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US 8,460,550 B2Granted
Continuous processing and solids handling in near-critical and supercritical fluids
AssigneeThar Process, Inc.
InventorsLalit Chordia, Jose Martinez, Andrew Kegler, Desai Bhishmakumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for the continuous processing and solids handling in first near-critical and supercritical fluids. The present invention also allows for treatment of the starting material with the first near-critical or supercritical fluid. The remaining raffinate is then continuously transferred and may be collected in a second fluid.
Claims45
A method for the continuous processing of a starting material using a first near-critical or supercritical fluid comprising:
- a. loading a loading zone with the starting material;
- b. providing a vessel having a treatment zone for treatment of the starting material;
- c. circulating the first near-critical or supercritical fluid from the treatment zone to the loading zone to equalize the pressure between the loading zone and the treatment zone;
- d. introducing the starting material from the loading zone into the treatment zone under first near-critical or supercritical conditions through a restriction device;
- e. conveying the starting material through the vessel with the first near-critical or supercritical fluid to treat the starting material;
- f. circulating the first near-critical or supercritical fluid from the treatment zone to an unloading zone to equalize the pressure between the unloading zone and the treatment zone;
- g. opening a restriction device in direct fluid communication between the treatment zone and the unloading zone;
- h. transferring raffinate from the treatment zone to the unloading zone through the restriction device in direct fluid communication between the treatment zone and the unloading zone;
- and
- i. collecting the raffinate in an unloading zone.
7 more elements
An apparatus for the continuous processing of a starting material using a first near-critical or supercritical fluid comprising:
- a. a loading zone;
- b. a vessel having a treatment zone;
- c. a restriction device between the loading zone and the vessel through which the starting material enters the vessel from the loading zone;
- d. a mechanical conveying device for introducing the starting material from the loading zone into the treatment zone of the vessel for treating the starting material with the first near-critical or supercritical conditions;
- e. a fluid circuit between the treatment zone and the loading zone to flow the first near-critical or supercritical conditions having a higher pressure in the treatment zone than a pressure in the loading zone to equalize pressure between the loading zone and the vessel;
- f. an unloading zone for collecting raffinate;
- and
- g. a screw press section to remove the raffinate from the unloading zone, wherein the screw press section is perpendicularly oriented to the unloaded zone and includes an entry end and an exit end, wherein the exit end comprising a converging section defined by an inner diameter of an outer housing being reduced more than an outer diameter of a screw to seal gas as solids in the screw press section is compacted at the exit end.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.