Sherron M Keef

45643687, Jan 14, 1986

Apr 11, 1983

6/483840

Willard C. Sawyer - Oxford ME
Edith M. Sawyer - Oxford ME
Sherron M. Keef - Oxford ME
John W. Sawyer - Oxford ME

C10L 540
C10L 908

44 1D

Method and apparatus for use in drying biomass particles provide a dryer having a chamber for a predetermined volume of biomass particles with apertures distributed throughout one boundary of the chamber enabling hot gas to be introduced and forced through the particles to exit from the opposite boundary. The gas stream to the chamber is so regulated that a layer of particles adjacent the opposite boundary functions as a relatively cool filter bed operable to prevent, to a desired extent, noxious liquids, gaseous, or particulate emissions from exiting from the dryer.

45307008, Jul 23, 1985

Feb 15, 1984

6/580334

Willard C. Sawyer - Oxford ME
Edith M. Sawyer - Oxford ME
Sherron M. Keef - Oxford ME
John W. Sawyer - Oxford ME

C10L 908
C10L 1108
C10J 346

44 1E

Biomass is prepared for use as a fuel or chemical feed stock either by processing biomass to provide particles or by utilizing such particles that have been independently produced, in either case at a location remote from consuming sites. At a thus situated location, particles are delivered to at least one gas producing section and to a drying section with hot producer gas utilized in the drying section in a manner to so reduce the moisture content of the particles as to render the particles a more efficient fuel or chemical feed stock. A minor portion of the producer gas is or may be used for various purposes such as fuel for a power plant to operate conveyors and particle forming apparatus, drying or heating of particles being delivered to the sections, or drying of particles subsequently to be consumed at the same or other particle producing site, in any case enabling biomass particles to be processed at sites remote from consuming sites with an economic advantage attained between the dried particles and undried particles.