Reactor pump for catalyzed hydrolytic splitting of cellulose
First Claim
1. A catalyzed hydrolytic process for splitting cellulose, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting the type of cellulose for use as feedstock from the group of cellulose consisting of wood, logs, wood chips, lumber, newspaper, cardboard, corn fiber, corn cob without the corn, corn cob with the corn, sugar cane, straw, switch grass, other grasses, or any combination of the foregoing;
(b) pumping feedstock against compressed feedstock in a reaction chamber to form a feedstock plug, the feedstock plug moving downstream from an inlet to a discharge outlet of the reactor;
(c) subjecting the feedstock plug in the reaction chamber to a constellation of physical things selected from the group consisting of pressure, heat, steam, water, acid, a lubricant, or any combination the foregoing;
(d) cooking the feedstock plug within the reaction chamber;
(e) opening a discharge outlet of the reaction chamber to rapidly reduce the pressure in the reaction chamber upon the occurrence of an event, the event selected from the group consisting of reaching a pre-set pressure level in the reaction chamber, expiration of a pre-set period of time, or a combination of the foregoing; and
(f) whereby the selected cellulose is broken down into a liquefied slurry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reactor for hydrolytic splitting of cellulose under high pressure and heat has an inlet and outlet each with a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the reactor. The pressure and heat in the reactor forms a cellulose plug within the inlet and the outlet. The inlet plug stops cellulose from escaping out the inlet. Cellulose begins to breakdown under heat, pressure, and if required an acid or a lubricant. The outlet plug slows downstream movement of cooking cellulose. Cellulose may be pre-treated by the addition of water, a weak acid, a lubricant, or a combination of the foregoing. The outer surface of the plug cooks faster than the inner core of the plug, becomes a liquefied slurry, and slides faster towards the outlet than the inner core.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A catalyzed hydrolytic process for splitting cellulose, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting the type of cellulose for use as feedstock from the group of cellulose consisting of wood, logs, wood chips, lumber, newspaper, cardboard, corn fiber, corn cob without the corn, corn cob with the corn, sugar cane, straw, switch grass, other grasses, or any combination of the foregoing; (b) pumping feedstock against compressed feedstock in a reaction chamber to form a feedstock plug, the feedstock plug moving downstream from an inlet to a discharge outlet of the reactor; (c) subjecting the feedstock plug in the reaction chamber to a constellation of physical things selected from the group consisting of pressure, heat, steam, water, acid, a lubricant, or any combination the foregoing; (d) cooking the feedstock plug within the reaction chamber; (e) opening a discharge outlet of the reaction chamber to rapidly reduce the pressure in the reaction chamber upon the occurrence of an event, the event selected from the group consisting of reaching a pre-set pressure level in the reaction chamber, expiration of a pre-set period of time, or a combination of the foregoing; and (f) whereby the selected cellulose is broken down into a liquefied slurry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification