BIOMASS CONVERSION SYSTEMS HAVING A FLUID CIRCULATION LOOP CONTAINING BACKFLUSHABLE FILTERS FOR CONTROL OF CELLULOSIC FINES AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF

摘要

Digestion of cellulosic biomass to produce a hydrolysate may be accompanied by the formation of cellulosic fines which may be damaging to system components. Biomass conversion systems that may address the issue of cellulosic fines may comprise a fluid circulation loop comprising: a hydrothermal digestion unit; a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; where the solids separation unit comprises a plurality of filters and the filters are in fluid communication with the fluid circulation loop in both a forward and a reverse flow direction; and a catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the solids separation unit and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit; where at least one of the plurality of filters is in fluid communication with an inlet of the catalytic reduction reactor unit.

主权项

1. A biomass conversion system comprising:
a fluid circulation loop comprising:
a hydrothermal digestion unit;a solids separation unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit;
wherein the solids separation unit comprises a plurality of filters;
wherein the filters are in fluid communication with the fluid circulation loop in both a forward and a reverse flow direction; anda catalytic reduction reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the solids separation unit and an inlet of the hydrothermal digestion unit;
wherein at least one of the plurality of filters is in fluid communication with an inlet of the catalytic reduction reactor unit;a conversion reactor unit that is in fluid communication with an outlet of the catalytic reaction reactor unit.