BIOMASS CONVERSION SYSTEMS HAVING INTEGRATED HEAT MANAGEMENT AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF
First Claim
1. A biomass conversion system comprising:
- a first fluid circulation loop comprising;
a hydrothermal digestion unit; and
a first catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit;
wherein the first catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one first catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and
a second fluid circulation loop comprising;
a reaction product take-off line in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation loop;
a second catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with the reaction product take-off line;
wherein the second catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one second catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and
a recycle line establishing fluid communication between the first fluid circulation loop and an outlet of the second catalytic reduction reactor unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Biomass conversion systems may incorporate integrated heat management to operate more efficiently during biomass conversion. Biomass conversion systems may comprise a first fluid circulation loop comprising a hydrothermal digestion unit, and a first catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; and a second fluid circulation loop comprising a reaction product take-off line in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation loop, a second catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with the reaction product take-off line, and a recycle line establishing fluid communication between the first fluid circulation loop and an outlet of the second catalytic reduction reactor unit, where the first catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one first catalyst and the second catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one second catalyst, each being capable of activating molecular hydrogen.
58 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A biomass conversion system comprising:
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a first fluid circulation loop comprising; a hydrothermal digestion unit; and a first catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; wherein the first catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one first catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and a second fluid circulation loop comprising; a reaction product take-off line in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation loop; a second catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with the reaction product take-off line; wherein the second catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one second catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and a recycle line establishing fluid communication between the first fluid circulation loop and an outlet of the second catalytic reduction reactor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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providing a biomass conversion system comprising; a first fluid circulation loop comprising; a hydrothermal digestion unit; and a first catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; wherein the first catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one first catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and a second fluid circulation loop comprising; a reaction product take-off line in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation loop; a second catalytic reduction reactor unit in fluid communication with the reaction product take-off line; wherein the second catalytic reduction reactor unit contains at least one second catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and a recycle line establishing fluid communication between the first fluid circulation loop and an outlet of the second catalytic reduction reactor unit; providing a cellulosic biomass in the hydrothermal digestion unit; heating the cellulosic biomass in the hydrothermal digestion unit to digest at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass and form a hydrolysate comprising soluble carbohydrates within a liquor phase; wherein at least about 70% of the heat added to the cellulosic biomass in the hydrothermal digestion unit is generated internally in the first catalytic reduction reactor unit and the second catalytic reduction reactor unit; transferring at least a portion of the liquor phase to the first catalytic reduction reactor unit; forming a first reaction product in the first catalytic reduction reactor unit; recirculating at least a portion of the liquor phase to the hydrothermal digestion unit at a first flow rate; and altering the first flow rate to increase or decrease a temperature of the liquor phase in the first fluid circulation loop. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification