Biomass Pretreatment Recirculation for Alkaline Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating biomass require excessive chemical additives and specialized equipment to handle high-temperature, high-dry-matter-content materials with low pH, necessitating cooling, neutralization, and dilution, which are energy-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method involving thermal hydrolysis followed by wet explosion, with recirculation of fermentation products to mix with the intermediate product before fermentation, reducing the need for specialized equipment and minimizing water dilution, and utilizing recirculation to maintain an alkaline environment for easier handling and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal hydrolysis is performed at high temperature with high dry matter content, then treatment efficiency is improved, but specialized equipment is required and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from acidic to alkaline by adding lime, which fundamentally alters the properties of the intermediate product. This parameter change allows the material to be handled with ordinary equipment instead of specialized acid-resistant equipment, resolving the contradiction between treatment efficiency and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful acidic byproducts of thermal hydrolysis into beneficial alkaline conditions by adding lime. The acid-neutralizing reaction not only eliminates corrosion problems but also creates favorable conditions for subsequent fermentation, transforming a harmful effect into a beneficial one
2Ease of operation
If acid neutralization is performed to handle low pH material, then material handleability is improved, but chemical consumption and waste accumulation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses lime (calcium oxide) which reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide, creating a self-sustaining alkaline system. The alkaline environment serves multiple functions simultaneously: neutralizing acids, protecting equipment, and promoting fermentation, eliminating the need for separate neutralization steps and reducing chemical consumption
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling and neutralization are performed on high-temperature intermediate product, then material safety is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the thermal energy in the hot intermediate product into a beneficial effect by adding lime, which undergoes exothermic reactions with water and acids. The heat generated by these reactions maintains favorable temperatures for fermentation, eliminating the need for external heating while the alkaline environment simultaneously protects equipment from corrosion
4Ease of operation
If water dilution is performed to reduce dry matter content, then material流动性 is improved, but processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by adding lime, which fundamentally alters the material's properties. The alkaline environment improves material handleability and equipment protection without requiring water dilution, thus maintaining high dry matter content and processing efficiency while achieving the desired material流动性
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for efficient transportation and processing of high-dry-matter-content biomass without specialized equipment, reduces energy costs, and minimizes chemical usage by maintaining an optimal pH range and reducing the need for cooling and neutralization, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
thermal hydrolysis (Liquid Hot Water—LHW)
Implementation Method 2
wet explosion (Steam Explosion—STEX)
Implementation Method 3
subsequent fermentation of said intermediate product in a digestion tank
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for treatment of biomass material by fermentation, said method comprises a pre-treatment of the biomass material by thermal hydrolysis and wet explosion, resulting in an intermediate product having a dry matter concentration above 25% and temperature above 90° C. which is to be introduced to the fermentation, wherein a part of the content of the digestion tank used for the fermentation is recirculated and mixed with a part of the intermediate product from the pre-treatment.