Solid Biomass Impurity Removal Via Pneumatic Slurry Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently removing impurities such as alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs), sulfur, and nitrogen from biomass and waste materials to facilitate their conversion to fuels and chemicals, while overcoming issues with traditional pumping methods that lead to clogging, high energy consumption, and corrosion, and the inability to handle agglomerated mats of dense solids in slurries.
Innovation Solution
A process using acidified aqueous solutions in a countercurrent configuration with continuous feeding and mechanical expelling, combined with pneumatic pumps, to extract AAEMs effectively, reducing acid and water consumption, and employing a pneumatic lift system to transport slurries, thereby improving impurity removal efficiency and preserving the hydrocarbonaceous content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical pumps are used to transport biomass slurries, then pumping function is provided, but clogging occurs, energy consumption increases, and corrosion is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pumps with a pneumatic lift system that uses gas flow (air or inert gas) to transport biomass slurries. The pneumatic system introduces gas at the bottom of a conduit, creating upward flow that lifts and transports solid particles without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating clogging and corrosion issues associated with mechanical pumps while maintaining pumping functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs pneumatic principles by using compressed gas flow to move biomass materials through the system. The pneumatic lift apparatus uses gas pressure and flow dynamics to transport slurries, replacing mechanical pumping forces with pneumatic forces, which avoids direct mechanical contact between pump components and the slurry, thus preventing clogging and corrosion
2Productivity
If conventional pumping methods are used, then material transport is achieved, but high energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical pumping systems with a pneumatic lift system that utilizes gas flow energy instead of mechanical motor power. The pneumatic system transports biomass slurries using compressed gas or natural gas flow, which can be more energy-efficient depending on the application, as it eliminates mechanical friction losses and pump head requirements while maintaining effective material transport
3Manufacturing precision
If acidified aqueous solutions are used to extract AAEMs, then impurity removal efficiency is improved, but acid and water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a countercurrent extraction system where the aqueous solution is recycled and reused across multiple stages. The solution that has extracted impurities from biomass in one stage is fed countercurrently to the next stage of biomass material, allowing recovery and continuous use of the acidified aqueous solution. This recycling approach maintains high impurity removal efficiency while significantly reducing overall acid and water consumption compared to single-pass systems
4Manufacturing precision
If countercurrent extraction is used, then impurity removal efficiency is enhanced, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the extraction process into multiple discrete countercurrent stages, where biomass material and aqueous solution exchange impurities across several sequential stages. Each stage is a separate unit operation that can be independently designed and operated. This segmentation allows the complex countercurrent extraction to be broken down into manageable stages, facilitating easier design, operation, and maintenance while achieving enhanced impurity removal efficiency
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 method achieves superior extraction of impurities with reduced resources, enhances the efficiency of impurity removal, and allows for the handling of larger particle sizes, thereby reducing energy consumption and equipment wear.
Implementation Method 1
The slurry may be transported between vessels by the use of a pneumatic pump, sometimes called an airlift pump
Implementation Method 2
A process to extract AAEMs from biomass or waste materials using acidified aqueous solutions
Data Source
AI summary
Processes and apparatus are described for removing impurities from solid biomass while preserving hydrogen and carbon content. Examples are provided of processes using acidified aqueous solutions in a countercurrent extraction process that includes the pneumatic transport of slurries between process units, or a mechanical dewatering step, or both, to produce a washed biomass suitable for various upgrading and conversion processes. Compositions related to the processes are also described.