WO2014170555A1

WO2014170555A1 - Method and arrangement for producing biofuel

Info

Publication number: WO2014170555A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jarmo Järvinen
Original assignee: Jarmo Järvinen
Priority date: 2013-04-17
Filing date: 2014-04-17
Publication date: 2014-10-23
Also published as: FI124672B; FI20135376A

Abstract

An arrangement (108) for producing biofuel of biomass (108a) by thermochemical treatment of said biomass comprises a first processing environment (1101) with first elevated temperature for heating said biomass in order to eliminate biological activity of said biomass and produce first type biofuel, and a second processing environment (1102) with second elevated temperature being higher that said first elevated temperature for additionally heating said biomass in order to produce second type biofuel. The first processing environment receives the biomass and transfers (1105) it through said first processing environment during a first time period. The second processing environment is coupled with said first environment via a coupling means (1113), and comprises transferring means (1107) for transferring said biomass through said second processing environment during a second time period to second output means (1108). The arrangement is configured to procude both first and second types of dry biofuel, where the first one, as bedding, is outputted (1111) between the first and second environments, and the second one, a coal, is outputted (1108) after the second environment.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR PRODUCING BIOFUEL

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for producing biofuel, such as pellets, torrefied biomass, bio-coal, drying agent (bedding) or carbon based gases, as an example, of biomass, like dry manure, like livestock manure from cattle, pig or poultry farms, industrial or municipal waste, waste foodstuffs, or other like dry biomass or organic feedstock. Especially the invention relates to producing biofuel of biomass by thermochemical treatment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numbers of solutions are known from prior art for producing biofuel from organic feedstock, such as from livestock faeces. Different kinds of treatments for producing e.g. biogas from organic feedstock are used, such as keeping and heating the organic feedstock in fermentation tanks as well as utilizing anaerobic digestion. Also other thermochemical treatment solutions are known for producing biofuel from biomass, such as torrefaction which is as a mild form of pyrolysis. During torrefaction, the biomass properties are changed to obtain a much better fuel quality for combustion and gasification applications. The produced biofuel is e.g. bio-coal, which is dry product with no biological activity like rotting.

The produced biofuel can also be densified (pelletisation or briquetting) so that they are logistically economic and easier to transport and store. Torrefaction is a thermochemical treatment of biomass, and it is typically carried out under atmospheric pressure in the absence of oxygen. During the torrefaction process, the water contained in the biomass as well as superfluous volatiles are released, and the biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) partly decompose giving off various types of volatiles. The final product is the remaining solid, dry, blackened material which is referred to as "torrefied biomass" or "bio-coal". The known solutions for processing biomass are typically very dedicated to only a certain purpose, like producing biogas, bio-coal, ash, drying agent (bedding) or the like. However, there is a need for alternative arrangement, which is more versatile, and which are energy efficient and even self- sustaining.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to alleviate and eliminate the disadvantages relating to the known prior art and offer an alternative and more versatile arrangement for producing biofuel. Especially the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for producing biofuel from biomass easily and cost effectively, such as both biogas, solid biofuel, as well as drying agent (bedding).

The object of the invention can be achieved by the features of independent claims.

The invention relates to an arrangement for producing biofuel from biomass according to claim 1. In addition the invention relates to a method for producing biofuel from biomass according to claim 20.

According to an embodiment of the invention an arrangement is provided for producing at least two type of biofuel of dry biomass of waste stream, such as the stream comprising waste streams and organic feedstock, livestock faeces and urine, grass, reed, creed canary grass or the like comprising organic material, for example. Said biofuel is advantageously produced by thermochemical treatment of the biomass and the process is advantageously a continuous process.

The arrangement advantageously comprises first and second processing environments and at least one processing chamber in each environment. The first chamber in the first environment has first elevated temperature for heating the biomass in order to remove humidity and eliminate biological activity of said biomass. The chamber of the second environment has second elevated temperature being higher that the first elevated temperature. The second environment is for additionally heating the biomass in order to produce said biofuel. The second environment with the high temperature is advantageously oxygen-free environment in order to prevent combustion or burning of the biomass. It is to be noted both the first and/or second environments may comprise number of sequential (but also parallel) chambers. Alternatively the arrangement may comprise physically only one chamber elongating through the two or more different environments so that the same effects can be achieved that with two or more different chambers in different environments. Anyway it is advantageous that the two different environments (or chambers) are separated from each other e.g. due to temperature and other property differences, such as oxygen-free requirements.

Advantageously the first processing environment comprises a first input for receiving the biomass and transferring means for transferring the biomass through the first processing environment during a first time period and again to a first output. The biomass to be used is advantageously dry biomass and it may be received e.g. from a separating unit, where the liquid and solid portions of the original waste stream is separated and the solid portion is delivered for further processing, such as to the first and second environments. The arrangement processing the biofuel of dry biomass can thus be construed as a dry reactor, as an example (not anyhow limiting to this only).

The second processing environment is advantageously coupled via a coupling means to the first processing environment for receiving at least portion of the biomass from first processing environment. Now it is to be noted that the biomass received by the second environment is already at least partially processed, and that the processing parameters can be manipulated so that the partially processed biomass forms a first type of a biofuel, such as bedding, for example.

In addition the second processing environment comprises also a transferring means for transferring the biomass through the second processing environment during a second time period to second output. The second environment thus further processes the biomass so that the further processed biomass forms a second type of a biofuel, such as coal, for example, which is outputted advantageously from the second output.

According to an embodiment the arrangement comprises a first outputting means between the first and second processing environments so to output said first type of biofuel, and a second outputting means after the second processing environment so to output the a second type of biofuel. The first outputting means may be implemented by the coupling means, where the coupling means advantageously comprises also an outputting means for feeding at least portion of said first type of biofuel to the second processing environment.

According to an embodiment the coupling means may comprise two or more locking members and a conduit between them to permit the passage of the partially processed biomass between different environments and chambers. The locking members are advantageously configured to be opened and closed sequentially and the opening or closing times can be manipulated independently from each other. Alternative or additionally the volume flow of the first type biomass produced and outputted (e.g. bedding) from the arrangement can also be managed. For example the outputting means for outputting said first type of biomass can be implemented by conveyor or the like the speed of which can be controlled. Thus, based on the above embodiment and according to an embodiment, the portion of the production of the first and second types of biofuel may be adjusted and controlled by manipulating the functionality, such as opening time of the locking members of the first and second processing environments so that the longer the opening time of the locking member of the second processing environment the greater portion of the first type of biofuel is fed to the second processing environment and more the second type of biofuel is produced, as well as vice versa, the shorter opening time or more faster the conveyor of the outputting means, the greater portion of the first type of biofuel (e.g. bedding) is produced and outputted outside the arrangement and less portion of said second type biofuel (e.g. coal) is produced.

According to an embodiment the second elevated temperature is gained from the thermochemical treatment process of the biomass in the second or further processing environment, where the thermochemical process as such produces heat (exothermic process). The arrangement advantageously comprises a heat transferring means (e.g. a heat exchanger with suitable conduits) for transferring said heat energy from the second or further environments to the first or previous processing environment for providing said first elevated temperature. Thus the arrangement offers clear advantage namely there is no need for additional heating elements. In addition by controlling the production portions of said first and second types of biofuel also energy consumption and self-sufficiency can be managed.

According to the invention the biofuel can be produced from organic feedstock or waste stream comprising any biomass, such as waste streams from cattle, pig or poultry farms, industrial or municipal waste water streams, waste foodstuffs or organic waste water, such as sewage, livestock manure, faeces and urine, for example. Also biogas as one type of biofuel can be produced, such as for example methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations thereof. According to an embodiment in order to achieve dry biomass for the arrangement (dry reactor) producing said first and second types of (dry) biofuel a liquid fraction of the waste stream is first at least partially separated into a liquid waste container (e.g. a 1^st methane fermentation tank) and solid fraction into a solid waste container (e.g. 2^nd methane fermentation tank) so that after separation the solid waste container comprises more solid content than the liquid waste container. The solid portion can then be fed to the process as said dry biomass. Additionally also biogas can be produced from the liquid portion by a suitable process.

According to an embodiment liquid from the liquid waste container is introduced (recycled) to the waste stream portion in order to extract more liquid from the solid fraction of the waste stream portion. The introduction point may be before the separation point, especially if the waste stream is dry, like is the case for example with poultry waste, for example. As well the introduction point may be after the separation point or in connection with the solid waste container, which is the case with the waste stream with a great excess of liquid before separation, like is the case with cattle waste, for example. It is to be noted that also inoculum material can be added to introduce bacteria and other substances as a culture medium and thereby triggering and strengthen the fermentation process already from the beginning. As an example said inoculum material can be achieved for example from the liquid waste container.

In the process the biofuel is produced of biomass by thermochemical treatment by heating the biomass in a first processing chamber with first elevated temperature, where the temperature is so high and the exposure time so long that any biological activity of said biomass is essentially eliminated (i.e. said biomass is hygienic). According to an example the first temperature is about 160-200°C, and advantageously about 180°C, and the length of the time period is about 20-40 minutes, and advantageously about 30 minutes. After the first processing step at least portion of the processed biomass can be removed from the process as prepared or completed hygienic drying agent (bedding), which can be used for example as a drying agent in barns.

In addition at least portion of the already processed biomass can be upgraded by heating said biomass additionally in a second processing chamber with a second elevated temperature being higher than said first elevated temperature in order to produce biofuel with another form, such as bio-coal. The second temperature is advantageously about 360-400°C, and more advantageously about 380°C, and the length of the time period is about 20-40 minutes, and advantageously about 30 minutes. During the thermochemical treatment superfluous volatiles, such as water vapour and oxygen, but also inflammable gases, especially carbon based gases, are released from the biomass, which are advantageously collected outside the chambers. Especially the inflammable gases having bioenergy in the form of gas is collected and used for example for the heating purposes in the thermochemical treatment. The collection may be implemented by suction.

The produced biofuel comprises e.g. pellets, torrefied biomass, bio-coal, drying agent (bedding) or carbon based gases; and the biomass comprises e.g. dry manure, like livestock manure from cattle, pig or poultry farms, industrial or municipal waste, waste foodstuffs, or other dry biomass or organic feedstock.

The first and second processing chambers should be separated so that their environments (e.g. temperature, gases, vapour and other substances) are not interfered, and the processes are kept optimal. The separation may be implemented e.g. by a locking member, which separates the two different environments so that there is essentially no free direct heat or mass transfer between said chambers. An example of this kind of locking member is e.g. a 2-phase locking member between the first and second chamber, where the member has two elements (first and second "doors") and a space between said elements. The first element extends into the first chamber and the second element extends into the second chamber, and the elements are configured to be opened and closed sequentially thereby allowing the biomass entering from the first chamber into the space and after closing the first element and opening the second again allowing said biomass entering to the second chamber. Additionally the closing of the first element may allow the opening of an auxiliary element and thereby removing at least portion of the already processed biomass from the process as prepared or completed hygienic drying agent (bedding).

The present invention offers advantages over the known prior art, such as offering an alternative and more versatile arrangement for producing many types of biofuel at the same arrangement. Especially it is possible to produce both the bedding and coal as two different types of biofuel so that the energy needed by the arrangement for processes is directly derivable from the processes. In particularly it is to be noted that the process is advantageously a continuous process which as such is also huge advantage.

In addition the use of the bio-carbon produced according to the invention as a soil improvement agent reduces the use of industrial based fertilizer or other industrial based improvement agents. Moreover the process according to the invention binds water and especially nutrients thereby reducing the release of the nutrients into water arrangements. The process additionally functions as a carbon sink when the produces biomass is returned back to the earth.

Furthermore by introducing some liquid and/or inoculum material into the solid waste stream or into the solid waste container, more liquid can be extracted from the overall content of the waste stream into the liquid (fermentation) container, starting of the fermentation process can triggered and advanced and thereby more powerful and faster fermentation and biogas production is achieved, when the arrangement comprises also a separate biogas production stage. This also minimizes the container volume requirements. In addition the invention offers an arrangement for producing and collecting biogas, which can be easily extended depending on the amount of the raw waste stream feedstock.

Modularity of the arrangement enables also a scalable system with low costs and with minimum interference for the regular farm operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 -5 illustrates an exemplary method and arrangement for producing biofuel according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

Figures 6A-6E illustrates an exemplary locking member used in the arrangement according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary method and arrangement 100 for producing dry biomass for the dry reactor arrangement 108 of Figure 5A, 5B and additionally also biogas from waste stream 101 , where the original waste stream feedstock comprises a great excess of liquid, like is the case with cattle waste for example. The arrangement 100 advantageously comprises at least one liquid waste container 102 (liquid reactor) for liquid fractions, and at least one solid waste container 103 (solid reactor) for solid fractions. The arrangement comprises also a first separator 104 for at least partially separating liquid fraction from the waste stream 101 into the liquid waste container 102 (e.g. 1^st methane fermentation tank) and solid fraction from the waste stream 101 into the solid waste container 103 (e.g. 2^nd methane fermentation tank). After separation said solid waste container 103 advantageously comprises more solid content than the liquid waste container 103.

According to an embodiment the arrangement 100 also comprises a first mixer 105 and a communication means 106, such as a pipe, between the liquid waste container 102 and the mixer 105. The communication means 106 is provided for introducing (recycling) a portion of liquid from the liquid waste container 102 to the waste stream portion comprising solid fraction in order to extract more liquid from said solid fraction. The first mixer 105 is advantageously arranged before the solid waste container 103, whereupon the communicated liquid from the liquid waste container 102 is introduced via the mixer 105 into the solid waste container 103, where the extraction advantageously happens. The extracted liquid may then be separated from the waste stream portion after the solid waste container 103 by the second separator 107, whereafter the excess of the waste stream portion (especially the solid content of it) is transferred 108a to a dry type reactor 108. According to an embodiment of Figure 1 the extracted liquid is introduced into the liquid waste container 102 via a communication means 109, but it to be noted that the extracted liquid may as well be introduced into another liquid waste container being in another state of fermentation and having liquid with different concentration. In addition the arrangement comprises communication means 1 10 (like a pipe) for transferring excess of the liquid waste stream from the liquid waste container 102 either to a subsequent liquid waste container or out from the arrangement, such as into a waste water treatment station. The arrangement may optionally comprise also communication means 1 1 1 for introducing a liquid fraction from the liquid waste container 102 or communication means 1 1 1 o directly after the separator 104 into the solid waste stream via a second mixer 1 12 before transferring it into the dry type reactor for adjusting pH of the stream or using the liquid as buffering pH, for example. Furthermore it is to be noted that the arrangement may comprise additional inlets 1 13a, 1 13b arranged for example in the connection with the first mixing means in order to introduce for example additional organic material 1 13a into the waste stream, or introducing acid (such as solution of sulfuric acid, NaOH, Ca(OH)₂), enzyme or other biocatalyst 1 13b for example to break down any cellulose materials within solid fraction. The additional organic waste material may be e.g. grass, reed, creed canary grass, or the like. Even though the additional inlets 1 13a, 1 13b are described into the connection with the first mixer 105, they may also be arranged into another point of the arrangement as well. Advantages of the embodiment described in Figure 1 are that by introducing some liquid into the solid waste stream or into the solid waste container, more liquid can be extracted from the overall content of the waste stream into the liquid (fermentation) container 102 and thereby more powerful fermentation and biogas production is achieved.

The mixers may be implemented e.g. by different kinds of pipe joints and valves for example, and they may be provided either before the separator (like is the case with poultry waste, for example) or after the separator and before the solid waste container (like is the case with cattle waste, for example). Of course the mixers may also comprise mixing means, such as propeller or blender in order to mix said components of streams better to each other.

It is to be noted that the biogas production in the arrangement 00 is mainly managed in the liquid waste container 102, even though some biogas production occurs also in the solid state container 103, as well as in the dry reactor arrangement 108 described in more details in Figures 5AS and 5B. However, the production rate of biogas is typically much more effective in the liquid waste container 102.

Figure 2 illustrates another exemplary method and arrangement 200 for producing dry biomass and biogas from waste stream 101 , where the original waste stream feedstock is dry, like is the case with poultry waste for example. Again the arrangement comprises at least one liquid waste container 102 (liquid reactor) for liquid fractions, and at least one solid waste container 103 (solid reactor) for solid fractions. The arrangement also comprises a first separator 104 for at least partially separating liquid fraction from the waste stream 101 into the liquid waste container 102 (e.g. 1 ^st methane fermentation tank) and solid fraction from the waste stream 101 into the solid waste container 103 (e.g. 2^nd methane fermentation tank). After separation said solid waste container 103 advantageously comprises more solid content than the liquid waste container 103.

However, now the arrangement 200 (for dry waste stream feedstock) comprises a mixer 202 before the first separator 104 in order to introduce the liquid from the liquid waste container 102 via a communications means 201 into the waste stream 101 and thereby to extract more liquid from the waste stream 101 in the separation 104. Thereby at least portion of the liquid fraction of the waste stream feedstock 101 and additionally also extracted liquid are separated at least partially by the separator 104, whereafter said liquids are transferred into the liquid waste container 102.

Advantages of the embodiment described in Figure 2 are that the original feedstock is so dry that in the separations phase 104 the extraction of the liquid fraction would otherwise be very low, but by introducing some liquid into the waste stream in step 202, more liquid is achieved from the waste stream in step 104 for the liquid (fermentation) container 102 and thereby more powerful fermentation and biogas production is achieved. Figure 3A illustrates another exemplary method and arrangement 300 for producing biogas from waste stream 101. Now the arrangement 300 is as a hybrid arrangement comprising features from the both arrangements depicted in Figures 1 -2, and therefore it can be applied for waste streams 101 with varying liquid vs. solid contents. The arrangement 300 (as well as also the other arrangements 100, 200) may additionally comprise a pH-sensor 301 for measuring pH-value of the liquid for example in the liquid waste container 102 and a controller 302 for controlling the introduction (recycling) of the liquid from the liquid waste container 102 to the waste stream portion comprising solid fraction via the mixers 105, 202. The controller 302 may be configured to use a pump (not illustrated) or other transferring means so that the introduction of the liquid is performed advantageously when the pH-value of the liquid in the liquid waste container 102 is essentially a certain predetermined value, whereupon the liquid is functioning as a buffer pH solution when introducing into the solid fraction stream or solid container.

In addition the arrangements 300 (or 100, 200) may also comprise a sensor 303 for measuring dry/wet content of the incident waste stream feedstock for example in connection with the first separator 104 or in connection with the mixer 202, 105, 1 12. Again the controller 302 may be configured to control the volume of the liquid to be introduced (recycled) from the liquid waste container 102 to said waste stream via the mixers 105, 1 12, 202 so that the liquid percentage of the waste stream after introduction is at an appropriate level, such as at least 60%, more advantageously at least 70%, or even more advantageously at least 80%. Furthermore the controller 302 may be configured to discharge at least portion of the liquid fraction from the liquid waste container 102 into a sequential liquid waste container (such as is depicted in connection with Figure 4) or into a waste water treatment station. The controller 302 may be configured to discharge the liquid for example after 2-6 days, more advantageously after 2-4 days and even more advantageously after 2-3 days from the moment when the liquid fraction is separated into the liquid waste container 102, or after a certain pH threshold value is fulfilled or due to another triggering event. In addition the arrangements 300 (or 100, 200) may also comprise a heating element 305 and heat controller with suitable temperature sensor, which are configured to keep the temperature of the liquid in the liquid waste container in an appropriate temperature level in order to maximize the fermentation and biogas production. Furthermore the arrangements 300 (or 100, 200) may also comprise anaerobic micro-organisms or microbes (e.g. Methanogenesis bacteria, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae) arranged advantageously in the liquid waste container 102 to interact with the liquid fraction and thereby producing biogas. According to an embodiment of the invention said anaerobic micro- organisms or microbes are arranged into a surface or surface arrangement having large surface area so that interaction of the microbes and the liquid and thereby the biogas production would be as effective as possible. The surface advantageously offers a solid support for the bacterial culture, and may be a sheet, a plastic pellet, sand, a biofilm, or the like promoting bacterial retention and increasing bacterial population. Other substances such as silica can also be added to the reactors to promote the chemical and biochemical reactions therein.

The container 102 may also comprise pump or propeller or the like configured to achieve liquid flow and thereby intensifying the interaction of the liquid with the microbes. According to an embodiment the surface(s) with said anaerobic micro-organisms may be arranged into plurality of units, such as floating units. Each units comprise advantageously maximal surface area for the micro-organisms, and according to an exemplary embodiment the surface may be implemented by a HUFO®-filter. In addition Figures 3B', 3B" and 3C illustrates another embodiments 320, 340 of the invention, where the main parts and functions are similar than in other embodiments described in this document.

It is to be noted that the waste stream input 101 in the embodiments may comprise both a slurry waste stream input 101 a and a dry manure waste input 101 b. The dry manure waste may be e.g. poultry waste, and comprise in addition straw or grass material, peat, sawdust or the like, whereas slurry waste may be e.g. cattle waste, for example and not limiting only to those.

According to an embodiment the arrangement may further comprise a ripper means 302 for ripping especially the dry manure waste 101 b into smaller portions before introducing it in to the separator 104 or liquid waste container. Due to ripping the surface area of dry manure waste particles is increased, which enhances the fermentation process remarkably. As an example the ripper comprises gaps or other holes, blades or the like of diameters between 0.1 -1.0 mm, advantageously elliptical gaps with minor axis between 0.1 -0.3 mm, advantageously 0.2 mm, and with major axis between 0.5-0.8 mm, advantageously 0.6 mm.

The arrangement may also comprise additional temporary solid waste container 103d after the ripper means 302, where the ripped solid waste material can be kept few days, such as 0-10 days, where the liquid or inoculum, as well as also acid, base or other substances enhancing and triggering the fermentation and extraction processes of the waste stream 101 b can be added, before introducing said waste stream 101 b to the separator 104 and the further process steps, for example. However, it is to be noted that the temporary solid waste container 103d is optional and that the waste stream 101 b can be introduced to the separator 104 directly after ripper means 302.

Still according to an exemplary embodiment the arrangement may further comprise the mixer 202 for introducing liquid 201 b from the liquid waste container 102, slurry 303 from the slurry waste stream input 101 a, and/or third liquid 304, such as water, and/or inoculum material into the dry manure waste stream 101 b to introduce bacteria and other substances from the later phase of the previous process as a culture medium and thereby triggering and strengthen the fermentation process of the new incoming waste in its early stage or phase. Again the arrangement may comprise a heating means 305 also in connection with at least one communication means 106, 109, 201 , 309 transferring liquid and/or solid portions in order to triggering or strengthen the fermentation and extraction process. According to an exemplary embodiment the liquid in the liquid container 102 is typically quite warm due to fermentation processes, for example, and the warn liquid may then be introduced into a temporary waste container 306 or other separator or mixer before said liquid container 102 (or upstream), whereupon the warm liquid may be used for warming or heating at least portion of said communication means transferring the waste streams. Again it is to be noted that according to an embodiment energy produced in the fermentation process or biogas process of the arrangement can be used for heating in said heating means 305.

The temporary waste container 306 may be, as an example, a sludge tank with a suitable pump mechanism, and where e.g. liquid from the liquid containers and separators, as well as inoculum material from the later phases of the fermentation process can be introduced to the temporary waste container 306 to trigger said fermentation and biogas production process, as is illustrated elsewhere in this document. According to an embodiment the liquid waste container 102 is arranged to function as a plug flow reactor, as is illustrated in Figure 3D. The advantage of the plug flow reactor is that it can be used for concentrating the introduced liquid via anaerobic digestion without any essential blending of the liquid concentrations between the different phases and input 102A and output 102B ends of the plug flow reactor, whereupon the liquid with different concentrations from different phases can be taken and used for example as an inoculum material for different purposes needing different concentration. However, also other types of reactor can be used. Furthermore it is to be noted that there may be backflow 102C in the liquid waste container 102 (or reactor).

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary arrangement 400 according to the invention, where the arrangement comprises plurality of solid waste containers 103 as well as plurality of liquid waste containers 102, where each of the contents of the container may be in different fermentation state. For example the liquid may be kept first 2-4 days in the first liquid fermentation container 102a, next 2-4 days in the second first liquid fermentation container 102b, etc. The discharge may be implemented for example via a controller with a pump or it might also be gravity operated. Same applies also with the solid waste containers 103a, 103b, 103c.

In the Figure 4 also a biogas collection pipe 401 and biogas containers 402 are illustrated, but naturally the other arrangements 100-300 also comprises means 401 , 402 for collecting the produced biogas even though they are not depicted in Figures 1 -3. In addition, as can be seen in all previous Figures 1 -4, the arrangement advantageously comprises an outlet 108a from the solid waste container 103 to the dry reactor arrangement 108 of Figures 5A, 5B for producing other types of biofuel, advantageously dry biofuels such as bedding and coal, for example.

Figure 5A illustrates a principle of an exemplary arrangement 108 for producing in particularly dry biofuel of biomass 101 , 101 a, 101 b (pre- processed and delivered by the separator arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 -3, or delivered directly without pre-processing) according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 108 may be construed here as a dry reactor. The arrangement 108 comprises a first processing chamber in the first processing environment 1 101 with first elevated temperature for heating the biomass in the chamber 1 101 and producing first type of biofuel, like hygienic drying agent (bedding). The arrangement comprises also a second processing chamber in the second processing environment 1 102 with second elevated temperature (to apply torrefaction), which is higher than said first elevated temperature. The second processing chamber 1 102 is used for additionally processing and heating the biomass and thereby producing another kind of biofuel than in said first chamber, such as biogas and bio-coal. The arrangement may also comprise preliminary processing environment or chamber 1 103 for preliminary processing of the biomass, such as for removing moisture.

The first processing chamber 1 101 comprises a first input 1 104 for receiving the biomass for example from a storage, separation unit 108a, or preliminary processing environment 1 103, and transferring means 1 105 configured to transfer the biomass through the first processing chamber during a first time period to the output 1 106 of the first processing environment and again to the coupling means 1 1 13 and to the second environment 1 102. The coupling of the first and second environments (or chambers of them) are advantageously implemented via a coupling means 1 1 13 so that the biomass (advantageously partially processed) is received via opening 1 106 from the first processing environment 1 101 via the coupling means 1 1 13 to the second environment 1 102. The coupling means are described in more details in Figures 6A-6F. The transferring means 1 107 in the second processing chamber 1 102 is configured to transfer the received biomass through the second processing environment and chamber 1 102 during a second time period advantageously to output 1 108 of the second environment for outputting the biofuel produced during the second time period.

The arrangement advantageously comprises also a low pressure duct 1 109 in the first processing environment or chamber 1 101 , which is configured to suck superfluous volatiles, such as water vapour and oxygen, released from the biomass during the first time period and transfer said volatiles outside said first processing environment 1 101. In addition the arrangement may also comprise a low pressure duct 1 1 10 in the second processing environment or chamber 1 102, which is configured to suck gases, especially carbon based or other inflammable gases, released from the biomass during the second time period and transfer said gases outside said second processing environment 1 102. The transferring said substances away from the first and second processing chambers is advantageous, namely e.g. the environment in the first chamber can be kept clear of oxygen, whereupon the risk for any burning process is minimised, as well as other substances possibly harmful for the process is removed. Additionally any gases, which can be used for energy, are recovered especially from the second chamber.

According to an exemplary embodiment the first and/or second processing chambers, as well as also other possible environments 1 101 , 1 102, 1 103 may be provided with low pressure means, like the low pressure ducts 1 109, 1 1 10, which are configured to provide partial vacuum inside the chambers (or environments covering plurality of chambers of environment in question). The partial vacuum intensifies e.g. evaporation of water vapour and oxygen, as well as also many other gases, and thereby intensifies also the whole process. According to an exemplary embodiment the transferring means 1 105, 1 107 is e.g. a spiral or gear conveyor, which transfers the biomass through the chamber when rotated. The transferring speed, i.e. the length of the time the biomass is exposed in the chamber or environment, depends on the rotating speed of the conveyor. The conveyor may have an elongated tubular member 1 109, 1 1 10 functioning as said low pressure ducts 1 109, 1 1 10 previously discussed, wherein the elongated tubular member advantageously comprises openings into the processing chamber for causing said low pressure / partial vacuum inside the processing chamber (or environment) 1 101 , 1 102.

The arrangement also comprises a heating means 1 1 12 configured to provide the first and second elevated temperatures into the first and second processing environments 1 101 , 1 102, and possibly also to other environments 1 103 if needed. According to an advantageously embodiment of the second elevated temperature is configured to be gained from the thermochemical treatment process of the biomass in said second (or further) processing environment. In addition the heating means 1 1 12 are advantageously implemented by a heat transferring means for transferring heat energy from said second (or further) elevated temperature to the first (or lower) processing environment for providing said first (or other) elevated temperature. According to an embodiment the heating means 1 1 12 are configured to use biofuel gases, especially carbon based or other inflammable gases, released from the biomass during the second (or further) time period in the second processing environment 1 102. As an example the output of the low pressure duct 1 1 10 from the second chamber may be connected to the energy input of the heating means 1 1 12.

The arrangement may also comprise a gas compressing means for compressing the gases produces during the second time period into a liquid form, and/or a drying agent compressing means for compressing the dry biofuel (partially processed) mass produced during the first (or other) time period, such as e.g. bedding. In addition the arrangement may be provided with a compressing means for compressing also the processed material produced by the second (or further) environment (e.g. pellet, briquettes or coal).

In addition as can be seen in Figure 5B the arrangement (dry type reactor) may comprise plurality of environments and chambers, such as two environments 1 101 , 1 103 (removing moisture and eliminating bioactivity) for producing first type of biofuels (e.g. bedding) and next one 1 101 for producing second type of biofuel (e.g. coal) and the last one for cooling down the products, for example. Figures 6A-6F illustrate exemplary coupling means 1 1 13 (advantageously suitable between the different environments or chambers) which comprise advantageously two or even three locking members (like doors) 1201 , 1202, 1203 or 1 1 14, 1 1 15 and 1 1 1 1 , and a space 1204 between the locking members to permit the passage of the biomass between different environments 1 101 , 1 102 and chambers. The locking members separate at least two different environments so that there is essentially no free direct heat or mass transfer between said environments or chambers via said openings.

An example the locking member may be e.g. a 2-phase lock. For example the first locking member 1201 (like door) extends into the first chamber 1 101 (or environment) and the second locking member 1202 extends into the second chamber 1 102 (or environment), and the locking members are configured to be opened and closed sequentially thereby allowing the biomass entering from the first environment into the space 1204 and after closing the first element and opening the second again allowing said biomass entering to the second environment 1 102. The closing of the first locking member 1201 may allow the opening of an auxiliary locking member 1203 (e.g. Figs 6D-6F) and thereby removing at least portion of the already processed biomass from the process as prepared or completed hygienic drying agent (bedding).

The coupling means 1 1 13 between the first and second environments may be implemented in several ways, and for example the outputs / inputs of the environments and coupling means 1 106, 1 1 13 may be configured to output the processed biomass, such as drying agent either outside the arrangement and/or further to the second processing environment 1 102. According to an embodiment the portion of the production of the first and second types of biofuel (e.g. bedding as a first type and e.g. coal as a second type) can be adjusted e.g. by manipulating the mass flow from the first processing environment 1 101 via the coupling means 1 1 13 to the second environment 1 102. For example by changing the proportional opening times of the locking members 1201 , 1202, 1203 or openings 1 1 14, 1 1 15 and 1 1 1 1 , or speed of the conveyor type member (1 1 1 1 ) (see e.g. Fig. 6F) outputting the partially processed biomass (e.g. bedding) the proportions of the produced first and second types of biomasses can be manipulated. According to the invention the arrangements 100-400 (comprising also the dry reactor arrangement 108) can be arranged into a moveable module, such as a shipping container or the like. The moveable main module may comprise for example the separators, mixers as well as biogas collection means and couple of liquid and solid waste containers. In addition, according to an embodiment, another moveable auxiliary module may comprise inlet means for connecting said auxiliary module to the outlet of the main module (or other auxiliary module), and comprising additional liquid and solid waste containers. Therefore for example a farm or ranch may be provided with one main moveable module and numbers of additional auxiliary containers depending on the requirements.

The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims. Especially it is to be noted that even if the first and second processing chambers are discussed above as examples, the same relates also to processing environments, and that a certain processing environment may comprise one or more processing chamber. In addition it is to be noted that according to an embodiment the processing chamber may also elongate through a two or more different environments, where the physical chamber is divided into the sectors so that it forms functionally numbers of processing chambers.

Claims

1. An arrangement (1000, 108) for producing at least two type of biofuel of dry biomass of waste stream (101 , 101 a, 101 b) by thermochemical treatment of said biomass,

wherein the arrangement comprises:

- a first processing environment comprising at least a first chamber

(1 101 ) with first elevated temperature for heating said biomass in order to remove humidity and eliminate biological activity of said biomass,

- a second processing environment comprising at least a second chamber (1 102) with second elevated temperature being higher that said first elevated temperature for additional heating said biomass in order to produce said biofuel,

- said first processing environment for receiving said biomass and transferring means (1 105) configured to transfer said biomass through said first processing environment during a first time period,

- said second processing environment is coupled via a coupling means

(1 1 13) to the first processing environment for receiving at least portion of said biomass from first processing environment and transferring means (1 107) configured to transfer said biomass through said second processing environment during a second time period, wherein the arrangement is configured to produce and output

o a first type of biofuel via a first outputting (1 1 1 1 ) between said first and second processing environments, and

o a second type of biofuel via a second outputting means (1 108) after said second processing environment.

2. An arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said second elevated temperature is configured to be gained from the thermochemical treatment process of said biomass in said second processing environment, and wherein the arrangement comprises a heat transferring means for transferring heat energy of said second elevated temperature to the first processing environment for providing said first elevated temperature.

3. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein the arrangement is configured to adjust the portion of the production of said first and second types of biofuel by manipulating the mass flow from the first processing environment via the coupling means (1 1 13) to the second environment.

4. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein said coupling means (1 1 13) comprises input means (1 1 14) for receiving the first type of biofuel from the first processing environment, the first outputting means (1 1 1 1 ) for outputting the portion of said first type of biofuel and an outputting means (1 1 15) for feeding at least portion of said first type of biofuel to the second processing environment.

5. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein the coupling means (1 1 13) comprises two locking members (1201 , 1202, 1203, 1 1 14, 1 1 15) and a conduit between said locking members to permit the passage of said biomass between different environments, and wherein said locking members are configured to be opened and closed sequentially.

6. An arrangement of claim 4 or 5, wherein the arrangement is configured to adjust the portion of the production of said first and second types of biofuel by manipulating the opening time of the locking member (1202, 1 1 15) of the second processing environment so that the longer the opening time of the locking member of the second processing environment the greater portion of the first type of biofuel is fed to the second processing environment and more the second type of biofuel is produced.

7. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein at least one chamber of the first processing environment (1 101 ) comprises a low pressure duct (1 109) configured to suck superfluous volatiles, such as water vapour and oxygen, released from the biomass during the first time period and transfer said volatiles outside said first processing chamber.

8. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein at least one chamber of the second processing chamber (1 102) comprises a low pressure duct (1 1 10) configured to suck gases, especially carbon based gases, released from the biomass during the second time period and transfer said gases outside said second processing chamber.

9. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein the first and/or second processing environments (1 101 , 1 102) comprises low pressure means (1 109, 1 1 10) configured to provide partial vacuum inside said chambers.

10. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein said transferring means (1 105, 1 107) is a gear conveyor having an elongated tubular member (1 109, 1 1 10) functioning as said low pressure duct, wherein said elongated tubular member comprises opening into the processing chamber for causing said low pressure / partial vacuum inside said processing chamber.

1 1. An arrangement of any of previous claims, wherein the arrangement is configured to separate said dry biomass of the waste stream (101 , 101 a, 101 b) for said thermochemical treatment and additionally configured separate liquid portion of said waste stream (101 , 101 a, 101 b) to produce biogas of it, wherein said arrangement further comprises:

- a liquid waste container (102), and a solid waste container (103),

- a separator (104) for at least partially separating liquid fraction into the liquid waste container and solid fraction into the solid waste container from the waste stream so that said solid waste container comprises more solid content than the liquid waste container, and

- a communication means (106, 201 ) between the liquid waste container and a mixer (105, 202) for introducing liquid from the liquid waste container to the waste stream portion comprising solid fraction, and

- a communication means (108a) for outputting biomass of said solid waste container as said dry biomass for thermochemical treatment.

12. An arrangement of claim 1 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises the mixer (202) before the separator (104) in order to introduce the liquid from the liquid waste container and/or inoculum material into the waste stream (101 , 101 b) comprising biomass and to extract more liquid from said waste stream comprising biomass.

13. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 1 -12, wherein the arrangement comprises the mixer (105) between the separator (104) and solid waste (103, 103b) container in order to introduce the liquid from the liquid waste container into the solid waste container and to extract more liquid from the solid fraction contained in the solid waste container, whereupon the system also comprises:

- a second separator (107) in connection with the solid waste container for separating liquid fraction into the liquid waste container (102) from the solid fraction of the solid waste container (103, 103b), and

- a communication means (109, 301 ) between the second separator (107) and at least one liquid waste (102) container to introduce said liquid fraction separated from said solid fraction to said at least one liquid waste container.

14. An arrangement according to any of previous claims, wherein the waste stream input (101 ) comprises a slurry waste stream input (101 a) and a dry manure waste input (101 b), whereupon the system further comprises a ripper (302) for ripping the dry manure waste (101 b) into smaller portions before introducing it in to the separator (104) or liquid waste container.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the arrangement comprises the mixer (202) for introducing:

- liquid (201 b) from the liquid waste container (102),

- slurry (303) from the slurry waste stream input (101 a), and/or

- third liquid (304), such as water, and/or inoculum material,

into the dry manure waste stream (101 b).

16. An arrangement according to claims 1 1 -15, wherein the liquid waste container (102) is arranged to function as a plug flow reactor (102) for concentrating the introduced liquid via anaerobic digestion without any essential blending of the liquid concentrations between the different phases and input (102A) and output (102B) ends of the plug flow reactor.

17. An arrangement according to claims 1 1 -16, wherein the arrangement comprises a surface comprising anaerobic micro-organisms or microbes in said liquid waste container configured to interact with said liquid fraction and thereby producing biogas, and/or wherein the surface with said anaerobic micro-organisms is arranged into plurality of units, each units comprising maximal surface area for said micro-organisms, and wherein said system is configured to introduce the liquid fraction to said surfaces of the units.

18. An arrangement according to claims 1 1 -17, wherein the arrangement comprises a mixer or introduction means for introducing additional organic waste material into the solid waste container, such as grass, reed, creed canary grass, or the like.

19. An arrangement according to any of previous claims 1 1 -18, wherein the arrangement comprises a dry-type-reactor (108) and a communication means (108a) between the solid waste container (103) and said dry-type- reactor arrangement (108) to introduce the solid material from the solid waste container into the dry-type-reactor, and wherein the arrangement additionally comprises a mixer before the dry-type-reactor in order to introduce liquid from the liquid waste container into said dry-type-reactor.

20. A method for producing at least two type of biofuel of dry biomass of waste stream (101 , 101 a, 101 b) comprising organic material by thermochemical treatment of said biomass

wherein the method comprises:

- heating said biomass in a first processing environment comprising at least a first chamber (1 101 ) with first elevated temperature of 160- 200°C, advantageously about 180°C, in order to remove humidity and eliminate biological activity said biomass,

- additionally heating said biomass in a second processing environment comprising at least a second chamber (1 102) with second elevated temperature being higher that said first elevated temperature, advantageously in 360-400°C, and more advantageously about 380°C, in order to produce said biofuel,

- receiving said biomass into said first processing environment and transferring said biomass through said first processing environment during a first time period, and

- receiving said biomass into said second processing environment via a coupling means from said first processing environment and transferring said biomass through said second processing environment during a second time period to a second output means (1 108) for outputting said produced biofuel, wherein:

o a first type of biofuel is outputted via a first outputting means (1 1 1 1 ) between said first and second processing environments

(1 101 , 1 102), and

o a second type of biofuel is outputted via a second outputting means (1 108) after said second processing environment.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein said second elevated temperature is configured to be gained from the thermochemical treatment process of said biomass in said second processing environment, and wherein the arrangement comprises a heat transferring means for transferring heat energy of said second elevated temperature to the first processing environment for providing said first elevated temperature.

22. A method of any of claims 20-21 , wherein superfluous volatiles, such as water vapour and oxygen, released from the biomass during the first time period in the first processing environment (1 101 ) are sucked via a low pressure duct (1 109) and transferred outside said first processing chamber, and/or wherein gases, especially carbon based gases, released from the biomass during the second time period in the second processing environment (1 102) are sucked via a low pressure duct (1 1 10) and transferred outside said second processing environment.

23. A method of any of claims 20-22, wherein the length of the first and second time periods is between 20-40 minutes, advantageously about 30 minutes.