Patent ID: 8157955

Claim:
A biomass collection and refining system for delivering ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a biomass refining plant for conversion into a fuel comprising: a) a plurality of collection points, each including a system for introducing chopped ligno-cellulosic feedstock into a circulating water stream to form a water-ligno-cellulosic feedstock slurry; b) a conduit loop, connected to the plurality of collection points, for carrying the circulating water stream, wherein the plurality of collection points are arranged in series along the conduit loop; c) a water removal system connected to the conduit loop for: i. receiving from the conduit loop the water-ligno-cellulosic feedstock slurry; ii. separating the ligno-cellulosic feedstock in the water-ligno-cellulosic feedstock slurry from the water; iii. delivering the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to a biomass refining plant; and iv. reintroducing separated water into the conduit loop; and d) the conduit loop comprising an outgoing leg located adjacent to a return leg, wherein a first in the series of collection points defines the beginning of the return leg and the one or more remaining collection points of the series of collection points are located in the return leg; and e) a biomass refining plant for receiving the ligno-cellulosic feedstock from the water removal system and converting the ligno-cellulosic feedstock into a fuel.