ANGLED REACTION VESSEL
First Claim
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1. A biomass bearing material treatment pressure and steam containing vessel, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical rotatable reaction vessel having first and second ends on a rotational axis, said reaction vessel configured for rotation;
at least one access opening to an interior of said reaction vessel, and through which biomass bearing material may pass;
a door for closing said access opening;
a door sealing system operatively associated with said door for sealing said door to said vessel at said access opening and for maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of said vessel and an exterior thereof;
at least one flight of auger vanes on an interior wall of said reaction vessel and extending into the interior of said vessel in a plane, for moving biomass bearing material within said vessel from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, said auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall, and a top edge, said top edge of said auger vanes defining a bore oriented parallel to an axis of the reaction vessel, said top edge further including a plurality of cupped projections extending into said bore wherein the cupped projections are angled toward the access opening.
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Abstract
An improved apparatus and process for treating biomass bearing material including municipal solid waste (MSW). The apparatus includes a reaction vessel configured for rotation and steam injection, with helically arranged auger vanes attached to the internal walls of the vessel, a self aligning door. Embodiments includes various of a heated jacket, modified raised projections on the top edge of the auger vanes, a modified door, modified door sealing assembly, and a process of quick charging the interior of the vessel with steam.
114 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A biomass bearing material treatment pressure and steam containing vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical rotatable reaction vessel having first and second ends on a rotational axis, said reaction vessel configured for rotation; at least one access opening to an interior of said reaction vessel, and through which biomass bearing material may pass; a door for closing said access opening; a door sealing system operatively associated with said door for sealing said door to said vessel at said access opening and for maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of said vessel and an exterior thereof; at least one flight of auger vanes on an interior wall of said reaction vessel and extending into the interior of said vessel in a plane, for moving biomass bearing material within said vessel from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, said auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall, and a top edge, said top edge of said auger vanes defining a bore oriented parallel to an axis of the reaction vessel, said top edge further including a plurality of cupped projections extending into said bore wherein the cupped projections are angled toward the access opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A biomass bearing material treatment pressure and steam containing vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical rotatable reaction vessel having first and second ends on a rotational axis, said reaction vessel configured for rotation; at least one access opening to an interior of said reaction vessel, and through which biomass bearing material may pass; a concave door for closing said access opening; a door sealing system operatively associated with said door for sealing said door to said vessel at said access opening and for maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of said vessel and an exterior thereof wherein at least a portion of said door sealing system is located in the cavity of the concave door; at least one flight of auger vanes on an interior wall of said reaction vessel and extending into the interior of said vessel in a plane, for moving biomass bearing material within said vessel from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, said auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A biomass bearing material treatment pressure and steam containing vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical rotatable reaction vessel and a heated jacket wherein said heated jacket includes an outer covering and a structure for circulating a heated media around the outer surface of the reaction vessel, said reaction vessel configured for rotation; at least one access opening to an interior of said reaction vessel, and through which biomass bearing material may pass; a door for closing said access opening; a door sealing system operatively associated with said door for sealing said door to said vessel at said access opening and for maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of said vessel and an exterior thereof; at least one flight of auger vanes on an interior wall of said reaction vessel and extending into the interior of said vessel in a plane, for moving biomass bearing material within said vessel from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, said auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall.
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19. A biomass bearing material treatment pressure and steam containing vessel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical rotatable reaction vessel, said reaction vessel configured for rotation; at least one access opening to an interior of said reaction vessel, and through which biomass bearing material may pass; a door for closing said access opening; a door sealing system operatively associated with said door for sealing said door to said vessel at said access opening and for maintaining a pressure differential between the interior of said vessel and an exterior thereof; at least one flight of auger vanes on an interior wall of said reaction vessel and extending into the interior of said vessel in a plane, for moving biomass bearing material within said vessel from said first end to said second end of said reaction vessel, and from said second end to said first end of said reaction vessel, said auger vanes having a base edge attached to an interior vessel wall; and a plurality of sparging lines operably connected to an interior of said vessel for injecting steam into said vessel wherein at least one sparging line runs along the length of the reaction vessel and at least one sparging line runs around the inner circumference of the reaction vessel.
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20. A method for separating cellulosic biomass from biomass waste streams, which comprises the steps of:
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adding biomass to a sealable reaction vessel; sealing the vessel; rotating the vessel while charging the vessel with steam to an operating pressure of 15 p.s.i.g. or less wherein said operating pressure is obtained in a period of time that is less than about 30 minutes after sealing the vessel; and separating the cellulosic fraction of the treated biomass from other fractions of the treated biomass.
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Specification