Method and apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock

• US 9,033,133 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC (Abengoa SA)
• Original Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC (Abengoa SA)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Quang A., Hillier, Sunalie N., Burke, Murray J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Kavel
• Application Number:
  US12/361,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 198/662
• 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. An apparatus for use in preparing a cellulosic feedstock for ethanol production, comprising:

(a) one or more sidewalls defining a passage extending in a downward direction having an upper portion and a lower portion;

(b) at least one inlet adjacent the upper portion, the inlet having a cross sectional area;

(c) at least one outlet adjacent the lower portion, the outlet having a cross sectional area wherein the cross sectional area of the outlet is greater than the cross sectional area of the inlet, and wherein one or more sidewalls diverge in the downward direction;

(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 to a first conduit that is upstream of a first hydrolysis reactor; 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 to a second conduit that is upstream of a second hydrolysis reactor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second conveyors are positioned adjacent each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is generally opposite to the second direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein all of the outlet is exposed to the conveyors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyors are provided in a housing having at least one conveyor outlet in a lower surface thereof for each conveyor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each conveyor comprises at least one rotatably mounted helical screw.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each conveyor comprises at least two helical screws that are rotatable in the same direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each conveyor comprises at least one rotatably mounted helical screw having a variable pitch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing for the conveyors and a heating jacket disposed at least partially around the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross sectional area continually increases from the inlet to the outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic feedstock is a moisture impregnated feedstock.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the moisture impregnated feedstock has a moisture content of between about 30 wt. % and about 60 wt. %.