Biomass treatment process

• US 20100233769A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Original Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics plc (Gaming Realms, PLC)
• Inventors: Heathcote, John Gervase Mark, Fenton, Marcus Brian Mayhall
• Granted Patent: US 8,513,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/157
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/511 characterised by the composition of the liquids or solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/59 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31241 the main flow being injected in the circumferential area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the central part of the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/80 with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8212 with moving and non-moving stirring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0475 with means for deflecting the peripheral gas flow towards the central liquid flow B05B7/0458 takes precedence
• 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 45/09 by enzymatic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2201/00 Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/10 substrate containing cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: C13K 1/06 obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
• CPC Class Codes: D21G 9/0009 Paper-making control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A process for the treatment of biomass is provided. The process comprises forming a biomass slurry by mixing biomass with a working fluid, and inducing the biomass slurry to flow through an inlet into a passage. A high velocity transport fluid is injected into the slurry through a nozzle communicating with the passage. The injection of the high velocity transport fluid applies a shear force to the slurry such that the working fluid is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime, an at least partial vacuum is formed within the passage downstream of the nozzle, and a condensation shock wave is generated within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid. An apparatus for treating biomass using the aforementioned process is also provided.

Claims

1. A process for the treatment of biomass, comprising:

forming a biomass slurry by mixing biomass with a working fluid;

inducing the biomass slurry to flow through an inlet into a passage; and

injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through a nozzle communicating with the passage;

wherein the injection of the high velocity transport fluid;

applies a shear force to the slurry such that the working fluid is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime;

forms an at least partial vacuum within the passage downstream of the nozzle; and

generates a condensation shock wave within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the transport fluid is steam.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the transport fluid is injected at a supersonic velocity.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of injecting a first catalyst into the slurry.

5. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of injecting first and/or second catalysts into the slurry.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the first and/or second catalysts are injected into the slurry as it passes through the partial vacuum within the passage.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the first and/or second catalyst is an acid.

8. The process of claim 5, wherein the first and/or second catalyst is a gas.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the biomass is lignocellulosic biomass.

10. The process of claim 1 further comprising a fermentation step in which one or more types of thermophilic microorganism are introduced into the biomass slurry to convert sugars present into alcohol.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

vapourising the alcohol in the slurry as it passes through the partial vacuum; and

separating the alcohol vapour from the remaining slurry.

12. A biomass treatment apparatus, comprising:

a mixing container adapted to mix a supply of biomass and a supply of working fluid to form a biomass slurry;

a pump adapted to pump the slurry from the mixing container; and

at least one fluid processor adapted to receive the slurry from the mixing container;

wherein the fluid processor comprises;

a fluid passage having a passage inlet in fluid communication with the mixing container and a passage outlet; and

a transport fluid nozzle opening into the passage intermediate the inlet and the outlet, the nozzle adapted to inject a high velocity transport fluid into passage.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, comprising a plurality of fluid processors in series with one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least one back pressure valve located downstream of the passage outlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a pair of back pressure valves located downstream of the passage outlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least one additive port adapted to introduce one or more additives to the fluid passage.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the additive port is located adjacent the transport fluid nozzle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the additive port is located immediately downstream of the transport fluid nozzle.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a recirculation circuit which is adapted to return slurry from the fluid passage outlet to the mixing container.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a holding vessel located downstream of the fluid passage outlet.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of sensors adapted to measure pressure upstream and downstream of the fluid processor.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mixing container includes agitation means for mixing the contents thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pump is a progressive cavity pump.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid passage is of substantially constant diameter.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transport fluid nozzle is annular and circumscribes the fluid passage.

26. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a vapour separation mechanism adapted to separate vapour from the remaining fluid.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the separation mechanism is a vortex separator.