube 606, cyclone
ash separator 608, secondary heat exchanger 609, clutch control
611, power transmission 612, engine starter/alternator 613, engine
heat shroud blower 614, engine heat shroud 615, screw press heat
shroud and/or engine filter & gas mixer 617. Similarly, some
components may be substituted for some of the components. For
example, pellet conveyor tube 605, and/or second pellet conveyor
tube 606 perform a transport function of pellets. One skilled in
the art will recognize that pellets may be transported using other
mechanisms such as conveyers, pneumatics, gravity drops, and/or the
like.
[0057] Shredder 601 may be configured to shred biomass material
into small pieces. The biomass material may be fed to the shredder
from a header via a transport mechanism such as a crop elevator. A
drum shredder is shown but other implementations such as a
segmented auger are possible. Output from the shredder may be
dropped into a screw conveyor for transport to a press such as a
screw press 602.
[0058] Screw press 602 may be configured similar to a screw
conveyor with pressures generated from a widening taper on the
screw threads. This pressure may lead to removal of water from the
shredded material. The water removal may be aided by heat conveyed
from reactor heat exchanger through a heat shroud. The output of
the screw press 602 may be a press cake. The press cake may be
conveyed to the dryer 603 through a tube. Typical screw press input
moisture range may be between 40% and 90% by dry mass basis. Exit
moisture content may be expected to be in the approximate range of
40% to 55%. So, for example, screw press 602 may be configured to
press biomass with a moisture content greater than 7% of mass.
However, different moisture content may be expected depending upon
the exact configuration of the header, shredder 601, screw press
602 and the biomass being processed.
[0059] Rotary dryer 603 may accept the press cake from the screw
press 602 and heated airflow from the engine 610. The dryer 603 may
further reduce the moisture content of the press cake from, for
example, 40% moisture to, for example, approximately 10% to 20%
moisture. The press cake may be broken up and tumbled through the
dryer while the hot air from the engine 610 dries the material. The
press cake may break up as it dries and run through the tumbling
action of the dryer 603. The dried material may be extracted to the
pelletizer 604. The air exit from the dryer 603 may be covered by a
screen that is automatically wiped by the rotary action of the
dryer 603.
[0060] Pelletizer 604 may be configured to compress the dried
material into pellets with an internal rotary pressing function.
Pellets may be stripped by an integrated cutter and fall into a
conveyor tube. The pelletizer 604 may employ friction heat from the
process to increase operating temperature and assist
functionality.
[0061] Pellet conveyor tube 605 may be configured to convey
produced pellets from the pelletizer 604 to a pellet bin. The
pellet conveyor tube 605 may be configured to dump pellets before
they reach the pellet bin. This functionality may be used, for
example, when the pelletizer 604 is still cold and producing poor
pellets. Normal pellets may be conveyed to the bin where they may
be progressively dried through a first-in, first-out process.
[0062] A second pellet conveyor tube 606 may be configured to
transport dried pellets from the pellet bin to reactor 607. A gas
purge supply from the engine exhaust may be employed to prevent
oxygen from the pellet bin from entering the reactor 607 and to
prevent reactor gasses from moving into the pellet bin through this
tube 606.
[0063] Reactor 607 may be configured to convert pellets to SynGas.
SynGas is a combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. The
reactor 607 may also employ an internal primary heat exchanger to
reduce the amount of reaction heat leaving the reactor.
[0064] The fuel gas mixture exiting the reactor will have a small
level of ash contamination. According to some of the various
embodiments, a cyclone ash separator 608 may be configured to
remove this ash from the fuel stream. Additionally and/or
alternatively, a bypass valve (not shown) may also be employed to
prevent tar from a reactor cold start from entering the cyclone
separator.
[0065] A secondary heat exchanger 609 may be configured to remove
heat and moisture from the fuel stream. Moisture may also (and/or
alternatively) be dumped via a line valve (not shown) at an exit
connection.
[0066] Engine 610 may be employed to convert fuel to shaft power
and heated air. Examples of engines include 2-cycle and 4-cycle,
single or multiple cylinder internal combustion engines,
turbo-shaft engines, and/or the like. Some engines may be
air-cooled.
[0067] Clutch control 611 may be configured to engage a process
drive on an external control input. This may enable the engine to
be started without the loads from the rest of the system being
connected. Clutch control 611 may be an electrically actuated unit.
Power transmission 612 may be configured to connect the engine 610
to the mechanical loads. Some of the various illustrated
embodiments employ pulleys and belts, however other types of
transmissions such as direct drive, variable and/or geared
transmissions may be employed. Engine starter/alternator 613 may be
configured to start the engine 610 and/or provide electrical power
from engine 610 when needed. Engine starter/alternator 613 may be
single or multiple phase and employ brushes or be brushless. For
example, starter/alternator 613 may be, according to some of the
various embodiments, a 3-phase brushless DC motor with appropriate
electronics.
[0068] An engine heat shroud blower 614 may be configured to push
air past engine 610 for cooling. The heated air may be transported
to, for example, dryer 603 to assist in drying the biomass or to,
for example, a pellet bin. Engine heat shroud 615 may be configured
to control the cooling airflow around, for example, engine 610
and/or deliver heated air to dryer 603. Screw press heat shroud may
focus heated air from the secondary heat exchanger on a section of
the screw press 602. Engine filter & gas mixer 617 may be
configured to remove fuel contaminants. For example, in the
currently illustrated embodiment, the cyclone ash separator 608 may
allow some contaminants to pass. In this example, the engine filter
& gas mixer 617 may be configured to remove fuel contaminants
not removed by cyclone ash separator 608. Additionally, engine
filter & gas mixer 617 may be configured to mix atmospheric
oxygen with fuel gas in a manner similar to a carburetor.
[0069] FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of an example header as
per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. A header
700 may be configured to be mounted on a forward side of a mobile
platform based biomass powered harvester to harvest and/or deliver
cut crop pieces to a biomass processor. As illustrated in this
example embodiment, header 700 includes a crop snout 701, a feed
and alignment roll 702, a snap roll 703, a cutter bar 704, an outer
case and guide 705, a header auger 706, a feed roll and snap roll
drive motor 707, a crop elevator 708, a cutter bar and conveyer
drive motor 709, and a crop bumper 710. The crop snout 701 and crop
bumper 710 may be configured to direct the crop into one of a
series of slots 720 while the header moves through, for example, a
field of crops. The crop may then meet a cutter bar 704 configured
to cut the crop at the base. The cut pieces of crop may then be
transported internally through the header by feed and alignment
roll 702 and snap roll 703. The feed and alignment roll 702 and
snap roll 703 may be powered by feed roll and snap roll drive motor
707. Snap roll (sometimes referred to a knife roll) may cut, snap,
crimp, and/or condition stalks and other bio-materials so that it
may be fed by header auger 706 onto crop elevator 708. Crop
elevator 708 may transport the cut and snapped crop pieces for
further biomass processing. Cutter and conveyor drive motor 709 may
power the cutter bar 704 and/or conveyer mechanisms (such as header
auger 706 and crop elevator 708). Feed roll and snap roll drive
motor 707 and cutter and conveyor drive motor 709 may be
independent motors, combined motors, and/or mechanical linkages to
external shaft power.
[0070] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are illustrations of an example
shredder/press as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated, the example shredder press 800 includes
shredder casing 801, shredder bearing plates 802, shredder shafts
803, spacer wheel 804, shredder wheel 805, stripper plate 806,
collection auger 807, collection auger case 808, press auger case
809, press auger case 810, press auger case 811, press auger 812,
liquid containment case 813, heater cowl 814, extruder 815,
transmission 816, and/or transmission input 817.
[0071] Shredder casing 801 may be configured to hold the shredder
bearing plates 802 together, mechanically connect the shredder 800
to the collection auger case 808 and serves as a funnel for both
the material entering the shredder 800 and exiting the shredder
800. The casing may be composed of a number of components
configured to allow disassembly. Shredder bearing plate 802 may be
configured to hold bearings for the shredder shafts together.
Shredder shafts 803 may be configured to hold and rotate the
shredder wheels 805 during loaded and unloaded conditions, for
example, when experiencing high side loads. Spacer wheel(s) 804 may
be configured to set separation distance(s) between adjacent
shredder wheel(s) 805. Shredder wheel(s) 805 may be configured to
cut incoming material and push the incoming material through
collection auger 807. Stripper plate(s) 806 may be configured to
help remove cut material from shredder wheel(s) 805.
[0072] Collection auger 807 may be configured as a conveyor to
collect shredded bio-material coming out of the shredder and push
the collected bio-material into a tube connecting to the press
auger 800. According to some of the various embodiments, the
conveyor and press components may be combined on a single shaft.
For space constrained vehicle applications, the conveyer and press
components may be separated. According to some of the various
embodiments, collection auger 807 may have a milled shaft. However,
those skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations
are possible, such as employing a helical strip welded to a shaft.
Collection auger case 808 may be configured, for example, as a tube
with openings to hold collection auger 807. The openings may be
configured to allow shredded bio-material from the shredder to
enter from the top. Additional openings may be configured on the
bottom of the collection auger case 808 for the collected material
to enter the press auger 800. Press auger case 809 may be, for
example, a high strength tube that contains the press auger. Press
auger case liquid vents 810 may include holes or slits that cut
into the side of the press auger case 810 that allow liquid to
escape during the pressing operation. Press auger case
reinforcement 811 may add additional reinforcement for the press
auger case to withstand press pressures that occur when used with
slits for liquid vents. According to some of the various
embodiments, a spring-like helical wound wire may be welded to the
outside of the case to provide additional strength.
[0073] The press auger 812 may be a shaft with a widening taper
helical pattern cut into it. As the taper widens, the shredded
bio-material may be pushed with progressively increasing force
against the case. This press action may be configured to force
liquid water out of the shredded bio-material. Liquid containment
case 813 may be configured to direct water ejected from the pressed
bio-material into a single exit hole. Heater cowl 814 may be
configured to focus a high-temperature input air stream onto the
end of the press chamber so that the high-temperature input air
stream may improve the removal of liquid during pressing.
[0074] Extruder cap 815 may be configured to create back pressure
at the end of the press auger 812. The opening diameter may
determine the pressure of the system. An exit conveyor tube may be
mounted to the extruder to take the pressed material to the next
processing component, typically a dryer. Transmission 816 may be
configured to hold the mechanical gearing to drive the shredder
shaft(s) 803, the collection auger 807, and the press auger 812.
The example illustration shows the input shaft connecting directly
to the press auger 812. However this is only for illustrative
purposes and alternative configurations are anticipated. The input
817 to the transmission may be driven a number of different ways,
including, for example, a pulley (as illustrated), gear(s),
sprocket(s), and/or the like.
[0075] FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E are illustrations of an example
pelletizer 900 as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention. Example pelletizer 900 is a type of densifier configured
to generate pellets. The illustrated example pelletizer 900
includes a pelletizer wheel 901, a traction wheel 902, a traction
wheel bearing(s) 903, an outer case 904, a traction wheel wall 905,
side bearing(s) 906, height adjustment ring(s) 907, side plate(s)
908, and/or loading port 909.
[0076] Pelletizer wheel 901 may be configured as an interior
rolling component through which bio-material is forced to create
pellets. A number of tapered holes may be configured through the
axis that may not, according to some of the various embodiments,
intersect the axis of rotation, and may be offset to prevent
pellets from intersecting each other during the extrusion process.
Bio-material pinched between the outer face of the pelletizer wheel
901 and traction wheel 902 may be forced through the holes under
pressure to form pellets. Traction wheel 902 may be configured to
rotate with the pelletizer wheel 901. Ridges cut into the surface
of traction wheel 902 may help prevent bio-material from slipping
past pelletizer wheel 901. Traction wheel 902 may be configured to
ride on roller bearings. Traction wheel bearings 903 may be
configured as high-load roller bearings to allow rotation between
the traction wheel 902 and the outer case 904. Outer case 904 may
be configured as a high stiffness component with a polished
internal bearing surface. A threaded outer surface may be
configured for side plate 908 mounting. Traction wheel wall 905 may
be configured as a side wall to prevent press material from leaving
through the side of the pelletizer wheel 901. Side bearings 906 may
be configured to support the rotation of the pelletizer wheel 901
against the side plates 908. Height adjustment ring 907 may be
configured as a ring with a hole axis that is not concentric with
the outer edge axis. Rotating the height adjustment ring 907 during
assembly may adjust the clearance of the face of the pelletizer
wheel 901 over the traction wheel 902. Side plates 908 may be
configured to transmit the compression load between the pelletizer
wheel 901 and the outer case 904. Loading port 909 may be
configured as a hole in the side walls to allow material to enter
the space between the pelletizer wheel 901 and traction wheel
902.
[0077] FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of an example biomass
gasification reactor 1000 as per an aspect of an embodiment of the
present invention. Biomass gasification reactor 1000 may be
configured to generate syngas by gasifying biomass pellets. The
illustrated example embodiment of a biomass reactor 1000 includes a
fuel port 1001, a fuel port adapter 1002, pyrolyzer cap 1003,
hearth (flange) 1004, a hearth (combustion zone) 1005, a hearth
reduction zone 1006, a number of tuyeres 1007, a hearth sheath
1008, a reactor outer wall 1009, a primary heat exchanger 1010, a
fuel grate 1011, grate fasteners 1012, an ash port 1013, an ash
port adapter 1014, and an ash auger 1015.
[0078] The fuel port 1001 may be where pelletized fuel enters the
reactor 1000. In downdraft gasifier designs, there are generally
considered to be four zones: a drying zone, a pyrolysis zone, a
combustion zone, and a reduction zone. In some gasifiers, the
drying zone may be adjacent to the pyrolysis zone. According to
some of the various embodiments, the drying zone may be located in
the physically separate pellet bin and the top of the reactor 1000
may be configured to start with the pyrolysis zone. Fuel port
adapter 1002 may be configured to adapt fuel port 1001 to the
delivery method used to get biomass pellets from a pellet bin to
the reactor 1000. In some of the various embodiments, the delivery
method may be a tube. A positive-pressure gas flood system (not
shown) may be routed from the engine exhaust to prevent atmospheric
oxygen from the pellet bin from travelling to the reactor 1000, and
to prevent pyrolyzed gasses from leaving the reactor 1000 which
could potentially tar a fuel delivery tube. The pyrolyzer cap 1003
may be configured to allow the fuel port to be disconnected from
the rest of the hearth for cleaning and service. Alternatively,
some of the various embodiments may be configured with a one-piece
inner hearth.
[0079] Hearth flange 1004 may be configured to connect the
pyrolyzer cap 1003, the hearth 1005, and reactor outer wall 1009
components. High temperature gaskets may be disposed between these
components. The hearth 1005 is the combustion zone of the reactor
1000. The hearth combustion zone 1005 wall may be configured to
constrict the fuel flow as an inverted cone. The final diameter of
the hearth combustion zone 1005 may be called the throat diameter,
and may be a design parameter of the system that determines
performance. According to some of the various embodiments of the
reactor 1000, the hearth combustion zone 1005 wall, reduction zone
1006 wall, and hearth sheath 1008 wall may be connected together
forming an air manifold. Combustion flow control ports called
tuyeres 1007 may be mounted in the combustion zone wall providing
oxygen to the fuel reaction.
[0080] The hearth reduction zone 1006 may be configured with a
hearth reduction zone 1006 wall to allow the heat of combustion to
continue reducing the solid fuel to gas components. The hearth
reduction zone 1006 wall may permit the spreading of this fuel in
an organized way. The combustion flow control ports called tuyeres
1007 may be mounted in the combustion zone 1005 wall providing
oxygen to the fuel reaction. The cross-sectional opening of the
tuyeres 1007 may be an engineered performance parameter.
[0081] The hearth sheath 1008 may be configured as a mechanical
wall to separate the air manifold from the primary heat exchanger
coil 1010. The fuel grate 1011 may also, according to some of the
various embodiments, be mounted to the sheath.
[0082] The reactor outer wall 1009 may be configured to separate
the primary heat exchanger 1010 and the reaction area from the
atmosphere. The reactor outer wall 1009 may be configured to form
part of the flow barrier for the heat exchanger 1010 and
mechanically connect the ash port 1013 to the hearth. The primary
heat exchanger 1010 may, according to some of the various
embodiments, be configured as a tube that wraps around the hearth
sheath. The primary heat exchanger 1010 may be configured to
exchange heat between an incoming cooler oxidizer air stream with
the outgoing hot fuel stream. The inlet end of the primary heat
exchanger 1010 may be welded to the hearth flange 1004. The output
end of the primary heat exchanger 1010 may be welded to a hole in
the sheath wall leading to the air manifold.
[0083] Fuel grate 1011 may be configured as a perforated sheet
allowing gasses and ash to pass but preventing solid fuel pellets
from passing. The grate 1011 may be configured to attach to the
sheath wall with fasteners. Grate fasteners 1012 may be configured
to attach the fuel grate 1011 to the hearth sheath. Ash port 1013
may be configured to allow ash to leave the reactor 1000. Ash may
fall through the fuel grate 1011 by force of gravity and fall
through the ash port 1013. Ash port adapter 1014 may be configured
to adapt the ash port 1013 to the extraction method used for
removing ash from the reactor 1000. According to some of the
various embodiments, the ash port adapter 1014 may include a tube
with an ash auger 1015. Ash auger 1015 may be configured to remove
ash from the reactor 1000. The ash auger 1015 may be configured
with a shaft that has a spring-loaded plug that prevents oxygen
from entering the reactor 1000 while allowing ash to be pulled
out.
[0084] In this specification, "a" and "an" and similar phrases are
to be interpreted as "at least one" and "one or more." References
to "an" embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the
same embodiment.
[0085] While various embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled
in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In
fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to
one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative
embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments should not be limited by
any of the above described exemplary embodiments. In particular, it
should be noted that, for example purposes, the above explanation
has focused on the example(s) harvesting and processing biomass
such as grass from field into fuel pellets. However, one skilled in
the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention could be
vary in many aspects both functionally and structurally.
[0086] For example, the ground based mobile platform could be
configured as an amphibious, water surface, or submersible craft to
harvest biomass such as marsh grass, wild algae, kelp,
cyanobacteria, and/or the like. The harvesting of plant based
biomass could be extended to the harvesting and processing of
non-plant sources such as plankton.
[0087] Another variation includes a biomass powered harvester that
may be configured to only harvest for their own energy and do not
produce fuel for external use. Examples may include biomass-powered
scout or sensor vehicles, or transport vehicles with a built-in
grazing fuel function.
[0088] According to some of the various embodiments, the biomass
powered harvester may be configured to harvest biomass for energy
to supply a service such as earth moving, selective species
eradication, planting, replanting, pest control, and/or the like.
According to yet other embodiments, the biomass powered
harvester(s) may be configured such that a team of vehicles are
employed where components of the process are separated between team
members. For example, a tree-climbing vine cutter that does not
have onboard densification functions may be configured to
collaborate with a ground-based vine processor that does not have
tree climbing functions. Another example is a submersible
collecting robot working with a surface vessel that processes to
fuel.
[0089] It is envisioned that embodiments of the present invention
may include a vehicle that harvests from biomass, but includes
further processing. Examples of further processing may include, for
example, processing to liquid hydrocarbons or other chemicals,
plastics, fiber products including carbon fibers, and/or the
like.
[0090] Some of the various embodiments may be configured as a
vehicle that harvests biomass, but produces a non-physical product
such as shaft power for power take-off, or electrical power.
Embodiments may be configured as a docking power take off (PTO)
power generator that could become a micro-grid power generation
node when not harvesting. A power take-off or power takeoff (PTO)
is when power is taken from a power source, such as a running
engine, and transmitting the power to an application such as an
attached implement or separate machines. The PTO may comprise a
splined output shaft on the vehicle so that a PTO shaft, a kind of
drive shaft, may be connected and disconnected to another device
which may utilize the shaft power for uses such as generating
electricity. In other words, the PTO may draw energy from the
engine.
[0091] Additionally, embodiments may be configured to process
biomass internally for a soil-enriching product such as biochar or
other fertilizer. Other embodiments may be configured to generate
multiple biomass formats, such as producing both pellets and
briquettes. Yet other embodiments may be configured to scavenge
(and/or seek) pre-processed fuel sources such as municipal waste or
tires to be harvested and converted into fuel. Some of the various
embodiments may be configured to use biomass as fuel, but produce a
non-biomass output product. For example, an embodiment may be
configured that uses biomass as fuel but produces a second
unrelated product such as a municipal waste robot that use waste
for energy but produces densified blocks of metals, or a cotton
harvesting robot that produces spools of cotton.
[0092] It is also envisioned that embodiments may be configured as
retro-fits for vehicles that impart the described
harvesting/processing functions to existing vehicles.
[0093] In addition, it should be understood that any figures that
highlight any functionality and/or advantages, are presented for
example purposes only. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently
flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways
other than those shown. For example, the steps listed in any
flowchart may be re-ordered or only optionally used in some
embodiments.
[0094] Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to
enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public
generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and
practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal
terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The Abstract of the Disclosure is not intended to
be limiting as to the scope in any way.
[0095] Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that
include the express language "means for" or "step for" be
interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not
expressly include the phrase "means for" or "step for" are not to
be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6.
* * * * *