Hydrothermal conversion process with inertial cavitation
First Claim
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1. A hydrothermal conversion process comprising the steps ofa) combining a particulate solid organic feedstock with water to form a slurry of the organic feedstock particles in a liquid phase;
- b) subjecting the slurry to hydrothermal conversion conditions including a temperature of at least 160°
C. and a superatmospheric pressure sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the water as a liquid, to convert at least a portion of the organic feedstock to one or more hydrothermal conversion productswherein prior to, during and/or after step b), and at such a time as particles of the organic feedstock and/or a solid hydrothermal conversion product are dispersed in the liquid phase, the liquid phase with the dispersed particles is cycled through one or more bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycles while maintaining a liquid phase temperature of at least 100°
C., wherein each bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycle includes the steps of i) forming gas bubbles in the slurry and then ii) subjecting the gas bubbles to pressure and temperature conditions sufficient to condense gas in the gas bubbles and collapse the bubbles.
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Abstract
Hydrothermal conversion is performed on organic feedstocks that include solids, by forming a slurry of the feedstock in water and subjecting the slurry to hydrothermal conversion conditions. The hydrothermal conversion conditions may be sufficient to product a carbonized solid and/or liquefaction products. The size of solids (either or both of feedstock or carbonized solids produced in the process) is reduced by conducting a series of bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycles on the slurry.
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21 Claims
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1. A hydrothermal conversion process comprising the steps of
a) combining a particulate solid organic feedstock with water to form a slurry of the organic feedstock particles in a liquid phase; -
b) subjecting the slurry to hydrothermal conversion conditions including a temperature of at least 160°
C. and a superatmospheric pressure sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the water as a liquid, to convert at least a portion of the organic feedstock to one or more hydrothermal conversion productswherein prior to, during and/or after step b), and at such a time as particles of the organic feedstock and/or a solid hydrothermal conversion product are dispersed in the liquid phase, the liquid phase with the dispersed particles is cycled through one or more bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycles while maintaining a liquid phase temperature of at least 100°
C., wherein each bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycle includes the steps of i) forming gas bubbles in the slurry and then ii) subjecting the gas bubbles to pressure and temperature conditions sufficient to condense gas in the gas bubbles and collapse the bubbles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification