System and method for separating biomass from media in a fluidized bed reactor

A method for separating biomass from media in a fluidized bed reactor containing an aqueous suspension of biomass and media, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding gas into a lift extending within the fluidized bed reactor, thereby urging aqueous suspension from an inlet of the lift toward an outlet formed in the lift;
• directing aqueous suspension through the outlet of the lift to a first annular passageway and maintaining a shield about the lift to define the first annular passageway;
• flowing aqueous suspension from the first annular passageway at a lower end of the shield to a second annular passageway, thereby separating media from biomass;
• redirecting aqueous suspension from the second annular passageway through at least one aperture to a third annular passageway;
• and
• discharging biomass from the third annular passageway.

A method for separating biomass from media in a fluidized bed reactor containing an aqueous suspension of biomass and media, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding gas into a lift extending within the fluidized bed reactor, thereby urging aqueous suspension from an inlet of the lift toward an outlet formed in the lift;
• directing aqueous suspension through the outlet of the lift to a first annular passageway;
• flowing aqueous suspension from an outlet the first annular passageway to a second annular passageway, thereby separating media from biomass, and maintaining an inner member of a separator body about the shield to define the second annular passageway;
• redirecting aqueous suspension from the second annular passageway through the inner member to a third annular passageway;
• and
• discharging biomass from the third annular passageway.

A method for separating biomass from media in a fluidized bed reactor containing an aqueous suspension of biomass and media, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding gas into a lift extending within the fluidized bed reactor, thereby urging aqueous suspension from an inlet of the lift toward an outlet formed in the lift;
• directing aqueous suspension through the outlet of the lift to a first annular passageway;
• flowing aqueous suspension from an outlet of the first annular passageway to an inlet of a second annular passageway, thereby separating media from biomass;
• redirecting aqueous suspension from an outlet formed in the second annular passageway to a third annular passageway;
• discharging biomass from the third annular passageway;
• and
• deflecting media exiting from the first or second annular passageway away from the inlet of the lift.