1. A method for digesting a biomass, the method comprising:
processing at least a portion of the biomass in a first unit to undergo a first digestion, wherein the first digestion is performed at a first temperature;
processing at least another portion of the biomass in a second unit, wherein the at least another portion of the biomass transferred from the first unit to the second unit, wherein the at least another portion of the biomass in the second unit undergoes a second digestion, wherein the second digestion is performed at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature;
processing at least a further portion of the biomass in at least one third unit, wherein the at least further portion of the biomass is transferred from the second unit to the at least one third unit, wherein in the at least one third unit the processing includes a third digestion, wherein the third digestion is performed at a third temperature that is higher than either the first temperature or the second temperature;
diverting at least a portion of feedstream from the at least one third unit after undergoing the third digestion, wherein diverting provides a bioproduct suitable as one or more of a fuel, supplement, fertilizer and gas.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first unit digestion is a hydrolysis reaction performed under aerobic conditions.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second unit digestion is an acidification reaction performed under anaerobic conditions.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one third unit digestion is a thermophilic reaction performed under anaerobic conditions.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is up to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second temperature is greater than 85 degrees Fahrenheit and less than about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third temperature is greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and less than about 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing a still further portion of the biomass from the at least one third unit to a fourth unit, wherein the still further portion of the biomass in the fourth unit undergoes a fourth digestion, wherein the fourth digestion is performed at a temperature that is at or near the second temperature.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bioproduct is diverted back into the system.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass has a solids content of up to about 15% when processed in the first unit.
11. The method of claim 1 processing in a fourth unit, wherein feed stream from the fourth unit has a portion of which is diverted for providing the bioproduct.
12. A system for digesting a biomass, the system comprising
a first unit for processing at least a portion of the biomass in a first digestion, wherein the first digestion is performed at a first temperature;
a second unit for processing at least some of the at least portion of the biomass in a second digestion, wherein the second digestion is performed at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature;
at least one third unit for processing a further portion of the biomass in a third digestion, wherein the third digestion is performed at a third temperature that is higher than either the first temperature or the second temperature;
a diversion unit for transferring at least a portion of feed stream from the at least one third unit to provides a bioproduct suitable as one or more of a fuel, supplement, fertilizer and gas.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a fourth unit for processing at least some output from the at least one third digestion, wherein the temperature in the fourth unit is at or near a temperature of the second unit.
14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a second diversion unit for diverting some of the feed stream to a dewatering system, wherein the dewatering system separates solids from liquid in the diverted feed stream.
15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a treating unit for treating the biogas.
16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a mixing system for circulating fluid in any one of the second unit and the at least one third unit.
17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a system for monitoring and adjusting oxygen levels in the system.
18. The system of claim 12 further comprising at least one unit for modifying temperature of a portion of the system.
19. The system of claim 12 further comprising a pH adjustment system located between one or more of the first unit, the second unit, and the third unit.
20. A composition obtained from the system of claim 12.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device comprising:
a cable segment that transmits power from an external power source to a computing device and transmits a plurality of IO signals from a plurality of peripheral devices to the computing device;
a first connector coupled to the cable segment, and adapted to connect to a port of the computing device through which the power and the IO signals pass;
a docking module, coupled to the cable segment, the docking module comprising:
an AC power adaptor suitable for connection to the external power source;
a DC-DC charger coupled to the AC adaptor; and
a plurality of additional connectors adapted to connect to a plurality of ports of a plurality of peripheral devices.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable segment further comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first connector is coupled to the first end of the cable segment, and wherein the docking module is coupled to the second end of the cable segment.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-up converter.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-down converter.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises means for transferring power from the computing device to a plurality of peripherals devices.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of IO signals comprises a plurality of data signals.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of IO signals comprises a plurality of control signals.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein a single line transmits the power and the IO signals.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of additional connectors comprises at least one of a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.