CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent

Application No. 63/222,671, filed July 16 ^th , 2021 entitled “Biochar Pyrolysis System and Method for Operating a Biochar Pyrolysis System”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present technology relates to biochar pyrolysis systems and methods for operating biochar pyrolysis systems.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Biochar is a charcoal-like material that can be mixed in soil to improve soil properties and enhance plant growth. Biochar can be produced through biochar pyrolysis systems, in which biomass is heated in a limited oxygen environment until the biomass releases a fluid mixture containing syngas and bio-oil, eventually leaving biochar. In some biochar pyrolysis systems, the fluid mixture released by the heated biomass is used as fuel to heat the biomass.

[0004] While burning the fluid mixture, the burning of the bio-oil which can be inefficient, and can be detrimental to the environment.

[0005] Furthermore, many biochar pyrolysis systems are very large and complex, making them expensive to manufacture and difficult or even impossible to transport.

[0006] Therefore, there is a desire for a biochar pyrolysis system that can overcome at least some of the above-described drawbacks. SUMMARY

[0007] It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present technology, there is provided a biochar pyrolysis system having a batch pyrolizer, an oil and gas separator and a bio-oil reservoir. The batch pyrolizer includes a furnace and a biochar chamber. The furnace has a furnace housing and a burner and the furnace defines a furnace vent in the furnace housing. The biochar chamber disposed at least in part within the furnace housing, and defines a first chamber vent. The oil and gas separator is fluidly connected to the biochar chamber by the first chamber vent for receiving a fluid mixture containing at least syngas and bio-oil from the biochar chamber, and for separating at least a portion of the bio-oil from the syngas in the fluid mixture. The oil and gas separator defines a syngas outlet fluidly connected to the burner, the syngas outlet supplying syngas to the burner, and a bio oil outlet. The bio-oil reservoir is fluidly connected to the bio-oil outlet for receiving bio oil from the oil and gas separator, and fluidly connected to the burner for selectively supplying bio-oil to the burner.

[0009] In some embodiments, bio-oil from the bio-oil reservoir is selectively supplied to the burner to heat the biochar chamber at least until biomass in the biochar chamber starts releasing the fluid mixture.

[0010] In some embodiments, syngas from the syngas outlet is injected in the burner to be combusted in the burner.

[0011] In some embodiments, the syngas outlet is a first syngas outlet and the bio oil outlet is a first bio-oil outlet, and the biochar pyrolysis system further includes a heat exchanger and a condenser. The heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the bio-oil reservoir, and is configured to cool bio-oil from the bio-oil reservoir. The condenser defines a bio-oil inlet fluidly connected to the heat exchanger, a syngas inlet fluidly connected to the first syngas outlet, a second bio-oil outlet fluidly connected to the bio-oil reservoir, and a second syngas outlet fluidly connected to the burner. [0012] In some embodiments, the biochar pyrolysis system further includes a pump fluidly connected between the bio-oil reservoir and the heat exchanger, the pump being configured to pump bio-oil from the bio-oil reservoir to the heat exchanger.

[0013] In some embodiments, the biochar chamber defines a second chamber vent fluidly communicating with the atmosphere. During initial heating of biomass in the biochar chamber, at least until the fluid mixture is released in the biochar chamber, the first chamber vent is closed and the second chamber vent is opened, and in response to the fluid mixture being released in the biochar chamber, the first chamber vent is opened.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second chamber vent is selectively fluidly connected to at least one evacuation burner, and in response to a pressure in the biochar chamber exceeding a predetermined pressure, the fluid mixture flows from the biochar chamber to at least one of: the at least one evacuation burner via the second chamber vent and the atmosphere via the second chamber vent.

[0015] In some embodiments, the at least one oil and gas separator includes a first oil and gas separator having a first syngas outlet and a first bio-oil outlet, and a second oil and gas separator having a third syngas outlet and a third bio-oil outlet. The first syngas outlet is fluidly connected to the second oil and gas separator, the third syngas outlet is fluidly connected to the burner, and the first and third bio-oil outlets are fluidly connected to the bio-oil reservoir.

[0016] In some embodiments, the pyrolysis system further includes an upper basket configured to store biomass, the upper basket being receivable in the biochar chamber, and a lower basket configured to store biomass, the lower basket being receivable in the biochar chamber.

[0017] In some embodiments, the upper basket has a chute.

[0018] In another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a method for operating a biochar pyrolysis system. The method includes placing biomass in a biochar chamber of a batch pyrolizer, selectively supplying bio-oil from a bio-oil reservoir to a burner of a furnace of the batch pyrolizer, heating with the furnace the biomass stored in the biochar chamber disposed at least in part in a furnace housing of the furnace by burning at least the bio-oil supplied to the burner, supplying a fluid mixture containing at least syngas and bio-oil produced in the biochar chamber from the biochar chamber to an oil and gas separator via a first chamber vent defined in the biochar chamber, separating at least a portion of bio-oil from the syngas in the fluid mixture using the oil and gas separator, the oil and gas separator having a bio-oil outlet and a syngas outlet, supplying the bio-oil from the bio-oil outlet to the bio-oil reservoir, injecting syngas output from the syngas outlet to the burner, stopping supply of bio-oil to the burner, heating with the furnace the biomass stored in the biochar chamber by burning at least the syngas supplied to the burner after stopping the supply of bio-oil to the burner, and stopping supply of syngas to the burner to stop heating the biochar chamber. The method also includes removing biochar from the biochar chamber after stopping supply of syngas to the burner.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further includes cooling bio-oil pumped from the bio-oil reservoir, spraying cooled bio-oil in a condenser to form bio-oil droplets, and supplying syngas output from the syngas outlet to the condenser and making the syngas flow through the bio-oil droplets, thereby further separating bio-oil from the syngas.

[0020] In some embodiments, biochar chamber defines a second chamber vent, and the method further includes closing the first chamber vent and opening the second chamber vent while initially heating with the furnace the biomass stored in the biochar chamber until at least fluid mixture is released in the biochar chamber. The method also includes opening the first chamber vent in response to the fluid mixture being released in the biochar chamber.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes in response to a fluid pressure in the biochar chamber exceeding a predetermined pressure, opening the second chamber vent, operating a valve fluidly communicating with the second chamber vent thereby making the fluid mixture released in the biochar chamber flow from the biochar chamber to at least one of the at least one evacuation burner and the atmosphere.

[0022] In the context of the present specification, unless expressly provided otherwise, the words “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. have been used as adjectives only for the purpose of allowing for distinction between the nouns that they modify from one another, and not for the purpose of describing any particular relationship between those nouns.

[0023] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0024] As used herein, the term “about” in the context of a given value or range refers to a value or range that is within 10%, and preferably within 5% of the given value or range.

[0025] As used herein, the term “and/or” is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of the two specified features or components with or without the other. For example “A and/or B” is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) A and B, just as if each is set out individually herein.

[0026] Implementations of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.

[0027] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of implementations of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where: [0029] Figure l is a perspective view taken from a front, top, right side of a biochar pyrolysis system partially stored in an intermodal container;

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, right side of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1;

[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, left side of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1;

[0032] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a batch pyrolizer of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1 taken through the plane 4-4 of Figure 3;

[0033] Figure 5A is a right side elevation view of a burner of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1;

[0034] Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of the burner of Figure 5 A taken through the line 5B-5B of Figure 5 A;

[0035] Figure 6A is a perspective view taken from a rear, top, left side of an oil and gas separator of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view of the oil and gas separator of Figure 6B taken through the plane 6B-6B of Figure 6A;

[0037] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a condenser of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1 taken through the plane 7-7 of Figure 2;

[0038] Figure 8 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, right side of a lower basket of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1;

[0039] Figure 9 is a close-up perspective view taken from a front, top, right side of the lower basket of Figure 8;

[0040] Figure 10 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, right side of an upper basket of the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1; [0041] Figure 11 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, left side of the upper basket of Figure 10;

[0042] Figure 12 is a perspective view taken from a front, top, left side of the upper basket of Figure 10 with a chute being open and a slidable member being removed;

[0043] Figure 13 is a perspective view taken from a front, top side of the interior of the upper basket of Figure 10;

[0044] Figure 14 is a schematic flow diagram of the biochar pyrolysis system of

Figure 1; and

[0045] Figure 15 is a flowchart of method for operating the biochar pyrolysis system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including", "comprising", or "having", "containing", "involving" and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter as well as, optionally, additional items. In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements.

[0047] The present technology will be described with reference to a biochar pyrolysis system 50. Broadly, the biochar pyrolysis system 50 is configured to heat biomass in the absence of oxygen or in a low oxygen environment. Biomass is living, or once-living, material and includes nearly all organic material such, but not limited to, as wood, bark, branches, nutshells, crop residues, and manures. Heating the biomass eventually releases a fluid mixture containing syngas and bio-oil. Syngas generally consists of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and/or other hydrocarbons. Bio-oil is a kind of tar. Additionally, through pyrolysis, heating the biomass also eventually results in forming biochar.

[0048] The biochar pyrolysis system 50 is configured to be contained within an intermodal container 52. As shown in Figure 1, the intermodal container 52 defines apertures to receive portions of the biochar pyrolysis system 50 therethrough. When the biochar pyrolysis system 50 is disassembled, the various components thereof can fit in the intermodal container 52, which can facilitate transporting the biochar pyrolysis system 50.

[0049] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the biochar pyrolysis system 50 has a batch pyrolizer 60, two oil and gas separators 120, 130, an oil reservoir 150, a pump 170, a heat exchanger 180, a condenser 200 and evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c. As can be seen in Figure 14, the biochar pyrolysis system 50 also has pressure sensors 51a, 51b, 51c, 5 Id, 51e and a number of valves 105, 107, 115, 117a, 117b, 137, 139, 155, 157, 175, 185, 187, 217, 219a, 219b. The pyrolysis system illustrated in Figure 14 has more pressure sensors and valves than the ones numbered, but these are either provided for redundancy or for testing purposes. As such these additional pressure sensors and valves will not be described in detail herein. It is contemplated that the biochar pyrolysis system 50 could have more or less pressure sensors and/or valves than illustrated. As will become apparent from the following description, it is contemplated that in some embodiments of the biochar pyrolysis system 50, the pump 170, the heat exchanger 180 and the condenser 200 could be omitted.

[0050] The batch pyrolizer 60 has a furnace 70 that has a furnace housing 72. With reference to Figures 2 to 4, the furnace housing 72 is spaced from the ground and supported by a frame 73. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the furnace housing 72 could have an inner layer of refractory stones to enhance heat retention properties of thereof. The furnace housing 72 defines two furnace vents 74a, 74b. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the furnace housing 72 could define a single or three or more furnace vents. The furnace vents 74a, 74b connect to form a chimney 75, which, as will be described in greater detail below, is configured to evacuate flue gas. [0051] Focusing on Figures 4, 5 A and 5B, the furnace 70 also has a burner 80 that is connected to a bottom portion of the furnace 70 such that the burner 80 is partially received in a bottom portion of the furnace housing 72. The burner 80 is configured to heat the furnace 70. The burner 80 is a what is commonly referred to as a rocket stove, though it is contemplated that in some embodiments the burner 80 could be another type of burner. The burner 80 has three layers 82, 83, 84. The isolating outer layer 82 is made from industrial high temperature isolating material. The intermediate layer 83 disposed inwardly of the outer layer 82 is made from metal or other heat-resistant material. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer 83 could be omitted. The protective inner layer 84 disposed inwardly of the intermediate layer 83 is made from refractory stones, and is configured to protect the isolating outer and intermediate layers 82, 83 from high temperatures. An upper part of the burner 80 has a conical shape, and defines an upper aperture 89 from which flames can project. The burner 80 also has a feed gate 85a to which a feed gate cover 85b is pivotally connected and an air gate 86. A combustible such as wood can be inserted in the burner 80 through the feed gate 85a when the cover 85b is pivoted opened, and air can enter the bottom of the burner 80 through the air gate 86. The conical shape of the upper part of the burner 80 can increase speed of fluids flowing therethrough, and thus through the upper aperture 89, which induces a lower pressure within the burner 80, thereby resulting in air being drawn into the burner 80 through the air gate 86 without needing a fan. The burner 80 also has entry ports 87a, 87b, 87c having, respectively, injectors 88a, 88b, 88c. The injectors 88a, 88b, 88c are supported in the center of the entry ports 87a, 87b, 87c and are coaxial therewith. The outlets of the injectors 88a, 88b, 88c point generally toward a center of the burner 80. The burner 80 can be supplied with bio-oil through the injector 88a, and be supplied with syngas through the injectors 88b, 88c. The burner 80 has two injectors for syngas in case a blockage occurs in one of the injectors 88b, 88c. In some instances, syngas can be supplied through both of the injectors 88b, 88c simultaneously. It is also contemplated that in some embodiments, syngas could be supplied by the injector 88a and that bio-oil could be supplied by one of the other injectors 88b, 88c. The frustoconical shape of the entry ports 87a, 87b, 87c assist in naturally aspirating air into the burner 80 and, as a result of the air flow and pressure, in drawing syngas and bio-oil from the injectors 88a, 88b, 88c disposed in the entry ports 87a, 87b, 87c. When the burner 80 is burning the fire can, at least, partially come out the upper aperture 84, and so as mentioned above, fluids such as carbon dioxide generated by the burner 80 can be evacuated through the furnace vents 74a, 74b. A heat diffuser 91 (shown in Figure 4) is disposed above the burner 80 and within the furnace housing 72. The heat diffuser 91 helps to diffuse heat from the burner 80 throughout the furnace housing 72. In some embodiments, temperature within the burner could reach up to about 1300°C.

[0052] The batch pyrolizer 50 also includes a biochar chamber 90, which is configured to store biomass therein and to resist high temperatures, in some instances up to about 650°C. The biochar chamber 90 is disposed, in part within the furnace housing 72. More precisely, as best seen in Figure 4, left and right sides of the biochar chamber 90 respectively project from left and right sides of the furnace housing 72. Additionally, the biochar chamber 90 is vertically off-center from the furnace housing 72, such that the biochar chamber 90 is closer to a top side of the furnace housing 72 than a bottom side of the furnace housing 72. The biochar chamber 90 has a protective plate 95 on a bottom thereof that is aligned with the burner 80. The protective plate 95 provides heat protection to the biochar chamber 90 from flames of the burner 80. Additionally, the biochar chamber 90 has fins 96a, 96b, 96c, which aid in heat exchange between exhaust gases from the burner 80 and the biochar chamber 90. Thus, the exhaust gases from the burner 80 flow within the furnace housing 72, around the biochar chamber 90 and out of the furnace vents 74a, 74b to the chimney 75. The biochar chamber 90 has two removable doors 92a, 92b on either side thereof. Each doors 92a, 92b is secured to the biochar chamber 90 by eight clamps 94. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the doors 92a, 92 could be hinged and/or secured to the biochar chamber 90 differently. Within the biochar chamber 90, a horizontal supporting member 98 extends along a length of the biochar chamber 90 thereby defining an upper biochar chamber section and a lower biochar chamber section. The biochar chamber 90 defines a chamber vent 100 and a chamber vent 110. In some embodiments, there could only be one chamber vent 100. In yet other embodiments, there could be three or more chamber vents 100. As will be described in greater detail below, fluids such as the fluid mixture and/or water vapor released by the heated biomass in the biochar chamber 90 can flow therefrom via the chamber vents 100, 110. As will be described in greater detail below, the biochar chamber 90 is configured to store biomass by placing said biomass in lower baskets 220 and upper baskets 240. The lower baskets 220 are stored in the lower biochar chamber section of the biochar chamber 90. The upper baskets 240 are stored in the upper biochar chamber section of the biochar chamber 90, such that the upper baskets 240 rest on the horizontal support member 98. The biochar chamber 90 is configured to receive six lower baskets 220 and six upper baskets 240 therein, but it is contemplated that there could be more or less baskets 220, 240.

[0053] The vent 100 fluidly communicates to the atmosphere via pipe 102, is fluidly connected to the oil and gas separator 120 via pipe 104 and is fluidly connected to the condenser 200 via pipe 106. The pipe 106 also fluidly communicates with the atmosphere. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the vent 100 could only be connected to the oil and gas separator 120. As shown in Figure 14, a valve 105 is fluidly connected to the pipe 104. The valve 104 is operable to stop or permit fluid flow towards the oil and gas separator 120. A valve 107 is fluidly connected to the pipe 106. The valve 107 is operable to stop or permit fluid flow towards the condenser 200.

[0054] The vent 110 fluidly communicates to the atmosphere via pipe 112, and is selectively fluidly connected to three evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c via pipe 114. The pipe 114 also fluidly communicates with the atmosphere. A valve 115 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected to the pipe 114. The valve 115 is operable to stop or permit fluid flow toward the atmosphere or toward the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c. The vent 110 also has valves 117a, 117b (also shown in Figure 14) that are fluidly connected to the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c. As will be described below, fluid flow from the biochar chamber 90 to the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c via the vent 110 could be allowed in response to pressure in the biochar chamber 90 exceeding and/or reaching an upper predetermined pressure. In some embodiments, the upper predetermined fluid pressure could be about 15 PSI above atmospheric pressure.

[0055] As will be described in greater detail below, the vents 100, 110 are configured to open and close by the valves 105, 107, 115, 117a, 117b depending on the composition of the biomass. [0056] Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, the biochar pyrolysis system 50 also includes the two oil and gas separators 120, 130 (only the oil and gas separator 120 is shown in Figures 6A and 6B). In some embodiments, there could be only one oil and gas separator. In yet other embodiments, there could be three or more oil and gas separators. The oil and gas separators 120, 130 are centrifugal blowdown separators, though other types of oil and gas separators 120, 130 are contemplated.

[0057] The oil and gas separator 120, which is fluidly connected to the biochar chamber 90 by the vent 100, has an upper housing 121a and a lower housing 121b that are bolted together. The oil and gas separator 120 also has a syngas outlet 122 that projects from the upper housing 121a and a bio-oil outlet 124 that projects from the lower housing 121b. The oil and gas separator 120 also has a fluid inlet 125 that projects tangentially from the upper housing 121. The fluid inlet 125 is fluidly connected to the pipe 104. The oil and gas separator 120 also has four striking plates 126 (only three shown in Figure 6B). Each of the striking plates 126 defines a plurality of apertures 127. The oil and gas separator 120 is configured to separate a portion of bio-oil present in the fluid mixture from syngas by centrifuge. More precisely, the fluid mixture from the fluid inlet 125 enters tangentially into the oil and gas separator 130 and thus forms a vortex. As a result, pressure drops, and the hotter syngas flows upwardly through the syngas outlet 122 which is fluidly connected to the oil and gas separator 130, whereas bio-oil condenses onto the striking plates 126 and then comes out the bio-oil outlet 124 which is fluidly connected to the oil reservoir 150. . To be more precise, the syngas outlet 122 is fluidly connected to a syngas inlet 135 of the oil and gas separator 130. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the syngas outlet 122 could be directly fluidly connected to the burner 80. The syngas coming out of the syngas outlet 122 could still contain some bio-oil therein.

[0058] The oil and gas separator 130, which has a syngas outlet 132, a bio-oil outlet

134 and the syngas inlet 135, is identical to the oil and gas separator 120 and thus will not be re-described in detail. The oil and gas separator 130 is configured to further separate a portion of the bio-oil from the syngas. The bio-oil separated by the oil and gas separator 130 comes out the bio-oil outlet 134 which is fluidly connected to the oil reservoir 150, whereas the syngas that comes out through the syngas outlet 132 which is fluidly connected to the condenser 200. A valve 137 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the syngas outlet 132 and the condenser 200, and is operable to stop or permit fluid flow toward the condenser 200. The syngas outlet 132 is also fluidly connected to the burner 80. A valve 139 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the syngas outlet and the burner 80, and is operable to stop or permit fluid flow toward the burner 80.

[0059] The oil reservoir 150 is fluidly connected to the oil and gas separators 120,

130 as well as to the condenser 200. The oil reservoir 150 is configured to receive and store bio-oil therefrom. The oil reservoir 150 is also fluidly connected to the burner 80 for selectively supplying bio-oil thereto as will be discussed in more detail below. A valve 155 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the oil reservoir 150 and the condenser 200 to stop or permit fluid flow from the condenser 200 to the oil reservoir 150. A valve 157 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the oil reservoir 150 and the burner 80 to stop and/or permit fluid flow from the oil reservoir 150 to the burner 80. As will be described in greater detail below, bio-oil is initially supplied to the burner 80 from the bio oil reservoir 150 to heat the biochar chamber 90. In some embodiments, bio-oil can be supplied at least until the biomass starts releasing the fluid mixture.

[0060] The pump 170 is fluidly connected between the oil reservoir 150 and the heat exchanger 180. A valve 175 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the oil reservoir 150 and the pump 170, and is operable to stop or permit fluid flow from the oil reservoir 150 toward the pump 170. The pump 170 is configured to pump bio-oil from the oil reservoir 150 to the heat exchanger 180. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the pump 170 could be omitted, and bio-oil could flow from the oil reservoir 150 to the heat exchanger 180 by, for example, gravity.

[0061] The heat exchanger 180 is fluidly connected between the pump 170 and the condenser 200. A valve 185 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the pump 170 and the heat exchanger 180, and is operable to stop and/or permit fluid flow from the pump 170 toward the heat exchanger 180. A valve 187 (shown in Figure 14) is connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger 180, and is operable to stop and/or permit fluid flow from the heat exchanger toward the atmosphere or toward the condenser 200. The heat exchanger 180 is an air and oil heat exchanger that is configured to cool the bio-oil pumped from the bio-oil reservoir 150.

[0062] With reference to Figure 7, the condenser 200 has a vertically extending condenser housing 201. The condenser 200 also has a bio-oil inlet 210, a syngas inlet 212, a bio-oil outlet 214 and a syngas outlet 216. More precisely, the bio-oil outlet 214, which is fluidly connected to the oil reservoir 150, projects from a bottom of the condenser housing 201. The syngas inlet 212 projects laterally inward from a lower portion of the condenser housing 201. The condenser 200 further has lower packings 202a, 202b that are disposed vertically above the syngas inlet 212. The bio-oil inlet 210, which is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 180, projects laterally inward from the condenser housing 201 vertically above the lower packings 202a, 202b and is connected to two spray nozzles 211a, 211b. The condenser 200 also has an upper packing 204 that is disposed vertically above the bio-oil inlet 210. The syngas outlet 216, which is fluidly connected to the burner 80, projects laterally from an upper portion of the condenser housing 201, above the upper packaging 204. The condenser 200 is configured to spray the cooled bio-oil in the condenser 200 through the spray nozzles 21 la, 21 lb to form bio-oil droplets. As will be described in greater detail below, when syngas from syngas inlet 212 flows through the lower packings 202a, 202b, through the bio-oil droplets, and through the upper packing 204 a portion of the bio-oil still contained in the syngas from the syngas inlet 212 condenses, thereby further separating bio-oil from the syngas. The separated bio-oil, along with the bio-oil droplets flow out of the condenser 200 through the bio-oil outlet 214 to the oil reservoir 150. The syngas from which further bio-oil has been separated flows out of the condenser 200 through the syngas outlet 216. The syngas outlet 216 is fluidly connected to the burner 80. A valve 217 (shown in Figure 14) is fluidly connected between the syngas outlet 216 and the burner 80, and is operable to stop or permit fluid flow therethrough. In addition, valve 219a is fluidly connected between the injector 88b of the burner 80 and the valve 217, and valve 219b is fluidly connected between the injector 88c of the burner 80 and the valve 217. The valves 219a, 219b (shown in Figure 14) are operable to stop or permit fluid flow therethrough. As will be described below, the syngas from the syngas outlet 216 is configured to be injected in the burner 80 to be combusted therein. [0063] The biochar pyrolysis system 50 also includes the three evacuation burners

81a, 81b, 81c. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, there could be more or less than three evacuations burners. The evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c are generally similar to the burner 80, and hence will not be described in detail again. Features of the three evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c that are similar to those of the burner 80 described above have been labeled with the same reference numerals. As mentioned above, the valves 117a, 117b (shown in Figure 14) are fluidly connected to the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c, More precisely, the valves 117a, 117b are fluidly connected to the injectors 88b, 88c of each of the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c. As will be described in greater detail below, the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c can be used to evacuate, for instance through combustion, some of the fluids present in the biochar chamber 90. In some embodiments, the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c could be used to evacuate some of the fluids present in the biochar chamber 90 when pressure in the biochar chamber 90 reaches and/or exceeds the upper predetermined pressure. In other embodiments, the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c could be used to evacuate some of the fluids present in the biochar chamber 90 to avoid pressure in the biochar chamber 90 from reaching the upper predetermined pressure.

[0064] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the lower basket 220, which is open-ended, has semi-circular sidewalls 222a, 222b that are connected by an arcuate wall 224. The sidewalls 222a, 222b and the arcuate wall 224 are perforated. The arcuate wall 224 defines an aperture 225 at a bottom thereof proximate to the semi-circular sidewall 222a. The lower basket 220 also has a brackets 226a, 226b on either end of the arcuate wall 224. The brackets 226a, 226b are configured to receive the horizontal supporting member 98 therein, such that the lower basket 220 hangs on the horizontal supporting member 98. The lower basket 220 also includes a slidable member 228 receivable in a recess (not shown) defined in the semi-circular sidewall 222a. The slidable member 228 has a handle 229 to easily slide the slidable member 228 in and out of the recess. The slidable member 228 is configured to, when received in the recess, cover the aperture 225. As will be described below, bio-char could be removed from the lower basket 220 by the aperture 225.

[0065] Referring to Figures 10 to 13, the upper basket 240 has semi-circular sidewalls 242a, 242b that are connected by an arcuate wall 234 and a lower wall 236. The sidewalls 242a, 242b and the arcuate wall 234 are perforated. The sidewall 242a defines an aperture 248 and a recess configured to receive a slidable member 260. The upper basket 240 has a chute 252 that is partially received in the aperture 248, and that is pivotally connected to the sidewall 242a by a hinge 254. The chute 252 has a handle 253 to open and close the chute 252. In addition, the upper basket 240 also has two laterally spaced handles 250a, 250b on the sidewall 242a. The lower wall 236 defines six apertures 254. The upper basket 240 also includes the slidable member 260 which is configured to, when received in the recess, cover the apertures 254. The slidable member 260 has a handle 262 to easily slide the slidable member 260 in and out of the recess. As will be described below, bio char could be removed from the upper basket 240 by the apertures 254. The arcuate wall 234 has a connecting member 265 that is connectable to a chain. When the upper basket 240 is filled with biomass, the upper basket 240 can be picked up and moved by the connecting member 265.

[0066] Referring to Figures 14 and 15, a method for operating the biochar pyrolysis system 50 will now be described.

[0067] The method begins at step 300, where biomass is placed in the biochar chamber 90. This is done by opening the doors 92a, 92b by unclamping the clamps 94, placing biomass in the lower and upper baskets 220, 240, which are then positioned within the biochar chamber 90. More precisely, the lower basket 220 is partially inserted in the biochar chamber 90, such that the horizontal supporting member 98 is partially received in the brackets 226a, 226b (i.e. the lower basket 220 hangs on the horizontal supporting member 98). Biomass is then placed in the lower basket 220 through the open end. Then, the lower basket 220 is positioned within the biochar chamber 90. The upper basket 240 is connected to a manual lifting system by the connecting member 265, and is filled with biomass through the chute 252. Once filled, the upper basket 240 is lifted by the manual lifting system such that the upper basket 240 rests on the horizontal supporting member 98. Then, the upper basket 240 is positioned within the biochar chamber 90. This is repeated with the remaining lower and upper baskets 220, 240. Having the biomass placed in baskets can help to easily remove biochar at the end. Once the biomass is placed in the biochar chamber 90, the doors 92a, 92b are closed, and then clamped by the clamps 94. [0068] Then, wood is inserted in the burners 80 and the three evacuation burners

81a, 82b, 83c through their feed gate 95a. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the wood could be another combustible. The wood is then ignited. Then, at step 310, bio oil from the bio-oil reservoir 150 is selectively supplied to the burner 80 and the three evacuation burners 81a, 82b, 83c by opening the valve 157 to allow fluid flow therethrough. Bio-oil combusts and can aid in the combustion of the wood. In some embodiments, fire could be ignited in only the burner 80 and in one or two of the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c.

[0069] Then, at step 320, the biomass stored in the biochar chamber 90 is heated with the furnace 70 by burning the bio-oil supplied to the burner 80 along with the wood, or the other combustible placed within the burner 80. Fluids such as carbon dioxide generated by the burner 80 can exit the furnace housing 70 via the furnace vent 72. When a temperature of the biochar chamber 90 reaches between about 100°C and about 140°C, water present in the biomass begins to evaporate, thereby forming water vapor.

[0070] Then, at step 325, the vent 100 is closed by closing valves 137, 139, and the vent 110 is opened by opening the valve 115, such that the water vapor present in the biochar chamber 90, as well as other fluids such as carbon dioxide and other volatile organic compounds, exit the biochar chamber 90 to the atmosphere via the vent 110. Once the temperature within the biochar chamber 90 reaches and/or exceeds about 140°C, pyrolysis begins such that the biomass releases the fluid mixture containing syngas and bio-oil in a generally anaerobic condition. Then, the valve 115 is closed and the valves 117a of the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c are opened, thereby providing syngas to the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c. If any one of the valves 117a, the pipes to which the valves 117a are connected and/or the injectors 88b of the evacuation burners 81a, 81b, 81c is blocked, the corresponding valve 117b could be opened. In some embodiments, the valve 115 could be closed when a smoke smell becomes present, indicating that syngas is exiting the biochar chamber 90 through the vent 110. As mentioned above, providing syngas to the evacuation burners can help to limit chances of pressure in the biochar chamber reaching the upper predetermined pressure. In some embodiments, the valves 117a could be closed until a lower predetermined pressure within the biochar chamber 90 is reached. In some embodiments, the lower predetermined pressured could be about five PSI above atmospheric pressure.

[0071] Then, at step 330, the fluid mixture is supplied to the oil and gas separators

120, 130 via the vent 100 by opening the valve 105 and closing the valve 107. As the biomass continues to release the fluid mixture, a pressure in the biochar chamber 90 can increase if the fluid mixture is released faster than the fluid mixture exits the biochar chamber 90.

[0072] In some embodiments, the pressure can increase until the upper predetermined fluid pressure is reached and/or exceeded. To reduce the pressure in the biochar chamber 90, the method includes opening the valve 115 such that the fluid mixture flows from the biochar chamber 90 towards the atmosphere as well as towards the evacuation burners 81a 81b, 81c. In yet other embodiments, when the upper predetermined fluid pressure within the biochar chamber 90 is reached, the gas mixture in the biochar chamber 90 flows out through the pipes 102, 112.

[0073] Then, at step 340, a portion of bio-oil present in the fluid mixture is separated from the syngas using the oil and gas separators 120, 130 as described above. More precisely, the fluid mixture is first separated in the oil and gas separator 120. Then, syngas flows out from the syngas outlet 122 into the syngas inlet 135 of the oil and gas separator 130, which further separates bio-oil from the syngas.

[0074] Then, at step 350, bio-oil that has been separated by the oil and gas separators 120, 130 is supplied to the bio-oil reservoir 150 from the bio-oil outlets 124, 134.

[0075] Then, at step 360, bio-oil pumped from the oil reservoir 150 to the heat exchanger 180 by the pump 170 is cooled by the heat exchanger 180. The valves 175, 185 are opened thereby allowing fluid flow from the oil reservoir 150 to the pump 170, and then from the pump 170 to the heat exchanger 180. Initially, the valve 187 is opened such that the output of the heat exchanger 180 exits to an oil pan or reservoir. This allows to check that the output of the heat exchanger 180 is a constant stream of bio-oil (i.e. no air) before closing the valve 187, and guiding the cooled-bio-oil to the condenser 200.

[0076] Then, at step 370, the cooled bio-oil from the bio-oil inlet 210 is sprayed in the condenser 200 to form bio-oil droplets by closing the valve 187.

[0077] Then, at step 380, syngas is supplied from the syngas outlet 132 to the condenser 200 via the syngas inlet 212. To this end, the valve 137 is opened. The supplied syngas flows through the lower packings 202a, 202b, through the bio-oil droplets, and through the upper packing 204. As described above, as a result, a portion of the bio-oil still contained in the syngas coming from the syngas inlet 212 condenses, thereby further separating bio-oil from the syngas. The bio-oil flows out of a bottom of the condenser 200 through the bio-oil outlet 214 to the oil reservoir 150.

[0078] Then, at step 390, syngas flowing out the condenser 200 through the syngas outlet 216 is injected to the injector 88c of the burner 80 by opening the valves 217, 219a. If the valve 219a, the pipe to which the valve 219a is fluidly connected and/or the injector 88b is blocked, the valve 219b could be opened.

[0079] Then, at step 400, supply of bio-oil to the burners 80, 81a, 81b, 81c is stopped by closing the valve 157. In some embodiments, the step 400 could occur before the step 390.

[0080] Then, at step 410, the biomass in the biochar chamber 90 is heated with the furnace 70 by burning the syngas supplied to the burner 80. The biochar chamber 90 is heated to a temperature of about 550°C to about 600°C. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the biochar chamber 90 could reach a temperature of about 550°C to about 600°C before step 410 is reached, in which case, at step 420, the burner 80 can help to maintain the temperature of the biochar chamber 90.

[0081] Then, at step 420, when pyrolysis in the biochar chamber 90 is completed, supply of syngas to the burner 90 is stopped, and the burner 80 is turned off in order to stop heating the biochar chamber 90. [0082] Then, at step 430, once the batch pyrolizer 60 has sufficiently cooled, bio char is removed from the biochar chamber 90. More precisely, the doors 92a, 92b are opened by unclamping the clamps 94, and then the upper and lower baskets 220, 240 are removed from the biochar chamber 90. Bio-char can be removed from the lower and upper baskets 220, 240 by the apertures 225, 254 after sliding the slidable members 228, 260 out of the lower and upper baskets 220, 240 such that the slidable members 228, 260 do not cover the apertures 225, 254.

[0083] In some embodiments, the pump 170, the heat exchanger 180 and the condenser 200 could be omitted in the biochar pyrolysis system 50, in which case, steps 360, 370, 380 would be omitted. In such embodiments, the valve 137 is closed, and the valves 139, 219a are opened, such that syngas from the oil and gas separator 130 flows to the burner 80.

[0084] It is also contemplated that in some embodiments, the gas and oil separators

120, 130 could be omitted in the biochar pyrolysis system 50, such that bio-oil is separated from syngas by the condenser 200. In such cases, steps 330, 340, 350 could be omitted. In such embodiments, the valve 105 is closed, and the valves 107, 155, 175, 185, 217 and 219a are opened.

[0085] It is also contemplated that in some embodiments, flue gas from the chimney 75 could be fluidly connected to the burner 80 through one of the injectors 88b, 88c such that some the flue gas gets burned in the burner 80.

[0086] Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.