Method for the hydrothermal carbonisation of a biomass and associated device

1. A process for heating a biomass moving along an industrial treatment line comprising an inlet ( 1 ) for the incoming biomass, a heating means ( 4 b ) and a treatment station ( 5 ), the biomass moving along the industrial treatment line from the inlet ( 1 ) to the heating means ( 4 b ) and, heated, into the treatment station ( 5 ), and out an outlet ( 51 ) of the treatment station ( 5 ), a fraction of the biomass heated by the heating means ( 4 b ) being returned along a return branch (R) to a mixing station ( 2 ) upstream of the heating means ( 4 b ) so as to form there, with the incoming biomass incoming into the inlet ( 1 ), a mixture having a temperature above the temperature of the incoming biomass incoming into the inlet ( 1 ), the heated biomass fraction being removed at the outlet ( 51 ) of the treatment station ( 5 ), wherein heat is recovered from the biomass downstream of the treatment station ( 5 ), wherein this recovered heat is transferred to the biomass upstream of the treatment station ( 5 ) by a heat recovery device ( 4 a ) between the biomass leaving the treatment station ( 5 ) and the biomass circulating in the line upstream of the treatment station ( 5 ).

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biomass is a purification sludge and is being treated by hydrothermal carbonization.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heating means ( 4 b ) is controlled so that the temperature of the biomass reaches a parameterized temperature before it reaches the treatment station ( 5 ), the parameterized temperature being between 165° C. and 205° C.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the parameterized temperature is 185° C.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biomass mixture is pressurized between the mixing station ( 2 ) and the heating means ( 4 b ), and wherein the pressure of the biomass fraction is reduced in the return branch (R).

6. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the flow rate of the heated biomass fraction returned to the mixing station ( 2 ) is adjusted according to the amount of incoming biomass contained in the mixing station ( 2 ).

7. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the pressure of the incoming biomass mixture upstream of the heating means ( 4 b ) is raised to a value which makes it possible to heat the mixture to a temperature of greater than 100° C. without boiling.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the pressure at a pressurizing pump ( 3 , 3 b ) outlet is greater than 3 MPa.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the incoming inlet biomass is pressurized upstream of the mixing station ( 2 ), and wherein the pressure of the heated biomass fraction is raised in the return branch (R).

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the line also comprises a cooling station ( 6 ) downstream of the treatment station ( 5 ), and wherein a transfer fluid is heated in its path between the cooling station ( 6 ) and the heating means ( 4 b ).

11. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the transfer fluid is heated to a temperature above that of the biomass at the treatment station ( 5 ).

12. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein one and the same external heat source (T 3 ) is used to heat the transfer fluid and a heat-exchange fluid which ensures that the temperature of the biomass at the treatment station ( 5 ) is maintained.

13. The process as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a step of injecting an additive into the biomass mixture upstream of the heating means ( 4 b ).

14. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a second fraction of the biomass is removed from the treatment station ( 5 ) by means of a recirculation branch (M) and this part is returned to the treatment station ( 5 ) so as to generate movement of the biomass in the treatment station ( 5 ).

15. The process as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the part of biomass is removed with a flow rate of between 5 and 15 times the flow rate of biomass entering the treatment station ( 5 ).

16. A device for implementing a process as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an industrial treatment line comprising:

an inlet ( 1 ) arranged so as to cause incoming biomass to enter the line,

a pressurizing pump ( 3 ) arranged so as to move the biomass in the line,

a heating means ( 4 b ) capable of heating the biomass,

a treatment station ( 5 ) capable of maintaining the biomass substantially at a temperature of entry into the treatment station ( 5 ), the treatment station ( 5 ) being installed downstream of the heating means ( 4 b ),

a heat recovery device that exchanges heat between biomass leaving the treatment station ( 5 ) and biomass circulating in the line upstream of the treatment station ( 5 ) and a return branch (R) capable of transferring a biomass fraction from an outlet ( 51 ) of the treatment station ( 5 ) to a mixing station ( 2 ).

17. The device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the heat recovery device comprises:

a transfer circuit (T) in which a transfer fluid circulates so as to heat the biomass in the heating means ( 4 b ) by heat exchange between the transfer fluid and the biomass, and

means of circulating (T 1 ) the transfer fluid, capable of circulating the transfer fluid in the transfer circuit (T).

18. The device as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising an external heat source (T 3 ) arranged so as to heat the transfer fluid and a heat-exchange fluid circulating in a jacket ( 52 ) of the treatment station ( 5 ).

19. The device as claimed in claim 16 , the device being arranged such that the biomass enters the treatment station ( 5 ) via a part ( 53 ) that is lower to the ground as compared to a part ( 54 ) from which the biomass leaves the treatment station ( 5 ).

20. The device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the treatment station ( 5 ) comprises a partition (C 1 , C 2 ) arranged so as to convey a liquid biomass fraction to the return branch (R).