METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING A CELLULOSIC FEEDSTOCK

• US 20100186735A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC (Abengoa SA)
• Original Assignee: Sunopta Bioprocess Inc. (Lallemand Inc.)
• Inventors: Burke, Murray J., Hillier, Sunalie N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 127/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 33/18 with multiple screws in parallel arrangements , e.g. concentric
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials pretreatment thereof B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/02 by mechanical forces; Stirring; Trituration; Comminuting crushing, pulverizing, disintegrating in general B02C
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/06 by chemical means or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/02 obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials manufacture of fodder A23K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 11/0007 Recovery of by-products, i.e. compounds other than those necessary for pulping, for multiple uses or not otherwise provided for volatile compounds obtained by decomposition of spent liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/125; compounds obtained by fractionating the liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 3/00 Pulping cellulose-containing materials digesters D21C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 7/06 Feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing a cellulosic feedstock are disclosed. Embodiments of the method comprise passing the cellulosic feedstock out of at least one outlet of a vessel (such as a holding tank) and obtaining at least two streams of cellulosic feedstock wherein each stream may be fed different hydrolysis reactors. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise passing the cellulosic feedstock downwardly through the vessel and withdrawing the feedstock from the vessel in two different lateral directions.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a cellulosic feedstock for ethanol production, comprising:

(a) passing the cellulosic feedstock through a vessel to at least one outlet of the vessel;

(b) passing the cellulosic feedstock out of the at least one outlet of the vessel and obtaining at least two streams of cellulosic feedstock; and

,

(c) feeding the at least two streams to different hydrolysis reactors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises conveying the cellulosic feedstock laterally across the outlet of the vessel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises conveying the cellulosic feedstock laterally across the outlet of the vessel in different directions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the different hydrolysis reactors on a batch basis and operating at least one hydrolysis reactor out of phase with another hydrolysis reactor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first hydrolysis reactor is filled from a first stream while a second hydrolysis reactor is operated to hydrolyze cellulosic feedstock obtained from a second stream.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the cellulosic feedstock downwardly through the vessel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises at least four conveying devices proximate the at least one outlet of the vessel, and step (b) comprises utilizing at least two conveying devices to convey a first portion of the cellulosic feedstock in a first direction to obtain the first stream, and utilizing at least two conveying devices to convey a second portion of the cellulosic feedstock in a second direction to obtain the second stream.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising drawing a first portion of cellulosic feedstock for the first stream from a first portion of the outlet and drawing a second portion of cellulosic feedstock for the second stream from a second portion of the outlet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet of the vessel is disposed at an elevation above the at least one outlet of the vessel, and the cellulosic feedstock is conveyed from the at least one inlet towards the at least one outlet of the vessel under the force of gravity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the residence time of the cellulosic in the vessel is up to 60 minutes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the residence time of the cellulosic feedstock in the vessel is between 10 minutes and 30 minutes.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying heat to the cellulosic feedstock in the vessel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a) to (c) are performed on a continuous basis.

14. An apparatus for use in preparing a cellulosic feedstock for ethanol production, comprising:

(a) at least one sidewall defining a volume having an upper portion and a lower portion;

(b) at least one inlet adjacent the upper portion;

(c) at least one outlet adjacent the lower portion;

(d) at least a first conveyor proximate the at least one outlet configured to convey a first portion of the cellulosic feedstock laterally across the at least one outlet in a first direction; and

,

(e) at least a second conveyor proximate the at least one outlet configured to convey a second portion of the cellulosic feedstock laterally across the at least one outlet in a second direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first and second conveyors are positioned adjacent each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first conveyor conveys cellulosic feedstock towards an outlet of the first conveyor, and the second conveyor conveys cellulosic feedstock towards an outlet of the second conveyor.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first direction is generally opposite to the second direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein all of the outlet is exposed to the conveyors.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the conveyors are provided in a housing having at least one conveyor outlet in a lower surface thereof for each conveyor.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each conveyor comprises at least one rotatably mounted helical screw.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each conveyor comprises at least two helical screws that are rotatable in the same direction.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each conveyor comprises at least one rotatably mounted helical screw having a variable pitch.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a housing for the conveyors and a heating jacket disposed at least partially around the housing.