Biomass feed system including gas assist

摘要

An improved biomass feed system and processes for transporting biomass to downstream processing locations are disclosed. The system uses a pressurized gas to assist in the transporting of the biomass to the conversion reactor.

主权项

1. A process for transporting biomass in a bio-oil production process, said transporting process comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a first quantity of biomass material into a first hopper; (b) transporting said first quantity of biomass material from said first hopper into a second hopper; (c) introducing a second quantity of biomass material into said first hopper; (d) pressurizing said second hopper with a gas while said first quantity of biomass material is located in said second hopper; (e) transporting said second quantity of biomass material from said second hopper to a pressurized feed system; (f) depressurizing said second hopper by releasing at least a portion of said gas from said second hopper; (g) routing at least a portion of said gas released in step (f) to said first hopper; and (h) using said gas routed from said second hopper in step (g) to at least partially purge oxygen from said second quantity of biomass material inside said first hopper.