Reactor for the hydrothermal treatment of biomass

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a reactor and a process for the hydrothermal treatment of an aqueous mixture, such as watery biomass. The reactor has an inlet for receiving the aqueous mixture, a tube-shaped reactor interior, which is inclined at an angle in the range of 1-45°; a first zone in the reactor interior with means for heating the aqueous mixture; a second zone in the reactor interior for keeping the aqueous mixture at the predetermined temperature; a third zone in the reactor interior for cooling the aqueous mixture; an outlet for discharging a hydrothermally treated aqueous mixture, and an outlet for discharging gas. The inlet and outlet for discharging gas are positioned at the top part of the reactor and the outlet for discharging aqueous mixture is at the bottom part of the reactor. The inclined nature of the reactor ensures that all gases are efficiently removed from the liquid effluent, and the CO2 formed during the process is used to improved efficacy of the hydrothermal treatment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.