Back to results
US 2012/0234511 A1Published application
Vapor phase hydrolysis vessel and methods related thereto
AssigneeAndritz Inc.
InventorBrian F. GREENWOOD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prehydrolysis of wood chips or other lignocellulosic material in a vessel having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion. The vessel includes at least one stress relieving piece that inhibits overcompression of the lignocellulosic material. The vessel operates in a continuous process. A slurry of lignocellulosic material and liquid is removed from the bottom of the vessel.
Claims20
A method for hydrolysis in a vessel comprising a vapor portion and a liquid portion, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding lignocellulosic material into a vapor portion of the vessel;
- supplying gaseous material to the vapor portion of the vessel, such that the lignocellulosic material contacts the gaseous material and such that a hydrolysis or autohydrolysis reaction occurs;
- retaining the lignocellulosic material in the vapor portion of the vessel for a period of time between 15 and 180 minutes;
- preventing overcompression of the lignocellulosic material in the vapor portion of the vessel via at least one column stress relief piece attached to a wall of the vessel, wherein the at least one column stress relief piece has an inward portion that creates a constricted cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the vessel;
- transferring the lignocellulosic material to a liquid portion of the vessel;
- supplying liquid to the liquid portion of the vessel;
- mixing the lignocellulosic material with the liquid to create a slurry;
- and
- removing the slurry continuously from the vessel.
6 more elements
A system for hydrolysis, the system comprising:
- a vessel adapted to receive (i) lignocellulosic material, (ii) at least one gas in an upper portion of the vessel, and (iii) a liquid in a lower portion of the vessel,
- at least one column stress relief piece attached to a wall of the vessel, wherein the at least one column stress relief piece has an inward portion that creates a constricted cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the vessel, wherein the at least one column stress relief piece is adapted to inhibit compression of the lignocellulosic material in the vessel;
- a measurement device that measures a level of lignocellulosic material in the vessel that is not submerged in liquid;
- a stirrer that stirs the liquid and the lignocellulosic material to create a slurry;
- and
- an exit stream adapted to remove the slurry from the vessel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.