Back to results
US 8,801,859 B2Granted
Self-cleaning apparatus and method for thick slurry pressure control
AssigneeRenmatix, Inc.
InventorsMichel Adam Simard, Scott William Sommer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self-cleaning apparatus and methods are disclosed for handling viscous fluids, such as thick solid-liquid slurries of lignocellulosic biomass and its components, under high pressure, using an array of retractable valves.
Claims14
A self-cleaning apparatus for processing of a fouling fluid under pressure, comprising:
- a passageway extending continuously along an axis and having at least two stages;
- a retractable valve positioned in each of said at least two stages, said retractable valves extending into said passageway and positioned in an orientation different from said axis and positioned in at least one of an alternating orientation and at an orientation of about 180 degrees relative to each other;
- and
- an optional shutoff valve positioned in said passageway;
- wherein said retractable valves form a tortuous path in said passageway when said retractable valves are partially closed to permit a pressure drop between said stages;
- and
- wherein at least one of said retractable valves is capable of being in an open position when the other of said retractable valves are partially closed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.