Biomass conversion systems having a fluid circulation loop containing backflushable filters for control of cellulosic fines and methods for use thereof
View Patent ↗Digestion of cellulosic biomass to produce a hydrolysate may be accompanied by the formation of cellulosic fines which may be damaging to system components. Biomass conversion systems that may address the issue of cellulosic fines may comprise a fluid circulation loop comprising: a hydrothermal digestion unit; a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; where the solids separation unit comprises a plurality of filters and the filters are in fluid communication with the fluid circulation loop in both a forward and a reverse flow direction; and a catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the solids separation unit and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; where at least one of the plurality of filters is in fluid communication with an inlet of the catalytic reduction reactor unit.
1. A biomass conversion system comprising:
a fluid circulation loop comprising:
a hydrothermal digestion unit;
a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit;
wherein the solids separation unit comprises a plurality of filters;
wherein the filters are in fluid communication with the fluid circulation loop in both a forward and a reverse flow direction; and
a catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the solids separation unit and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit;
wherein at least one of the plurality of filters is in fluid communication with an inlet of the catalytic reduction reactor unit;
a conversion reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the catalytic reaction reactor unit.
2. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of filters is in fluid communication with an outlet of the catalytic reduction reactor unit.
3. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid circulation loop is configured to establish countercurrent flow in the hydrothermal digestion unit.
4. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of filters comprises a catalytic filter comprising a solid support and a catalyst that is capable of activating molecular hydrogen.
5. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filters are connected in parallel to one another.
6. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filters are arranged on a rotatable filter array.
7. The biomass conversion system of claim 1 further comprising a biomass feed mechanism that is operatively coupled to the hydrothermal digestion unit and allows a cellulosic biomass to be continuously or semi-continuously added to the hydrothermal digestion unit without the hydrothermal digestion unit being fully depressurized.
8. The biomass conversion system of claim 7 , wherein the biomass feed mechanism comprise a pressurization zone.
9. The biomass conversion system of claim 8 further comprising a loading mechanism that is operatively connected to the pressurization zone.