Systems having digestion units with capability for loading cellulosic biomass under high pressure and associated methods for cellulosic biomass processing

• Main Authors: POWELL JOSEPH BROUN, FLOWERS THOMAS LAMAR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.11.2015
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMISTRY; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PAPER-MAKING; PEAT; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCESFROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; TEXTILES

When processing cellulosic biomass, it may be desirable for a digestion unit to operate without being fully depressurized for process efficiency purposes. A biomass conversion system can comprise a first digestion unit and a second digestion unit that are operatively connected to one another; a valve separating the first digestion unit from the second digestion unit; a fluid circulation loop establishing fluid communication between an outlet of the first digestion unit and an inlet of the second digestion unit; and a bypass line establishing fluid communication between an outlet of the second digestion unit and the fluid circulation loop.