Conveyor for pretreated biomass

Abstract

A conveyor (1) for pretreated biomass (4) wherein the conveyor (1) comprises: a cylindrical housing (2) comprising an inlet (5) for receiving pretreated biomass (4) and an outlet (6) from which pretreated biomass (4) is discharged from the cylindrical housing (2); and at least one shaftless screw (3, 3b) rotatably positioned in the cylindrical housing (2) to remove the pretreated biomass (4) from the cylindrical housing (2). The temperature in the cylindrical shell (2) ranges from 120 DEG C to 250 DEG C. Systems, uses, and methods are also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application generally relates to a conveyor. More specifically, the present application relates to a conveyor for pre-processed biomass. Background Art

[0002] Conveyors are used to transfer pre-treated biomass from one process to another. Conveyors include a shaft conveyor screw to move the pre-treated biomass from the inlet to the outlet of the conveyor. However, especially at high temperatures, deposits may form on the surface of the shaft conveyor screw, which may require regular cleaning. It becomes important to find solutions in which the formation of deposits can be avoided. Summary of the invention

[0003] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described in the following detailed description. This summary is neither intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. The independent claims define the scope of protection claimed for various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a conveyor for pre-processed biomass, which includes at least one shaftless screw, which can prevent the formation of deposits. The shaftless screw may be cleaner, and its cleaning may also be easier.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a conveyor for pretreated biomass is disclosed. The conveyor may include: a cylindrical housing, the cylindrical housing may include an inlet for receiving the pretreated biomass and an outlet for the pretreated biomass to be discharged from the cylindrical housing; at least one shaftless screw, the at least one shaftless screw rotatably positioned in the cylindrical housing to move the pretreated biomass out of the cylindrical housing, wherein the temperature within the cylindrical housing is 120°C to 250°C.

[0006] To transfer hot, pretreated biomass, a belt conveyor screw is often used. At high temperatures, such as 120°C to 250°C, the degradation products of carbohydrates and lignin released by the pretreated biomass may form sticky particles and deposits on the screw. Due to the hot surface of the screw and the thermal environment in the conveyor, the sticky biomass may, in the long term, form a hard, coagulated and carbonized accumulation of material on the shaft and the blades attached to the shaft or on the cylindrical casing around the screw. This may hinder the movement of the pretreated biomass and may even completely block the belt conveyor screw. To prevent this, it may be necessary to stop the belt conveyor screw regularly for cleaning.

[0007] However, when a shaftless screw is used without a shaft, buildup may not form on the safety device, even at high temperatures, which may extend cleaning intervals and reduce production interruptions.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the conveyor may be a semi-hydrolysis reactor, or may be configured to be at least partially located within the semi-hydrolysis reactor. The semi-hydrolysis reactor may be operated at high temperatures, for example between 120°C and 250°C, in which case the use of a shaftless screw may be beneficial because it will not form or will form very little accumulation at high temperatures.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, at least one shaftless spiral may be hollow. The hollow form may allow a heat transfer medium to be placed inside the shaftless spiral. It may also lighten the structure.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the shaftless screw may include a channel configured to receive a heat transfer medium in the channel to cool or heat an outer screw surface of the shaftless screw. The channel may allow a heat transfer medium to be placed in the shaftless screw.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the temperature of the outer screw surface of at least one shaftless screw can be configured to be maintained below the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere of the at least one shaftless screw within the cylindrical housing. When the temperature is configured to be maintained below the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere, a condensation layer may form on the outer screw surface of the at least one shaftless screw. The condensation layer can prevent sticky particles of the pretreated biomass from adhering to the outer screw surface, thereby keeping the surface clean and making cleaning easier.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the heat transfer medium may be a liquid or a gas. This may allow different heat transfer media to be used.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the spiral cross section of at least one shaftless spiral may be rectangular, triangular, semicircular, D-shaped, elliptical or circular. Different forms of shaftless spirals may be used.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the cylindrical housing may include at least one nozzle configured to spray liquid or gas to at least one shaftless screw. The nozzle can be used to clean the accumulation on the shaftless screw and / or the cylindrical housing; and / or prevent the accumulation from sticking to them.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, at least one shaftless screw may be located within a cylindrical housing having an approximate outer spring diameter that is approximately the same as or smaller than the inner shell diameter of the cylindrical housing. When the outer spring diameter of the shaftless screw is approximately the same as or close to the inner shell diameter, friction may be generated between the inner shell surface of the cylindrical housing and the shaftless screw conveyor screw. The friction may keep the inner shell surface and at least a portion of the outer screw surface clean, thereby eliminating the need for additional cleaning.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the outer spring diameter of at least one shaftless screw may be larger than the particle size of the pre-treated biomass. This may allow the shaftless screw to effectively move the pre-treated biomass.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, at least one shaftless screw may be configured to allow nominal vibration. The vibration may help clean the shaftless screw and also help keep it clean by preventing buildup from sticking to the outer screw surface.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the nominal vibration may be configured to be caused by a vibration device, a pressure change in the heat transfer medium and / or a change in the rotation direction and / or speed of the at least one shaftless screw.Different methods may be used to generate the vibration.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, at least one shaftless screw and / or inner shell surface can be configured to be at least partially coated with a coating material or at least partially polished. The coating or polishing helps to clean the shaftless screw and / or inner shell surface, and also helps to keep it clean by preventing deposits from sticking thereto.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the pretreated biomass may be pretreated wood biomass.

[0021] According to a second aspect, a system is disclosed, comprising a semi-hydrolysis reactor and at least one conveyor according to the first aspect, the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel comprising the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel. The at least one conveyor can be configured to be at least partially located within the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel. The semi-hydrolysis reactor can use high temperatures, in which case it may be beneficial to use a shaftless screw to prevent pile formation.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the second aspect, the residence time of the pretreated biomass in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel and the at least one conveyor may be from 1 second to 120 minutes.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the second aspect, the composition of the pretreated biomass in the semi-hydrolysis reactor container and at least one conveyor can include biomass particles and / or lignocellulose particles. Preferably, the composition of the pretreated biomass is a mixture of for example wood particles, lignocellulose, solid lignin, soluble lignin, carbohydrates, extracts, soluble sugar monomers and sugar oligomers. The degradation products of carbohydrates / sugar, extracts and lignin may form sticky precipitates, and at least one shaftless screw can prevent the deposit from sticking on the surface of the shaftless screw. Because the friction between the surface of the cylindrical shell and at least one shaftless screw is greater, it may not be necessary to continuously remove sticky substances.

[0024] According to a third aspect, use of the conveyor according to the first aspect for moving pre-treated biomass is disclosed.

[0025] According to a fourth aspect, a method for moving pretreated biomass using a conveyor is disclosed. The conveyor may include: a cylindrical housing, which may include an inlet and an outlet; and at least one shaftless screw, which is rotatably positioned in the cylindrical housing; wherein the temperature within the cylindrical housing may be between 120°C and 250°C. The method may include receiving pretreated biomass from the inlet; moving the pretreated biomass from the inlet to the outlet through at least one shaftless screw; and causing the pretreated biomass to be discharged from the cylindrical housing through the outlet. When using a shaftless screw conveyor screw, even at high temperatures, deposits may not form, which may extend cleaning intervals and reduce production interruptions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this specification, and illustrate embodiments of the present invention and together with the description help explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 An example of a system according to an embodiment is schematically shown;

[0028] Figure 2 Schematically illustrates an example of a conveyor according to an embodiment, the conveyor comprising a shaftless screw;

[0029] Figure 3 An example of a conveyor according to an embodiment is schematically shown, the conveyor comprising a shaftless screw having a channel;

[0030] Figure 4 Schematically illustrates an example of a conveyor cross section according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 5schematically illustrates an example of a cross section of a shaftless screw according to an embodiment; and

[0032] Figure 6 An exemplary method according to an embodiment is shown.

[0033] In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of this example and is not intended to represent the only form in which this example may be constructed or used. This description illustrates the functions of the example and the steps or sequences of operations for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be implemented by different examples.

[0035] One or more conveyors may be located inside the hydrolysis reactor. The conveyor may transfer the pretreated biomass out of the hydrolysis reactor. The conveyor may include a shaft conveyor screw to move the pretreated biomass from the conveyor inlet to the conveyor outlet. However, especially at high temperatures, deposits may form on the surface of the shaft conveyor screw, which may require periodic cleaning.

[0036] A belt conveyor screw may be arranged at the bottom of the hydrolysis reactor to transfer the pretreated biomass. Due to the high temperature of the transferred pretreated biomass, deposits on the belt conveyor screw may affect its efficient operation and even block the belt conveyor screw and the outlet of the conveyor. Keeping the belt conveyor clean at high temperatures may be very challenging. Typically, deposits may form on the surfaces of the hydrolysis reactor and the belt conveyor screw in the temperature range of 120°C to 250°C. If the pretreated biomass becomes viscous at a certain point in the process and if the pretreated biomass flow is not moving forward, the pretreated biomass may stay on the hot surface for a long time and hard deposits, such as carbonized material, may form on the surface of the belt conveyor screw in the long run. This may lead to complete blockage of the belt conveyor screw and the hydrolysis reactor may have to be shut down for cleaning regularly. Inside the hydrolysis reactor, deposits can be seen at certain locations of the hydrolysis reactor chamber wall and on the shaft and blades of the belt conveyor screw.

[0037] In this specification and claims, the reactor may be a pretreatment reactor, a steam explosion reactor, a hydrothermal treatment reactor or a semi-hydrolysis reactor.

[0038] In this specification and claims, the term pretreated biomass refers to biomass particles and / or lignocellulose particles. Preferably, the composition of the pretreated biomass is a mixture of wood particles, lignocellulose, solid lignin, soluble lignin, carbohydrates, extractives, soluble sugar monomers and sugar oligomers.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the pretreated biomass can be a pretreated wood biomass. The pretreated wood biomass can be formed in a process in which wood chips can be treated by impregnation and then semi-hydrolyzed in a semi-hydrolysis reactor at high temperature, steam and pressure. The wood chips can be hardwood chips, such as beech, birch, ash, oak, maple, chestnut, willow or poplar chips. The wood chips can also be a combination or mixture of these hardwood chips. Impregnation can be achieved by treating the wood chips with an impregnation liquid. The impregnation liquid can be water or an acidic liquid. Preferably, the impregnation liquid is sulfuric acid. The impregnated wood chips can be transferred to a semi-hydrolysis reactor, in which the wood chips can undergo a semi-hydrolysis reaction. The semi-hydrolysis reaction can be carried out by treating the impregnated wood chips with high-temperature steam. For example, the temperature in the semi-hydrolysis reactor can be 120°C to 250°C, and the pressure can be 1 to 20 bar or 2 to 16 bar. For example, in the semi-hydrolysis reactor, the temperature of the pretreated biomass can be 120°C to 250°C. More preferably, for example, in the semi-hydrolysis reactor, the temperature of the pretreated biomass may be 150° C. to 220° C. or 185° C. to 195° C. Finally, the pretreated wood biomass may be transferred from the semi-hydrolysis reactor by at least one conveyor and further processed by steam explosion to separate fibers.

[0040] Figure 1 The example schematically shows a system including a semi-hydrolysis reactor, which includes a semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 and at least one conveyor 1. The at least one conveyor can be at least partially located in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9. The semi-hydrolysis reaction started in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 can also continue in the at least one conveyor 1. The semi-hydrolysis reactor is an area where semi-hydrolysis reaction conditions may exist. In this system, the semi-hydrolysis reaction can occur in the semi-hydrolysis reactor, which means that it occurs inside the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 and / or inside the at least one conveyor. In other words, the semi-hydrolysis reaction conditions of the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 can dominate in the conveyor 1. The semi-hydrolysis reaction may require high temperatures, such as 120°C to 250°C, preferably 150°C to 220°C, and more preferably 185°C to 195°C. In addition to high temperatures, the semi-hydrolysis reaction may require, for example, steam and a pressure of 1 to 20 bar or 2 to 16 bar. The saturated steam pressure may correspond to the saturated steam temperature in the reactor.

[0041] The term "semi-hydrolysis" may refer to a treatment of the impregnated and / or pretreated biomass in a reactor, such as a semi-hydrolysis reactor using steam at a temperature of 120° C. to 250° C., 150° C. to 220° C., or 185° C. to 195° C. The purpose of the treatment is to degrade and dissolve the hemicellulose contained in the biomass and to break down the biomass structure so that the cellulose can be utilized by enzymes (cellulases) and converted into glucose in a high yield in the next treatment step after the semi-hydrolysis.

[0042] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the conveyor 1 is a semi-hydrolysis reactor or is configured to be located inside a semi-hydrolysis reactor. When at least one conveyor 1 is at least partially located inside a semi-hydrolysis reactor, semi-hydrolysis conditions may exist in at least one conveyor 1. Therefore, at least one conveyor 1 can be operated under semi-hydrolysis reaction conditions at a temperature of 120°C to 250°C.

[0043] According to one embodiment, at least one conveyor 1 can be configured to be located at the bottom portion of the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9. The at least one conveyor 1 can be configured to be at least partially located inside the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9. The system can include multiple conveyors 1, which may or may not be conveyors of the same type. The pretreated biomass 4 can be fed into the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 according to arrow 10 and treated with high temperature, added steam (according to arrow 11) and pressure. For example, the temperature inside the cylindrical shell 2 and / or the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 is 120°C to 250°C. More preferably, the temperature inside the cylindrical shell and / or the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 is, for example, 150°C to 220°C. After hydrolysis, the hydrolyzed pretreated biomass 4 can be removed from the material outlet 6 by at least one conveyor 1 according to arrow O.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the composition of the pretreated biomass 4 in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 and / or at least one conveyor 1 comprises biomass particles and / or lignocellulosic particles. Preferably, the composition of the pretreated biomass is, for example, a mixture of wood particles, lignocellulosic particles, solid lignin, soluble lignin, carbohydrates, extractives, soluble lignin fragments, soluble sugar monomers, sugar oligomers and degradation products thereof. The pretreated biomass may include larger particles, such as cooked and crushed wood particles and soluble components.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the spiral cross section BB of the at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b is rectangular, triangular, semicircular, D-shaped, elliptical or circular.

[0046] According to one embodiment, at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b located in the cylindrical housing 2 has an approximate outer spring diameter d that is approximately the same as or smaller than the inner shell diameter D of the cylindrical housing 2. For example, the flight distance F between the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b and the inner shell surface 8 of the cylindrical housing 2 is 0.1 mm to 5 mm. The flight distance F = (D-d) / 2. The flight distance F can be the shortest distance between the outer screw surface 7 and the inner shell surface 8. The outer screw surface 7 can include all sides of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b, or a sheath surrounding the shaftless spiral 3, 3b. When the shaftless spiral 3, 3b has an approximate outer spring diameter d that is approximately the same as or close to the same as the inner shell diameter D, there may be friction between the inner shell surface 8 and the outer screw surface 7, which can keep the inner shell surface 8 and / or the outer screw surface 7 at least partially clean, thereby eliminating the need for additional cleaning of the inner shell surface 8 and / or the outer screw surface 7.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the outer spring diameter d of at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b is larger than the particle size of the pre-treated biomass 4. This may allow the conveyor to effectively move the biomass 4. The wood chip particles inside the hydrolysis reactor may have a particle size, wherein, for example, a length of 10 mm to 40 mm, a thickness of 2 mm to 15 mm, and a width of 10 mm to 30 mm.

[0048] According to one embodiment, at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b is configured to allow nominal vibration. Vibration may squeeze and stretch the shaftless screw 3, 3b. The shaftless screw 3, 3b can be configured to be designed to allow nominal vibration. Vibration may help clean the shaftless screw 3, 3b. Vibration can also prevent accumulation from sticking to the outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3, 3b.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the nominal vibration is configured to be caused by a vibration device, a pressure change in the heat transfer medium within the shaftless screw 3b and / or a change in the rotation direction and / or speed of at least one screw conveyor screw 3, 3b. The vibration device may include a mechanical hammer and / or a vibrator. The vibration device may be located inside or outside the cylindrical housing 2. The shaftless screw 3, 3b may contract when moving to a certain direction, a first direction, and extend when moving to an opposite direction, a second direction. In this way, a change in the direction of rotation R can be used to remove deposits. When the shaftless screw 3, 3b extends or contracts, the outer spring diameter d may change, causing the shaftless screw 3, 3b to vibrate and remove deposits.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the cylindrical housing 2 includes at least one nozzle 20 configured to spray a high-pressure liquid or gas to at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b. The spraying can be performed using a high-pressure liquid or gas. The liquid can be water. The water can include chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide. The gas can be steam, such as water vapor. The nozzle 20 can be located at various positions along the inner shell surface 8. The at least one nozzle 20 can be configured to spray the gas or liquid in the conveyor 1 toward at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b. At least one nozzle 20 can be configured to clean the deposits on the shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or the inner shell surface 8, and / or prevent the deposits from sticking to the outer screw surface 7 and / or the inner shell surface 8.

[0051] According to one embodiment, at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b and / or the inner shell surface 8 is configured to be at least partially coated with a coating material and / or at least partially polished. At least a portion of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b can be coated with a coating material, and at least a portion of the inner shell surface 8 can be polished, or vice versa. It is also possible that at least a portion of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b can be coated with a coating material. For example, at least the rear side of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b can be coated with a coating material, and the rest of the shaftless spiral can be polished. The rear side of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b is the side facing the inlet 5 of the shaftless spiral 3, 3b. According to one embodiment, at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b is configured to be coated with a coating material and / or at least partially polished around the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b.

[0052] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or at least a portion of the inner shell surface 8 of the cylindrical housing 2 is configured to be coated with a coating material having an electric charge. The coating material having an electric charge can be a material with a positive surface charge or a material with a negative surface charge. According to one embodiment, the coating material having an electric charge is a polymer.

[0053] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or at least a portion of the inner shell surface 8 of the cylindrical shell 2 is configured to be coated with a coating material having a low adhesion tendency. The term "low adhesion tendency" refers to the ability to prevent deposits from adhering to the surface of the shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or the cylindrical shell 2. Such a coating material may have a lower adsorption capacity. The coating material with a low adhesion tendency can be a polymer, ceramic, enamel or glass. The polymer can be configured to be selected from a fluoropolymer or a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. For example, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA).

[0054] According to one embodiment, the fluoropolymer comprises a conductive material. The conductive material may be a conductive filler, such as a conductive carbon material.

[0055] According to one embodiment, plasma technology or dip coating is configured for coating.

[0056] According to one embodiment, at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or the cylindrical housing 2 can be configured to be at least partially coated with a coating material and / or polished. The coating or polishing can be performed around or at least partially around at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b and / or in the conveyor housing 2.

[0057] When at least a portion of the outer screw surface 7 and / or the inner shell surface 8 is polished, the roughness Ra of the outer screw surface 8 and / or the outer shell surface 7 can be very low, for example, like a mirror surface. The Ra value of the outer screw surface 7 and / or the inner shell surface 8 is, for example, less than 1.6 microns, preferably less than 0.1 microns, or more preferably less than 0.05 microns. Unless otherwise specified, in this specification, the term "Ra value" should be understood as the average roughness of the surface. Ra is the arithmetic mean of the deviation of the upper and lower traces of the center line. Standard SFS-EN 10049:2013 provides a more detailed description of measuring the Ra value.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the residence time of the pretreated biomass 4 in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 and at least one conveyor 1 is from 1 second to 120 minutes. When at least one conveyor 1 is a semi-hydrolysis reactor, the residence time of the pretreated biomass 4 in at least one conveyor 1 is from 1 second to 120 minutes. More preferably, the residence time is from 1 second to 30 minutes. Unless otherwise specified, in this specification, the term "residence time" is understood to be the time between the introduction or entry of the pretreated biomass into the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 or at least one conveyor 1, and the exit or discharge of the pretreated biomass 4 from at least one conveyor 1. If there are multiple conveyors 1, exit or discharge from the last conveyor 1.

[0059] According to one embodiment, according to Figure 2 and / or Figure 3 At least one conveyor 1 can be used to Figure 1 The pretreated biomass 4 is removed from the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9. The at least one conveyor 1 can also be used alone as a semi-hydrolysis reactor without the hydrolysis reactor vessel 9.

[0060] Figure 2The example schematically shows a conveyor 1 including a shaftless screw 3. The conveyor 1 may include a cylindrical housing 2 including an inlet 5 for receiving pretreated biomass 4. The conveyor 1 may receive the pretreated biomass 4 from the bottom of a semi-hydrolysis reactor 9, an outlet 6 of another conveyor 1, or from another process. The conveyor 1 itself may also be a semi-hydrolysis reactor. In this case, the semi-hydrolysis reaction may occur in at least one conveyor 1, and a separate hydrolysis reactor vessel 9 may not be required. The cylindrical housing 2 may also include an outlet 6, from which the pretreated biomass 4 may leave the cylindrical housing 2. Arrows I and O show the entry and exit of the pretreated biomass 4. The conveyor 1 may also include at least one shaftless screw 3 rotatably positioned in the cylindrical housing 2 to move the pretreated biomass 4 out of the cylindrical housing 2. The shaftless screw 3 does not have any shaft, wherein the pretreated biomass 4 may adhere. The inlet support member 12 supports the shaftless screw 3 from the inlet portion, and the outlet support member 13 supports the shaftless screw 3 from the outlet portion, allowing it to rotate. The at least one shaftless screw 3 can rotate within the cylindrical housing 2 to move the pretreated biomass 4 in the cylindrical housing 2 from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6. The shaftless screw 3 can have an outer screw surface 7, and the outer spring diameter is d. The cylindrical housing can have an inner shell surface 8, and the inner shell diameter is D.

[0061] Although Figure 1 The conveyor 1 in the figure shows only one shaftless screw 3 in the cylindrical housing 2, but Figure 2 and Figure 3 The number of shaftless screws 3, 3b in the cylindrical housing 2 should not be considered a limitation of the present disclosure. For example, in some examples, multiple shaftless screws 3, 3b may be provided in the cylindrical housing 2. When the conveyor has multiple shaftless screws, they may clean each other.

[0062] Figure 3 The example of FIG. 1 schematically shows a conveyor 1 including a shaftless screw 3 b. Figure 3 The conveyor 1 can be connected with Figure 2 The conveyor 1 in FIG. 1 is the same as that in FIG. 1 , except that the shaftless screw 3 b may include a channel 21. In addition, the inlet support member 12 and the outlet support member 13 may be hollow to allow the heat transfer medium to enter the channel 21 of the shaftless screw 3 b through the inlet support member 11 and leave the channel 21 through the outlet support member 12.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the at least one shaftless screw is hollow. The hollow shaftless screw 3b can allow a heat transfer medium to be placed inside the hollow shaftless screw 3b. It can also lighten the structure. The shaftless screw 3b can be internally cooled with a coolant and / or heated with a hot agent. The conveyor 1 including at least one shaftless screw 3b can be used for Figure 1 The semi-hydrolysis reactor can be used as a hydrolysis reactor alone.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the shaftless screw 3b includes a channel 21 configured to receive a heat transfer medium in the channel 21 to cool or heat the outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3b. The hollow portion of the shaftless screw 3b may be the channel 21. The channel 21 may be formed inside the shaftless screw 3b. The outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3b may contact the pretreated biomass 4. The shaftless screw 3b may allow a heat transfer medium to be placed in the channel 21 to cool or heat the outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3b within the cylindrical housing 2. When a coolant flows through the shaftless screw 3b, the temperature of the coolant may increase due to the contact of the outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3b. When a hot agent flows through the shaftless screw 3b, the temperature of the hot agent may decrease due to the contact of the outer screw surface 7 of the shaftless screw 3b. The coolant or the hot agent can be guided into the shaftless screw 3b as shown by arrow S, and can be discharged from the shaftless screw 3b as shown by arrow U. The coolant or the hot agent can be guided into the channel 21 from the inlet side of the conveyor 1 through the hollow inlet support member 12, and can be guided out of the channel 21 from the outlet side of the conveyor 1 through the hollow outlet support member 13. The heat transfer medium and the pretreated biomass 4 can move in the same direction in the conveyor 1.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the temperature of the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless screw 3b is configured to be maintained below the dew point of the atmosphere surrounding the shaftless screw 3b located within the cylindrical housing 2. For example, the temperature of the outer screw surface 7 is 0.1 to 20°C lower than the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere. Preferably, the temperature is 0.1 to 2°C below the dew point. It may be beneficial to minimize the temperature difference between the outer screw surface 7 and the atmosphere to save energy. In addition, the pretreated biomass 4 may have to be kept at a high temperature in the reactor.

[0066] The atmosphere may be the space within the inner shell surface 8. The atmosphere may include steam within the conveyor housing 2. The steam may be saturated steam. The steam may be formed from water. The steam may have a relative water content of 100%. Steam having the same temperature as the liquid from which the steam is formed is called saturated steam. When at least one shaftless screw may be configured to remain below the dew point of the atmosphere surrounding the shaftless screw, it may form a condensation layer on the outer screw surface 7 of at least one shaftless screw 3b. The condensation layer may prevent sticky particles of the pretreated biomass 4 from adhering to the outer screw surface 7 and make cleaning easier or even unnecessary.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the coolant and / or the heat agent is a liquid or a gas. The coolant or the heat agent may be at least one of the following: air, steam, water, oil glycol and / or a medium with a stationary temperature range of 0°C to 250°C.

[0068] Figure 4 The example of schematically shows a conveyor cross section AA. Figure 2 or Figure 3 It is possible to have a shaftless screw 3, 3b. The position of the cross section AA is as follows Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, arrow A is located at the inlet side of the shaftless spiral member 3, 3b. Figure 4 As shown, the shaftless screw 3, 3b can rotate counterclockwise as shown by the rotation direction arrow R. In other words, the shaftless screw 3, 3b can move the pretreated biomass 4 from the material inlet 5 to the material outlet 6. When the shaftless screw 3, 3b rotates counterclockwise, it may contract. This can push the pretreated biomass 4 from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6.

[0069] When the shaftless screw 3, 3b rotates clockwise, it may extend, cause nominal vibration, and remove the deposits on the outer screw surface 7 and / or the inner shell surface 8. According to one embodiment, when the shaftless screw 3, 3b rotates clockwise, the outer spring diameter d may extend to reach the inner shell diameter D in some cases, and the rotation of the shaftless screw 3, 3b may be stopped, which may remove the deposits from the outer screw surface 7 and / or the inner shell surface 8. This may be caused by the friction between the outer screw surface 7 and the inner shell surface 8. In a first direction, the shaftless screw 3, 3b may move the pretreated biomass 4 from the material inlet 5 to the material outlet 6, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the shaftless screw 3, 3b may cause nominal vibration and remove the deposits.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the nominal vibration is configured to be caused by a change in the rotation direction R of at least one screw 3, 3b. In a first direction, the shaftless screw 3, 3b can move the pretreated biomass 4 from the material inlet 5 to the material outlet 6. In a second direction opposite to the first direction, the shaftless screw 3, 3b can cause the nominal vibration and remove the accumulation. In the first direction, the shaftless screw 3, 3b can push, and in the second direction, it can pull.

[0071] Figure 5 The example of schematically shows the spring cross section BB of the shaftless spiral 3b. Figure 3 There may be a shaftless screw 3b. The position of the cross section BB is as follows Figure 4 As shown by arrow B. Figure 5 In the example of , the spring cross section BB is rectangular.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the spiral cross section BB of the at least one shaftless spiral 3, 3b is rectangular, triangular, semicircular, D-shaped, elliptical or circular.

[0073] Figure 6 An example of a method for moving pretreated biomass 4 by a conveyor is shown, wherein the conveyor 1 includes a cylindrical housing 2 and at least one shaftless screw 3, 3b rotatably positioned in the cylindrical housing 2, the cylindrical housing 2 including an inlet 5 and an outlet 6, wherein the temperature inside the cylindrical housing is 120°C to 250°C.

[0074] At operation 600 , the method may include receiving pretreated biomass 4 from an inlet 5 .

[0075] In operation 610 , the method may include moving the pretreated biomass 4 from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6 via at least one shaftless screw 3 , 3 b .

[0076] At operation 620 , the method may include discharging the pretreated biomass 4 from the cylindrical housing 2 through the outlet 6 .

[0077] For example, other features of the method result directly from the functioning of the conveyor 1. As described in connection with the various embodiments, different variants of the method may also be applied.

[0078] The conveyor 1 may be configured to perform, or cause to be performed, any aspect of the methods described herein.

[0079] Any range or device value given herein may be expanded or altered without losing the effect sought. In addition, any embodiment may be combined with another embodiment unless expressly prohibited.

[0080] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or acts, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Instead, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims, and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

[0081] It should be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to embodiments that solve any or all of the problems described, nor are they limited to embodiments that have any or all of the benefits and advantages described. It should also be understood that reference to "an" item may refer to one or more of these items.

[0082] The steps or operations of the methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. In addition, individual blocks may be deleted from any method without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the above embodiments may be combined with aspects of any of the other embodiments described to form further embodiments without losing the effects sought.

[0083] The term "comprising" is used herein to mean including the identified methods, blocks or elements, but these blocks or elements do not include an exclusive list and the method or apparatus may include additional blocks or elements.

[0084] Although a topic may be referred to as the "first," "second," or "third" topic, this does not necessarily indicate any order or importance of the topics. Instead, these attributes may simply be used to distinguish between topics.

[0085] It should be understood that the above description is given as an example only, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above description, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of the exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity or with reference to one or more separate embodiments, those skilled in the art may make many modifications to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A conveyor for pre-processing biomass, wherein: The conveyor comprises: a cylindrical housing comprising an inlet for receiving the pretreated biomass and an outlet for the pretreated biomass to be discharged from the cylindrical housing; and at least one shaftless screw rotatably positioned within the cylindrical housing to move the pretreated biomass out of the cylindrical housing, wherein: The temperature inside the cylindrical housing is 120°C to 250°C.

2. The conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that The conveyor is a semi-hydrolysis reactor, or is configured to be located at least partially within the semi-hydrolysis reactor.

3. The conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The shaftless screw includes a channel configured to receive a heat transfer medium therein to cool or heat an outer screw surface of the shaftless screw.

4. The conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that The temperature of the outer screw surface of the at least one shaftless screw is configured to be maintained below the dew point of the atmosphere surrounding the at least one shaftless screw within the cylindrical housing.

5. The conveyor according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The heat transfer medium is liquid or gas.

6. Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The spiral cross section of the at least one shaftless spiral element is rectangular, triangular, semicircular, D-shaped, elliptical or circular.

7. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The cylindrical housing includes at least one nozzle configured to spray a liquid or a gas to the at least one shaftless screw.

8. Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one shaftless spiral member within the cylindrical housing has an approximate outer spring diameter that is approximately the same as or smaller than an inner shell diameter of the cylindrical housing.

9. Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one shaftless spiral has an outer spring diameter that is larger than a particle size of the pretreated biomass.

10. Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one shaftless screw is configured to allow nominal vibrations.

11. The conveyor according to claim 10, characterized in that The nominal vibrations are configured to be caused by a vibration device, a pressure change in the heat transfer medium, and / or a change in the rotation direction and / or speed of the at least one shaftless screw.

12. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least one shaftless screw and / or the inner shell surface is configured to be at least partially coated with a coating material and / or at least partially polished.

13. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The pretreated biomass is pretreated wood biomass.

14. A system comprising a hemihydrolysis reactor comprising a hemihydrolysis reactor vessel and at least one conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein The at least one conveyor is configured to be located at least partially within the interior of the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that The residence time of the pretreated biomass in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel and the at least one conveyor is from 1 second to 120 minutes.

16. The system according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The composition of the pretreated biomass in the semi-hydrolysis reactor vessel and the at least one conveyor comprises biomass particles and / or lignocellulosic particles.

17. Use of at least one conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for moving pre-treated biomass.

18. A method for moving pre-treated biomass via a conveyor, wherein: The conveyor comprises: a cylindrical housing comprising an inlet and an outlet; and at least one shaftless screw, the at least one shaftless screw being rotatably positioned within the cylindrical housing; wherein, The temperature in the cylindrical housing is 120°C to 250°C, wherein the method comprises: receiving the pretreated biomass from the inlet; moving the pretreated biomass from the inlet to the outlet via the at least one shaftless screw; and The pretreated biomass is discharged from the cylindrical housing through the outlet.

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