US 2023/0159832 A1 · VERTICAL CONTINUOUS MULTIPHASE REACTOR FOR THE CLEAN PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS AND ENERGY AND THERMOCHEMICAL METHOD CARRIED OUT

Abstract

Disclosed is a reactor and method for thermochemically degrading wet biomass without the need for prior drying, in particular microalga-rich substrates. The invention provides a vertical continuous multiphase reactor (VCMR) that simultaneously, progressively and continuously carries out the steps of evaporation, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion, in separate chambers, using indirect heating. The reactor operates at pressures below atmospheric pressure to increase thermal and productive efficiency, using a fraction of the same products as fuel to achieve thermal self-sufficiency. A system for instant evaporation at low temperature by means of adiabatic expansion is used. The reactor has high efficiency and high yield, requiring minimum space, and can be movable. The products obtained from the reactor are synthesis gas, biocarbon and bio-oils, with uses in energy, agriculture, cosmetics, health and construction. The invention also provides a method for obtaining hydrocarbons and energy from high-moisture biomass, wherein the steps are carried out continuously and the method does not need to be interrupted to add new wet biomass for conversion.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Multiphase continuous vertical reactor for the production of hydrocarbons and energy from biomass with a high degree of humidity characterized by a vertical vessel (10), with interior of multiple separate chambers, being from top to bottom the following:

evaporation (2), pyrolysis (5), gasification and combustion (6);
where the evaporation chamber (2) has an adiabatic expansion valve (3) with self-cleaning rotor (11) that performs instantaneous evaporation in consecutive phases in vacuum.

Process for obtaining hydrocarbons and energy from wet biomass in a continuous vertical multiphase reactor, comprising the following stages:

a. Drying wet biomass in the evaporation chamber (2) by change of pressure and temperature, through adiabatic expansion nozzles (3) by going from pressures above 7 MPa and temperatures above 80° C. to a vacuum pressure up to 15 kPa, or its equivalent at 80% vacuum and vacuum temperature, to a vacuum pressure up to 15 kPa, or its equivalent at 80% vacuum and temperature of evaporation temperature below 60° C.;
b. Roasting and pyrolyzing in the roasting chambers (4) and pyrolysis (5) of the dried material, by heating up to 550° C., preferably in vacuum condition, from 20% to 80%, to reduce this temperature by 20% and release volatile matter;
c. Gasification and combustion of the substrate in the gasification and combustion chamber (6), by incomplete combustion, supplying a quantity of comburent below the stoichiometric ratio;
where the stages follow one after the other continuously and it is not necessary to interrupt the process new wet biomass to enter and to be transformed.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vertical continuous multiphase reactor for the clean production of hydrocarbons and energy and thermochemical method carried out

Life of this patent

Vertical continuous multiphase reactor for the clean production of hydrocarbons and energy and thermochemical method carried out

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15