Patent ID: 7135332
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: C05F,F24V,F28D,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. In a biomass heating system comprising: (a) a vessel constructed and arranged to define a first chamber for containing a quantity of biomass material for undergoing aerobic decomposition to thereby generate heat energy in the biomass material, (b) an adjacent structure defining a second chamber for containing a fluid to be heated, (c) a heat pipe having a gas/liquid phase changeable fluid contained therein, said heat pipe having an evaporator section disposed for operable heat transfer relation to the biomass material in said vessel first chamber of said and having a condenser section disposed for operable heat transfer relation with the fluid in said second chamber to thereby transfer, by change of phase between gas and liquid phases of the phase-changeable fluid internally contained within said heat pipe, the heat energy generated by decomposition of the biomass material from the first chamber to the fluid of said second chamber to thereby heat such second chamber fluid, said system being characterized by the improvement in combination therewith of; (d) an aeration system for inducing a flow of air through the biomass material in said vessel first chamber of said to thereby entrain in such flow water vapor and other gases being generated by the decomposition process occurring in the biomass material, and (e) a heat pipe support system for supporting the heat pipe evaporation section outside said first chamber in the flow of air in said aeration system and out of physical contact with said biomass material such that the operable heat transfer relation of the evaporation section to the biomass material results from the heat of condensation of water vapor generated by aerobic decomposition of the biomass material and then entrained in such flow of air, such condensation occurring after such water vapor exits the biomass material and as such water vapor contacts and thereby condenses on the external surface of the heat pipe evaporation section.