WO2015136044A1

WO2015136044A1 - Modular system for the customer-oriented design of hydrolysis reactors

Info

Publication number: WO2015136044A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/055197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Kose; Matthias Schmidt
Original assignee: Green Sugar Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-03-12
Filing date: 2015-03-12
Publication date: 2015-09-17
Also published as: DE102014003817A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a systematic component system made of tubular and/or cylindrical and/or prismatic hollow segments which have a cylindrical or prismatic vertically continuous open interior and which can be statically and rigidly linked to one another at the segment end faces by means of corresponding devices (flanges for example) in order to allow a customer-oriented design, set-up, or in situ modification of reactors on the basis of the segments, said reactors being horizontally segmented along the axial axis, in order to hydrolyze biomass using highly concentrated halogen hydracids. The segments can be produced from different acid-resistant plastics and mixes thereof. The segmentation supports the simple maintenance of the reactors without restricting the static security.

Description

Modular system for customer-oriented design of hydrolysis reactors

The invention relates to a segmented reactor for the hydrolysis of biomass from tubular and / or cylindrical and / or prismatic hollow segments.

State of the art

The hydrolysis of biomasses by means of highly concentrated hydrohalic acids, such as hydrochloric acid, has always been carried out in upright reactors. Due to the highly aggressive nature of these acids, it is necessary to use acid-resistant materials. In the past, the reactors themselves were mostly acid-resistant and impregnated with tar. Smaller sizes could also be done in rubberized metal. Since the rubber had to be specially sintered, the largest ovens available also limited the size of the reactors.

In the patent DE 50 2007 008069 a simple solution is described how hydrolysis reactors can be designed by using new materials. It has been shown that the size of plastic reactors is also limited, whether due to static or transport problems.

The invention presented here wants to remedy this situation.

The invention

The invention relates to a segmented reactor for the hydrolysis of biomass from tubular and / or cylindrical and / or prismic and / or conical hollow segments, wherein the hollow segments have a cylindrical or prismatic or conical vertically continuous free interior and have at their end faces devices, preferably Flanges over which two segments can be statically linked to one another and the reactor has at least two segments.

Further embodiments are the subject matter of the subclaims or described below. Hydrolysis by highly concentrated hydrohalic acids provides a robust process for the digestion of any biomass. As varied as vegetable biomass is in its composition, the spectrum of possible starting materials and the behavior of the biomass during the hydrolysis itself are diverse. Depending on the availability of biomass and cost situation (purchase price) on the input side and revenue situation on the output side (product range and distribution situation) results in a different minimum size to achieve the economic break even. Therefore, the system of the present invention is advantageous in service to customers interested in acquiring and / or operating such a hydrolysis facility because it is easily configurable to customer needs. The segmentation of the reactor according to the invention makes it possible, along the axial axis, to design horizontally segmented reactors for the hydrolysis of biomasses by means of highly concentrated hydrohalic acids in a customer-oriented manner, to set them up and to be able to modify them on site. The systematic segment system ("modular system") according to the invention thus serves for the customer-oriented design of hydrolysis reactors.

The central step in achieving this is a modular segmentation of the hydrolysis reactors along the axial axis.

With the help of this segmentation it is possible to respond individually to customer wishes, in which constructive individual solutions can be created by combining standardized segments. Thus, on-site and during operation, it is possible to increase and / or reduce production capacity by adjusting the height of the reactors by adding, removing and modifying segments.

In addition, there is an easy way to improve the static safety of the hydrolysis reactors. As can be seen, it is essential to provide segment connections, such as flanges, on the end faces of the segments to connect them. These flange connections can also be used for static support, so that each segment is statically securely intercepted. Thus, individual segments can be removed in case of maintenance and / or revision, without the statics of the segments is endangered. The same applies if the system is to be modified in its function. It is also conceivable to segment individual segments vertically for the revision / modification vertically, so that in the case of revision and / or modification only a part of the segment must be removed.

This increase in static safety means that it is possible to dispense with the reinforcement emphasized in patent DE 50 2007 008069 by means of "fiber-reinforced reactor protection".

The following plastics and their mixtures are suitable for use in the reactors according to the invention: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (PVC-C), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene (PB), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), perfluoro-ethylene-propylene plastic (FEP), perchlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), perfluorinated rubber (FFPM and FFKM), butyl rubber (HR), isoprene rubber (IR), chlorinated polyethylene (PE-_C), rubber (generic term for rubbers with sulfur), and copolymers and blends of these polymers, rubber (generic term for rubbers with sulfur), and copolymers and blends. An embedding in a matrix of concrete, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene (PB), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as well as copolymers and blends, lignin in pure and polymerized with formaldehyde, is at liberty.

In the functional design of the segments, the following configurations have proven successful. All reactor segments are cylindrical, prismatic or conical segments which have a cylindrical, prismatic or conically vertically continuous free interior and which are provided at the end faces with a device which can be closed in a volatile manner, for example flanges, but these segments are variable but static firmly to fix. The reactor segment is preferably a simple segment, a cylindrical one

Sieve segment, a cylindrical membrane segment, a branch segment, a double wall segment, a pump / squish segment, a revision segment, a conical segment or a radial segment.

The reactor according to the invention preferably has one or more of the following segments:

a. simple segments that do not contain any other internals,

b. cylindrical sieve segments having a cylindrical tubular sieve insert for discharging liquids and retaining coarse particles and having external drains / tubes to ensure the supply and removal of the liquids through the sieve,

c. cylindrical membrane segments having a cylindrical tubular membrane insert, said membrane being designed to be permeable to liquids and external drains / tubes connected to said membrane insert such that liquids are passed through the membrane,

d. Branch segments that are a simple segment after a. provided with external connections which connect the interior with external equipment without the need for particulate retention, e. Double wall segments containing a concentrically positioned sealed insert forming with the inner wall a sealed chamber connected to external means via externally mounted connections, f. Pumping and squeezing segments which contain an internal deformable membrane which, by applying an overpressure or underpressure, can change the free space within the segment and thus cause a pumping and peristaltic effect, the membrane being permeable to liquids in pumping and squeezing segments can be designed

G. Revision segments that represent segments corresponding to a to f that have a manhole for revision or are vertically segmented,

H. conical segments containing all the aforementioned segments according to a to g with the difference that the cross-sectional area of their end faces varies in size, without changing the shape of the cross section, and i. radial segments, which are not segments according to claims a to h, but to planar elements which are attached to and / or between the aforementioned segments. These are preferably lids, Radialsiebe and radial membranes.

According to the invention, the following segments are used:

Simple segment: Contains no other internals and serves as the main reaction space for the hydrolysis.

Cylindrical sieve element: Contains a cylindrical, tubular sieve insert, which (see Figure 1) serves to discharge liquids and retain coarse particles. This segment has external drains / pipes for the supply and discharge of the liquids through the sieve.

Cylindrical membrane element: Like "Cylindrical sieve element", except that a membrane permeable to liquids takes over the function of the sieve.

Branching segment: A simple segment with external connections that can connect the interior to external equipment without the need for particulate retention.

Double Wall Segment: Contains a concentrically positioned sealed insert that forms a closed chamber with the inner wall, which is connected to external devices via external connections. Here, cooling media can be passed through.

Pumping and squeezing segment: An internal deformable membrane can change the free space within the segment by applying an overpressure or underpressure and thus cause a pumping and peristaltic effect. The design of this membrane, as permeable to liquids is possible. Introduction of liquids and mixing can be linked together. Revision segments: The aforementioned segments that have a manhole for revision or are vertically segmented.

Tapered Segments: All of the aforementioned segments can be modified by varying in the cross-sectional area of their faces without altering the shape of the cross-section. Radial segments: These are not segments in the usual sense, but are planar elements that are attached to and / or between the aforementioned segments. These are covers, radial sieves and radial membranes.

In one embodiment, the reactor according to the invention consists of six segments, a simple segment which serves as the main reaction space for the hydrolysis, two cylindrical sieve elements with cylindrical tubular sieve inserts, each closed upwards and downwards with a lid, and a conical segment. On the underside a sieve element is arranged to which the conical element connects upwards in the vertical direction. Above the conical segment, the simple segment is arranged, which is connected to the top with the second screen element.

The invention further relates to a static support system for hydrolysis reactors, characterized in that the reactors are intercepted in segments and thus a modification, on-site inspection can be made without the static safety of all other elements is in danger.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment. To recognize are four segments (1, 2, 3, 4), which touch each other. The upper segment (1) and lower segment (4) are cylindrical inlet and outlet segments through which, depending on the mode of operation, hydrogen halides of different concentrations can be introduced or removed. They each contain a sieve insert (5), which lets liquids through, but retains coarse particles. Enclosed by sieve insert (5) and outer wall (6) there is a chamber (7), which allows the connection of the reactor via external tubes (8) with Flanschanschüssen (9). Above the lowest segment (4) is a conical segment (3). It has two functions. First, the static load on the lower lid (10a) minimizes, which must be absorbed by means of lid fasteners. Second, certain biomass dwindle in volume during hydrolysis as carbohydrates are dissolved out. The reduction of the diameter ensures that these biomass with opening the lower Lid (10a) does not fall out in one piece and thus can be removed in a metered manner.

The cylindrical segment (2) contains the main hydrolysis chamber (1 1) and can be customized in volume according to customer requirements.

The reactor segments (1, 2, 3, 4) each have at their lower end flanges (12), via which they are connected to the respectively underlying reactor segment or the lower lid (10 a). Likewise, the reactor segments at their upper end flanges (13), via which they are connected to the respective overlying reactor segment or the upper lid (10 b).

Reference symbol upper segment 1

Segment 2

conical segment 3

lower segment 4

Sieve insert 5

Outer wall 6

Chamber 7

Pipes 8

Flange connection 9

lower lid 10a

Main hydrolysis room 1 1

Flange 12

Flange 13

Claims

claims

1 . Segmented reactor for the hydrolysis of biomass from tubular and / or cylindrical and / or prismatic and / or conical hollow segments, wherein the hollow segments have a cylindrical or prismatic or conical vertically continuous free interior and have at their end faces devices, static about the two segments can be firmly linked and the reactor has at least two segments.

2. Reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the segments of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (PVC-C), polyethylene ^), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene (PB), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), perfluoro-ethylene-propylene plastic (FEP), perchlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), perfluorinated rubber (FFPM and FFKM),

Butyl rubber (HR), isoprene rubber (IR), chlorinated polyethylene (PE-_C), rubber and mixtures of these polymers,

are made.

3. Reactor according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the segments are surrounded by a casing consisting of concrete, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene (PB), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ) and their copolymers and mixtures thereof, lignin in pure and lingin polymerized with formaldehyde exists.

4. Reactor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reactor segment is a simple segment and contains no other internals.

5. Reactor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reactor segment is a cylindrical sieve segment and has a cylindrical, tubular sieve insert, which serves to dissipate liquids and coarse particles and that this cylindrical sieve segment has external drains / tubes to ensure the supply and discharge of the liquids through the sieve.

6. Reactor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reactor segment is a cylindrical membrane segment and has a cylindrical, tubular membrane insert and external discharges / pipes, wherein the membrane is designed to be permeable to liquids and the external discharges / pipes with this Membrane insert are connected so that liquids are passed through the membrane.

7. Reactor according to claim 4, characterized in that the reactor segment is provided with external connections which connect the interior with external devices.

8. Reactor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reactor segment is a double wall segment and contains a concentrically positioned closed insert and having outer terminals, wherein the insert with the inner wall forms a sealed chamber, which via the externally mounted connections with external facilities is connected.

9. Reactor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reactor segment is a pumping and crushing segment and contains an inner deformable membrane, which changes the application of an excess or negative pressure, the free space within the segment and thus a pumping and cause peristaltic action.

10. Reactor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reactor segment is a revision segment and has a manhole for revision or is vertically segmented.

1 1. Reactor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reactor segment is a conical segment and the cross-sectional area of its end faces varies in size, without changing the shape of the cross section.

12. Reactor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reactor segment is a radial segment which is a planar element and is attached to and / or between the reactor segments according to one of claims 3 to 1 1, preferably a cover, a Radialsieb or a radial membrane.

13. Hydrolysis reactor for the hydrolysis of biomasses, which is composed of reactor segments according to claims 1 to 12.

14. Hydrolysis reactor according to claim 13, characterized in that it consists of simple segments and / or cylindrical sieve segments and / or cylindrical membrane segments and / or branch segments and / or double wall segments and / or pump / Quetschsegmenten and / or revision segments and / or conical segments and / or radial segments.

15. Use of a reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for the hydrolysis of biomass.