Vapor phase hydrolysis vessel and methods related thereto

摘要

A prehydrolysis of wood chips or other lignocellulosic material in a vessel having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion. The vessel includes at least one stress relieving piece that inhibits overcompression of the lignocellulosic material. The vessel operates in a continuous process. A slurry of lignocellulosic material and liquid is removed from the bottom of the vessel.

主权项

1. A method for hydrolysis in a vessel comprising a vapor portion and a liquid portion, the method comprising the steps of:
feeding lignocellulosic material into a vapor portion of the vessel; supplying gaseous material to the vapor portion of the vessel, such that the lignocellulosic material contacts the gaseous material and such that a hydrolysis or autohydrolysis reaction occurs; retaining the lignocellulosic material in the vapor portion of the vessel for a period of time between 15 and 180 minutes; preventing overcompression of the lignocellulosic material in the vapor portion of the vessel via at least one column stress relief piece attached to a wall of the vessel, wherein the at least one column stress relief piece has an inward portion that creates a constricted cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the vessel; transferring the lignocellulosic material to a liquid portion of the vessel; supplying liquid to the liquid portion of the vessel; mixing the lignocellulosic material with the liquid to stop the hydrolysis or autohydrolysis reaction and to create a slurry; removing the slurry continuously from the vessel; and transferring the slurry to the top of a digester vessel.