KDS Micronex
The KDS Micronex is a patented grinder-dryer which grinds and dries materials in a single-step process without needing any heat input. It is developed, manufactured, and sold by First American Scientific Corp. of Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Originally developed by Spectrasonic Disintegration Equipment Corp., the KDS (Kinetic Disintegration System) technology rights and patents (Device and method for comminution - US Patent # 6,024,307 and Canadian patent # 2,218,429) were purchased by First American Scientific Corp. in 1999. The company has since applied for and been granted three American patents protecting applications of the KDS technology: Cryogenic comminution of rubber - US Patent # 6,655,167, Method of recovery of precious metal & heavy minerals - US Patent # 6,682,005, and Recovery of fuel and clay from a biomass - US Patent # 7,481,385.
In Japan the KDS technology is licensed exclusively to JP Steel Plantech Co., a Japanese steel company whose shareholders are JFE Engineering Corporation (a subsidiary of JFE Holdings) (25.6%), Hitachi Zosen Corporation (24.8%), Kawasaki Plant Systems, Ltd. (a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries) (24.8%), and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (24.8%). Most notable of its sales have been the three KDS model S-6 systems sold to Biomass Recycling Center Co. Ltd., a 20,000 ton per year waste wood pellet production facility designed and engineered by the firm.
Grinding and drying characteristics
The KDS Micronex grinds materials that are fed onto dual spinning chains or bars located in a grinding chamber, which reach tip speeds of 200 m/s. The speed of the chains create high velocity airflows (4000 cfm) and produce high velocity impacts when striking the materials being processed. A simultaneous drying event occurs because:
-the repeated striking of the materials against the chains, baffle plates contained inside the grinding chamber, and against themselves create kinetic energy which heats the material
-the high velocity impacts force moisture out of the material, and reduce particle size (increasing exposure to evaporating airflow)
-the airflows created help to evaporate surface moisture and its airflows keep the particles suspended in air (allowing for air to flow over the complete surface area of the material)
Once the materials reach a pre-determined size they will pass through an internal classifier. The classifier in the unit controls the particle size within the range between 30-325 mesh.
Research funded by government
The KDS Micronex has been the subject of funding from municipal, state, and federal levels of government, with funding coming from:
United States Department Of Energy to improve the drying and characteristics of the KDS
Sustainable Development Technology Canada to demonstrate the ability of the KDS to de-water waste from the pulp and paper industry for use as hog fuel as well as its ability to recycle its components
United States Department of Agriculture to research "Integrated Size Reduction and Separation to Pre-Fractionate Biomass"
Waste & Resources Action Programme (UK) to derive economic opportunities from paper mill SLUDGE through its recycling into usable materials
City of Prince George, B.C. to test the ability of the KDS Micronex to depathogenize biosolids for its use as a class âAâ fertilizer
Minnesota Department of Agriculture NextGen Energy Board (in addition to funding from Xcel Energy, Inc.) to research the ability of the KDS Micronex to dry various biomass feedstocks for pellet fuel production. In May 2011 it was reported the recipient of this funding (Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers) had produced its first batch of commercial fuel pellets.
References