System and method for converting waste carbon material into bio-crude and nutrients using hydrothermal liquefaction

A system for converting waste carbon material into bio-crude and nutrients using hydrothermal liquefaction, the system comprising:

• a mixing and recirculation tank configured to receive the waste carbon material to undergo hydrothermal liquefaction;
• a hydraulic pumping unit configured to mix waste carbon material with water and to increase pressure of the mixture of waste carbon material and water;
• a plug flow reactor configured to maintain the pressure of the mixture of the waste carbon material and water;
• wherein the plug flow reactor forms a single pressure chamber continuum comprising:
• a preheater configured to increase temperature of the mixture of waste carbon material and water to obtain waste flow;
• a hydrothermal reactor unit configured to receive the waste flow from the preheater, wherein the hydrothermal reactor unit is configured to convert the waste flow into bio-crude and nutrients;
• and
• a back pressure valve positioned downstream of the hydrothermal reactor unit.

A method for converting waste carbon material into bio-crude and nutrients using hydrothermal liquefaction, the method comprising

• receiving the waste carbon material configured to undergo hydrothermal liquefaction;
• mixing waste carbon material with water;
• increasing pressure of the mixture of waste carbon material and water using a hydraulic pumping unit to provide a pressurised mixture of waste carbon material and water;
• transferring the pressurised mixture of waste carbon material and water to a plug flow reactor, wherein the plug flow reactor forms a single pressure chamber continuum comprising a preheater, a hydrothermal reactor unit and a back pressure valve positioned downstream of the hydrothermal reactor unit, wherein the plug flow reactor is configured to maintain the pressure of the mixture of waste carbon material and water;
• increasing temperature of the mixture of waste carbon material and water in the preheater to obtain waste flow;
• and
• converting the waste flow into bio-crude and nutrients in the hydrothermal reactor unit by increasing the temperature of the waste flow.