| ANDRITZ INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120125549 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING A LIGNOCELLULOSIC MATERIAL WITH ENZYMES - A method to treat a lignocellulosic material including: performing a steam explosion reaction on the lignocellulosic material and discharging a slurry from the; adding an alkali material to the slurry in a first conveyor; transferring the slurry with the alkali material from the first conveyor to a second conveyor; adding an enzyme solution to the slurry while in, entering or at the discharge of the second conveyor; transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the second conveyor slurry to a mixer; mixing the slurry in the mixer, wherein a second portion of the enzyme solution is added to the slurry during the mixing, and transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the mixer to a first reactor vessel wherein the slurry in the first reactor vessel undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis such that the viscosity of the slurry is reduced in the first reactor vessel. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120122162 | ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF PRE-TREATED BIOMASS - This disclosure relates to a method for performing high solids saccharification comprising by (a) providing a cellulosic biomass; (b) pretreating the cellulosic biomass in a pretreatment process to produce a pretreated cellulosic biomass; (c) adjusting said pretreated cellulosic biomass to a solids concentration of 6% to 35% w/w and a starting pH of between 5-7; and (d) hydrolyzing the pretreated biomass with at least one aqueous hydrolyzing liquid comprising at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of a cellulase, a saccharification enzyme, and a combination thereof for a period of time, to hydrolyze at least a part of the pretreated cellulosic biomass to a cellulosic hydrolysate, said cellulosic hydrolysate comprising fermentable sugars. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120041186 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREEXTRACTION OF HEMICELLULOSE THROUGH USING A CONTINUOUS PREHYDROLYSIS AND STEAM EXPLOSION PRETREATMENT PROCESS - A method including: pretreating biomass feed stock in a first pressurized reactor, wherein the feed stock undergoes hydrolysis in the first pressurized reactor; discharging the feed stock from the first pressurized reactor to a pressurized sealing device having a first pressurized coupling to a feedstock discharge port of the first pressurized reactor; maintaining a vapor phase in the first pressurized reactor by injecting steam; washing the feed stock; draining dissolved hemi-cellulosic material extracted from the feed stock; discharging the feed stock from the pressurized sealing device through a second pressurized coupling to a second pressurized reactor; in the second pressurized reactor, infusing cells of the feed stock with steam or water vapor, and rapidly releasing the pressure applied to the feed stock to cause steam expansion in the cells of the feed stock and refine the feed stock. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120031574 | CHIP FEED AND STEAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BATCH DIGESTER - A method for chemically digesting cellulosic fibrous material including: adding a liquor to cellulosic fibrous material to form a slurry in a chip feed system; transporting the slurry from the chip feed system to a batch digester vessel; determining when a chip level rises above an extraction screen in the batch digester vessel; after the chip level rises above the extraction screen, extracting liquor from the batch digester vessel while the transport continues of the slurry into the batch digester vessel; adding cooking liquor to slurry in the batch digester vessel; ceasing the transport of the slurry into the batch digester vessel and thereafter converting the cellulosic material in the vessel to a pulp, and discharging the pulp from the batch digester vessel before restarting the transporting of the slurry into the digester vessel. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120018549 | REFINER PLATES HAVING STEAM CHANNELS AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING BACKFLOW STEAM FROM A DISK REFINER - A refining plate for refining lignocellulosic material including: a radially outer peripheral edge and a substrate surface; a refining zone having a plurality of substantially radially disposed bars and grooves between the bars, wherein the bars protrude upward from the substrate surface and the grooves each have a groove width, and a steam channel traversing the bars and grooves of the refining zone, wherein the steam channel has a radially outer end radially inward of the outer peripheral edge of the plate and the steam channel has a width substantially greater than the groove width. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110303217 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL IN A MULTI-STEP PROCESS TO PRODUCE C5 AND C6 SUGARS USING A SINGLE VESSEL - A system and method for extracting C | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110290238 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL IN A TWO-STEP PROCESS - A system and method for extracting pentose from a slurry of cellulosic material comprising cellulose, water, and optionally acid in a two-stage process. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110281298 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO EXTRACTED AND REDUCE DISSOLVED HEMI-CELLULOSIC SOLIDS IN BIOMASS FOLLOWING PRE-HYDROLYSIS - A method to wash and remove dissolved solids from biomass including: discharging a biomass slurry from a pretreatment vessel to a biomass slurry retention device; adding recovered wash liquid to dilute the biomass slurry in the retention device, wherein the recovered wash liquid is extracted from a drainer device upstream of the first retention device; discharging the diluted biomass slurry from the retention device to the drainer device; separating wash liquid with dissolved solids from the diluted biomass slurry in the drainer device and discharging a concentrated biomass slurry from the drainer device, and recovering the wash liquid from the diluted biomass slurry in the drainer device and transferring the recovered wash liquid to the retention device. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110186659 | SHATTER JET NOZZLE WITH MULTIPLE STEAM SOURCES AND METHOD FOR DISRUPTING SMELT FLOW TO A BOILER - A method to disrupt a smelt flow including: arranging a shatter jet nozzle assembly to direct a jet of disrupting fluid against the smelt flowing from a recovery boiler to a dissolving tank; supplying the disrupting fluid to the shatter jet nozzle assembly from a first source of disrupting fluid to form the jet directed against the smelt flow while a second source does not provide disrupting fluid to the shatter jet nozzle, and supplying the disrupting fluid from both the first source and the second source flow to the shatter jet nozzle assembly to form the jet of disrupting fluid directed against the smelt flow. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110155828 | MECHANICAL PULPING REFINER PLATE HAVING CURVED REFINING BARS WITH JAGGED LEADING SIDEWALLS AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING PLATES - A method of mechanically refining lignocellulosic material in a refiner having opposing refiner plates including: introducing the material to an inlet in one of the opposing refiner plates or array of plate segments; rotating at least one of the plates with respect to the other plate, wherein the material moves radially outward through a gap between the plates due to centrifugal forces created by the rotation; passing the material over bars in a refining section of a first one the plates and through grooves between the bars, wherein the bars each include a sidewall with an irregular surface, and discharging the material from the gap at a periphery of the refiner plates. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110120663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THIN CHIP DIGESTER COOKING - A method to cook thin chips in a continuous digester vessel including: introducing thin chips having a thickness of no more than 6 mm, into a chip bin; adding white (cooking) liquor to the chip bin or to a chip transport passage extending from the chip bin to an upper inlet of the continuous digester vessel; injecting medium pressure steam or another heated fluid to an upper region of the digester vessel to elevate a cooking temperature of the chips in the vessel to at least 130 degrees Celsius; cooking the chips in the vessel as the chips flow downward through the vessel without substantial extraction or introduction of liquor in the cooking section of the vessel; injecting wash liquid to a lower region of the vessel; extracting at least wash liquid through a wash liquid extraction screen in the lower region of the vessel and above the injection of the wash liquid, and discharging the cooked thin chips from the lower region of the vessel. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110111485 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS TO TREAT BIOMASS PILES WITH ENZYMES - A method for processing biomass including: conveying biomass to a pile of biomass on a platform; maintaining the biomass in the pile in a wetted condition, such that the biomass has a pH level in a predetermined pH range and a temperature in a predetermined temperature range; applying an enzyme to the biomass in the pile, wherein the enzyme extracts hemicelluloses from cellulosic fibrous material in the biomass; draining liquid from the pile of the biomass; removing the extracted hemicelluloses from the drained liquid, and returning to the pile at least a portion of the drained liquid after removal of the extracted hemicelluloses. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20100317053 | PROCESS MACHINERY FOR FEEDING PRE-TREATED LIGNOCELLULOSIC MATERIALS INTO BIOREACTORS FOR BIO-FUELS AND BIOCHEMICALS - Methods for mixing a pretreated cellulosic biomass feedstock using a centrifugal mixer prior to reactions in a bioreactor. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100314062 | GAS FREE VALVE FOR PULP VACUUM WASHER AND METHOD - A method of treating pulp on a porous surface of a rotating drum cylinder having a lower drum portion in a vat of pulp slurry and a radial array of filtrate conduits including: as the porous surface of the drum rotates through the vat, drawing filtrate from the slurry through the porous surface by the application of a suction to the filtrate conduits vacuum; draining the filtrate from the filtrate conduits into the filtrate chamber and to a filtrate suction conduit extending to an elevation below the vat; forming a pulp mat on the porous surface which passes filtrate and substantially blocks fibers in the pulp slurry; removing the pulp mat on the porous surface from the vat as the drum rotates; draining filtrate from the filtrate suction conduit, and before excessive gases passing through the porous surface enter the filtrate conduits, switching a fluid flow downstream of the filtrate conduits to a gas vent passage offset and below from a drum rotational axis. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100314055 | COMPACT FEED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMINUTED CELLULOSIC MATERIAL - A feed system for a comminuted cellulosic material including: a chip bin having an upper chip inlet, an interior chamber oriented generally vertically and a lower discharge port; at least one liquor inlet to the chip bin to inject liquor in the chip bin, wherein the chip bin retains sufficient liquor and chips within the interior chamber to create a hydraulic pressure on the chips at the lower discharge port; a generally horizontally oriented chip conveyor or tube coupled to the lower discharge port to receive the chips and liquor from the bin under the hydraulic pressure, wherein the conveyor or tube includes liquor injectors which inject liquor into the chips and the conveyor or tube, and a high pressure transfer device coupled to a discharge of the conveyor or tube to receive the chips and liquor, whereby the hydraulic pressure of the chips and liquor at the discharge of the chip bin is sufficient to feed the chips and liquor to the high pressure transfer device. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100294864 | REFINER STATOR PLATE HAVING AN OUTER ROW OF TEETH SLANTED TO DEFLECT PULP AND METHOD FOR PULP DEFLECTION DURING REFINING - A method of refining celluosic fiber material between opposing discs in a refiner including: feeding the fiber material to between the discs; rotating at least one of the discs to propel the fiber material radially outward and between the discs; refining the refining material by passing the material through rows of intermeshing teeth on the opposing discs; and deflecting the refining material as the material flows through an outer row of teeth on one of discs, wherein the teeth in the outer row have a leading sidewall angled to deflect pulp material moving radially between the teeth. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100269991 | DEFLAKER PLATE AND METHODS RELATING THERETO - A deflaker plate for use in a deflaker for reducing fibrous flakes in a slurry of fibers. The deflaker plate may include at least one annular ring consisting of multiple teeth, in which at least one tooth has a leading face, a trailing face, and an impact-generating side-face. The impact-generating side-face may be adapted to generate an impact force during operation, such that the force corresponds to a first vector radially pushing the slurry towards a center of the deflaker and a second vector tangentially pushing the slurry towards the leading face. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100266351 | UNOBSTRUCTED LOW PRESSURE OUTLET AND SCREEN GRID FOR A HIGH PRESSURE FEEDER - A rotary high pressure feeder for processing cellulosic fibrous material including: a rotor rotatable about an axis and comprising at least one pocket comprising a conduit extending through the rotor in a direction perpendicular to the axis and having end openings at opposite ends of the pocket, wherein each of said end openings of each pocket functions as both an inlet and outlet depending upon an angular position of the rotor within a housing; the housing encloses said rotor and said housing includes a low pressure inlet port and a low pressure outlet port aligned vertically, and a high pressure inlet port and a high pressure outlet port aligned horizontally, wherein the ports are arranged on the housing for registry with the end openings of at least one pocket, and a screen grid seated in or adjacent to the low pressure outlet port, wherein the screen grid includes an array of screen slots and bars forming a uniform pattern of slots and bars extending without interruption across an entirety of the low pressure outlet port. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100263813 | GREEN LIQUOR PRETREATMENT OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC MATERIAL - A continuous process for producing a chemical grade pulp, the process comprising the steps of: (a) steaming lignocellulosic material for a first period of time between 1 and 60 minutes; (b) after steaming, impregnating the steamed lignocellulosic material in an impregnation vessel with green liquor for a second period of time up to 5 minutes and at a temperature between 110° C. and 150° C.; and (c) after impregnation, continuously cooking the lignocellulosic material in a digester to produce a chemical grade pulp. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100236733 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO GENERATE STEAM IN A DIGESTER PLANT OF A CHEMICAL PULP MILL - A method for generating steam in a digester plant of a chemical pulp mill including: producing black liquor in the digester plant, extracting a first stream of black liquor from the digester; generating vapor by evaporating the first stream of black liquor by heating the first stream with fresh steam; heating fibrous material in the digester with the generated vapor from the evaporated first stream of black liquor; extracting a second stream of black liquor from the digester; flashing the second stream of black liquor to generate flashed black liquor and flashed black liquor vapor; introducing the flashed black liquor vapor to at least one heat exchanger to indirectly heat a clean evaporable liquid to produce clean steam from the clean evaporable liquid; and steaming, with the clean steam produced in the at least one heat ex-changer, cellulosic feed material before feeding the cellulosic feed material to the digester plant. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100224340 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING A MOVING WEB HAVING TRANSITIONS IN A SURFACE ADJACENT THE WEB - A web stabilizer adapted to stabilize a web moving across a span between two components of a web machine or machines, the stabilizer including: a surface facing and adjacent the moving web, and at least one transition in the surface of the stabilizer, wherein the transition is a protrusion or recess in the surface between a leading edge of the stabilizer facing a direction of web travel and a trailing edge of the stabilizer. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100224335 | HEAT RECOVERY FROM SPENT COOKING LIQUOR IN A DIGESTER PLANT OF A CHEMICAL PULP MILL - A method for heating white liquor or a mixture of white liquor and another liquid for use in a digester system of a chemical pulp mill, the method including the steps of: producing black liquor in the digester system; extracting black liquor from the digester system, flashing the extracted black liquor and thereby generating flashed black liquor and flash vapor; directing the flash vapor through a heat exchanger to heat a white liquor flowing through the heat exchanger; the flashed black liquor flows to at least one of a heat recovery or evaporation stage, and the heated white liquor flows to the digester system. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100213305 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING A MOVING WEB - An apparatus for causing an air movement in a cross-machine direction and substantially parallel with a stabilizer surface adjacent a moving web, the apparatus positioned adjacent the stabilizer at or outside a sheet edge of the stabilizer, the apparatus directing a fluid movement in a direction moving away from the side edges of the moving web to stabilize the edges of the web. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100213142 | LIME MUD VACUUM FILTER WASHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method to clean a drum of a vacuum dryer including: rotating the drum about an axis in a first direction to form the cake of material on the drum as it moves through a vat of the material, wherein an outer layer of the cake is a precoat layer formed from the material in the vat; drawing filtrate through the cake and filter on the drum to a network of conduits in the drum, wherein the precoat layer thickens as the filtrate is removed: mechanically scraping at least a portion of the precoat layer from the cake; discharging a wash liquid from a row of nozzles of a wash structure, wherein the wash liquid is discharged in a sequence in which one of the nozzles in the row discharges the wash liquid while other nozzles in the row are not applying the wash liquid to the drum. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100205796 | METHOD TO ASSEMBLE WASH LIQUID SPRAY NOZZLES FOR A PULP MAT - A method to assemble a nozzle-fastener assembly including: inserting a hollow stem through a wash liquid direction device; inserting the hollow stem through a mounting block; positioning an inside surface of the mounting block against a curved surface of a wash liquid distribution pipe and an outside surface of the block against the wash liquid direction device; attaching the nozzle-fastener to an aperture in the pipe such that an inlet to the hollow stem is in fluid communication with a wash liquid passage in the pipe, wherein the stem extends through the mounting block and the wash liquid direction device, and the stem includes a outlet for the wash liquid passing through the hollow stem and to the wash liquid direction device, and wherein the wash liquid direction device and mounting block are held together by the attachment of the nozzle-fastener to the aperture in the wash liquid pipe. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100155003 | CYLINDRICAL BEARING FOR PRESSURE DIFFUSER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A bearing cylinder for a screen assembly of a pressurized pulp diffuser, the bearing cylinder including: a plurality of segments of the bearing cylinder wherein the segments are arranged side-by-side to form the bearing cylinder; and each of said segments includes a first region formed of a hard material resistant to damage from sand and rocks, and a second region formed of a soft material that thermally expands and conforms to bearing surfaces opposite to the bearing cylinder. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100116267 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING, PRESSING AND WASHING BIOMASS - A biomass cooking device including: a treatment vessel having an biomass inlet adapted to receive biomass material to a processing chamber of the vessel, a biomass outlet adapted to discharge from the processing chamber the biomass material processed in the vessel, an extraction region of the vessel and a liquids outlet to the extraction region to discharge dissolved hemi-cellulosic material extracted from the biomass material in the processing chamber; a piston press in the cooking vessel defining a moveable wall of the processing chamber, wherein the piston press moves to reduce the processing chamber and thereby compress the biomass material; and a screen plate in the vessel forming a barrier between the processing chamber and an extraction region of the vessel, the screen plate having apertures to pass the dissolved hemi-cellulosic material through the screen plate from the processing chamber to the extraction region. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100108447 | ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED STORM BRAKE FOR CRANE AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING THE BRAKE - A storm brake for a truck assembly supporting a large industrial device, wherein the truck assembly includes a truck chassis having a mount to support the device and a wheel engaging a raceway along which the truck assembly and device are to travel, the storm brake including: a storm brake shoe pivotably mounted to the truck chassis, wherein the storm brake shoe has a first pivot position in which the brake does not engage the raceway and a second pivot position in which the brake engages the raceway, wherein the storm brake shoe pivots in a direction generally aligned with a direction movement of the truck assembly along the raceway; an actuator having an extendable linkage coupled to the storm brake shoe and at an opposite end to a fixed mounting on the truck chassis, wherein extension of the linkage pivots the storm brake from the first position to the second position, and the fixed mounting provides a slidable engagement between the opposite end of the actuator and the truck chassis. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100089723 | CHIP STACKER HAVING OUTER SUPPORT FOR TRUSS AND METHOD FOR TURNING TRUSS WITH THE SUPPORT - A material stacking device including: an elevated truss supported at opposite ends by first and second pillars, the first pillar includes a pivot allowing the truss to pivot about the location of the first pillar and the second pillar moving in an arc as the truss turns about the first pillar, and a material conveyor extending at least part way along the truss and discharging material to be deposited to an upper section of a material pile below the truss. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100071864 | HINGED SCREEN PLATE FOR DRUM PULP WASHER AND METHOD FOR CLEANING THE PLATE - A pulp washer including: a cylindrical assembly of trays to receive pulp, wherein the assembly rotates the trays through at least one wash stage; a housing having a header to direct pulp to the trays and the at least one wash stage, wherein the housing has at least one access port aligned with one or more of the trays; a screen plate in each tray of the assembly, wherein the screen plate has apertures sized to retain pulp fibers and allow liquid to pass through the plate, and a screen hinge attached to a side edge of the screen plate and to the tray, wherein the screen plate pivots about the hinge to allow a cleaning spray to be applied to an outer screen plate surface and a back screen plate surface. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20090318679 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL IN A TWO-STEP PROCESS - A system and method for extracting pentose from a slurry of cellulosic material comprising cellulose, water, and optionally acid in a two-stage process. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090308383 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL IN A MULTI-STEP PROCESS TO PRODUCE C5 AND C6 SUGARS USING A SINGLE VESSEL - A system and method for extracting C | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090288789 | MEDIUM CONSISTENCY REFINING METHOD OF PULP AND SYSTEM - A thermomechanical pulping method including: refining pulp with a high consistency refining stage, and a medium consistency refining stage processing the refined pulp discharge from the high consistency refining stage. Chemical pretreatments for improving pulp quality development during medium consistency refining can be optionally added at the pressurized chip press, fiberizer pre-refining step, primary high consistency refining step, and/or the standpipe feeding the medium consistency refiner. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090230226 | FACE MOUNTED INSTALLATION FIXTURE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A face-mounted carrier for transporting a refiner plate segment for refining lignocellulosic material to a refiner disk. The refiner plate segment may contain threads that facilitate bolting to the face-mounted carrier and bolting to the refiner disk. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090221814 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREEXTRACTION OF HEMICELLULOSE THROUGH USING A CONTINUOUS PREHYDROLYSIS AND STEAM EXPLOSION PRETREATMENT PROCESS - A system has been developed for pretreating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: a first pressurized reactor receiving the feed stock, wherein the feed stock undergoes hydrolysis in the first pressurized reactor; a sealing device having a first pressurized coupling to a feedstock discharge port of the first pressurized reactor, and a second pressurized coupling to a second pressurized reactor; a drain for a liquid including dissolved hemi-cellulosic material extracted from the feed stock in at least one of the first pressurized reactor and the sealing and extraction device; the second pressurized reactor assembly receiving the pressurized feed stock from the sealing device at a pressure substantially greater than the pressure in the first pressurized reactor, wherein cells of the feed stock are infused with water in the second pressurized reactor, and an expansion device downstream of the second pressurized reactor assembly, wherein the expansion device rapidly releases the pressure of the feed stock discharged from the second pressurized reactor such that the feed stock undergoes a steam explosion reaction. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090211439 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM A GAS IN A CENTRIFUGE - A separator for separating particulates from a gas stream including: a housing including a first cylindrical chamber defining a curved flow path for the gas stream passing through the separator and a second cylindrical chamber, wherein the first cylindrical chamber is adjacent the second cylindrical chamber and the chambers are separated by a dividing wall; a rotor assembly in the first cylindrical chamber; the first cylindrical chamber having an outer radial zone extending radially between the rotor assembly and the first cylindrical chamber; a flow inlet port to the first cylindrical chamber and a fiber outlet port to the first cylindrical chamber, wherein the inlet port and outlet port are each arranged aligned with the outer radial zone of the first chamber, and wherein the second cylindrical chamber is at a lower pressure such that gas from the gas stream is drawn through the gas passage. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090188641 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING DIGESTER OR IMPREGNATION VESSEL CHIP LEVEL BY MEASURING CHIP PRESSURE - A method and system for determining chip pressure in a vessel containing a slurry of lignocellulosic material including: sensing a total static pressure of the slurry in the vessel; sensing a hydrostatic pressure of the liquor in the vessel, and determining the chip pressure based on a difference of the sensed total static pressure of the slurry and the sensed hydrostatic pressure of the liquor. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090183632 | SCRUBBER WITH MULTIPLE VENTURIS - A scrubber removes matter (e.g., particulate, gaseous, or liquid) from a gas stream in order to recover the matter and/or to clean the gas. In particular aspects, the scrubber contains multiple venturis that may provide additional flexibility and increased efficiency. The invention also pertains to related methods. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090173812 | BAR AND GROOVE PATTERN FOR A REFINER PLATE AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSION REFINING - A refiner plate for a mechanical refining system, the plate including: a refining surface including bars and grooves, wherein the bars have a leading edge defined by an interior angle of between 150 degrees to 175 degrees. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090151880 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ENHANCE FIBER DEVELOPMENT BY ADDITION OF TREATMENT AGENT DURING MECHANICAL PULPING - A mechanical pulping method including: defibrating a comminuted cellulosic material; mechanically refining the defibrated cellulosic material in a primary refining step; introducing to the cellulosic material at least one of a chemical agent and a biological during the defibration step or the mechanical refining step, and producing pulp from the refined and defibrated cellulosic material. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090145989 | REFINER PLATE FIXTURES FOR QUICK REPLACEMENT, AND METHODS AND ASSEMBLIES THEREFOR - A refiner plate carrier for use in refining lignocellulosic material including a mounting mechanism for mounting to a refiner plate segment and not a rotor or stator disk. The combined plate carrier and refiner plate segment may be then attached to a refiner disk. The refiner plate carrier need not provide structural support to the segment during lignocellulosic refining. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090142147 | MONITORING AND ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A HIGH PRESSURE FEEDER IN A CELLULOSE CHIP FEEDING SYSTEM FOR A CONTINUOUS DIGESTER - A method and computer controlled apparatus to control fluid leakage in a high pressure feeder and a stationary housing with a chamber in which rotates a pocket rotor. The method includes: monitoring the fluid leakage from the high pressure feeder, wherein the fluid leakage is discharged from a low pressure outlet of the high pressure feeder; determining whether the fluid leakage is within a predefined range of acceptable fluid leakage, and moving the pocket rotor in the chamber to adjust the fluid leakage. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090126764 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING PAPER DUST - Methods and systems for collecting dust produced in paper making involve an air inlet passage including an opening to receive dust laden air. The opening to the inlet passage may have a width approximately equal to a width of a paper web in a paper making machine. The air inlet passage is devoid of water injection. The dust collector may include a central vortex chamber and may be defined by an outer wall and an internal guide vane. There may be a water injector mounted in the outer wall and injecting water into the central vortex chamber, and there may be a discharge outlet of the central vortex chamber connectable to a water and air separator. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090095430 | TREATMENT VESSEL FOR STRAW OR OTHER LIGHT BULKY MATERIAL - A method to chemically treat light weight, bulky cellulosic material including: introducing the material to an upper inlet of a substantially vertical treatment vessel; maintaining the material in the vessel at a pressure of at least 20 bar and at a temperature of at least 200° C.; treating the material with a cooking liquor in the vessel; moving the material past at least one anti-compression ring on an inside surface of the vessel, as the material moves downward through the vessel; agitating the material in the vessel, and discharging the treated material from a lower discharge port of the vessel. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090038767 | Method and System for Semi-Chemical Pulping - Method and apparatus for minimizing adherence of lignin to an extraction screen in a semi-chemical pulping process. The method and apparatus generally relate to supplying white liquor and NaOH to as to increase the pH of cooking liquor at or near an extraction screen. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090032208 | PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR THE BLEACHING OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC PULPS FOLLOWING COOKING WITH SODA AND ANTHRAQUINONE - Process for bleaching of pulps following cooking of the lignocellulosic material with soda and anthraquinone. The process may produce a whiteness on par with the bleaching of kraft pulp when using a similar bleaching sequence. In some instances, the bleaching sequence may be O-A-Do-Eop-D, O-A-ZDo-Eop-D, A-Do, or A-ZDO. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090020480 | DEGASSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM LIQUIDS AND POSSIBLY SOLIDS - A degasser having a flapper opening including a hinge. The hinge may permit purging of any liquids and solids without regular human intervention. There may be a fixed opening at the base of the degasser, such that there is a constant emptying from the bottom of the tank. The separation of gas from liquid may be involved in applications pertaining to pulping and oxygen delignification. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090020244 | IMPREGNATION VESSEL WITH CONVERGENCE SIDE RELIEF AND METHOD FOR HEAT INJECTION AT CONVERGENCE - An impregnation vessel including: a vessel container including an upper inlet to receive cellulosic material; a lower discharge port to discharge the cellulosic material from a discharge section of the vessel container; a convergence section internal to the vessel through which passes a flow of the cellulosic material in the vessel; a cavity between an internal wall of the vessel and the convergence section, wherein the cavity has a lower opening to the cellulosic material in the vessel and an upper section shielded from the flow of cellulosic material in the vessel, and an input port in the vessel and opening to the cavity, wherein the input port is connectable to a source of hot liquid to be added to the cellulosic material in the vessel. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20080314534 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIRECT CONTACT OF HOT LIQUOR WITH WOOD CHIPS IN TRANSFER CIRCULATION - A method for heating a chip slurry in a pulping system including an impregnation vessel and a chemical digesting vessel, the method including: impregnating chips in the impregnation vessel with a liquor; transporting the chips from the impregnation vessel to an upper elevation of the digester vessel; extracting liquor from a lower elevation of the digester vessel, wherein the extracted liquor has a temperature substantially higher than a temperature of the chips being transported to the upper elevation of the digester vessel, and adding extracted liquor from the lower elevation of the digester vessel to the chips being transported from the impregnation vessel to the digester vessel. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080302492 | TWO VESSEL REACTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYDROLYSIS AND DIGESTION OF WOOD CHIPS WITH CHEMICAL ENHANCED WASH METHOD - A reactor vessel system including: a first reactor vessel having a hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen, a first region above the extraction screen that is maintained at conditions promoting a hydrolysis reaction in the cellulosic material, a second region below the extraction screen in which the hydrolysis is substantially suppressed and a wash liquid inlet below the extraction screen providing wash liquid at a temperature below a hydrolysis temperature; a transport pipe having an inlet coupled to the first reactor vessel and an outlet coupled to a second reactor vessel, and the second reactor vessel includes a liquid discharge that extracts a portion of liquid from the second reactor vessel and directs the portion of liquid to the first reactor vessel or to the transport pipe. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080296419 | REFINER PLATES HAVING STEAM CHANNELS AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING BACKFLOW STEAM FROM A DISK REFINER - A refining plate for refining lignocellulosic material including: a radially outer peripheral edge and a substrate surface; a refining zone having a plurality of substantially radially disposed bars and grooves between the bars, wherein the bars protrude upward from the substrate surface and the grooves each have a groove width, and a steam channel traversing the bars and grooves of the refining zone, wherein the steam channel has a radially outer end radially inward of the outer peripheral edge of the plate and the steam channel has a width substantially greater than the groove width. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080295981 | SINGLE VESSEL REACTOR SYSTEM FOR HYDROLYSIS AND DIGESTION OF WOOD CHIPS WITH CHEMICAL ENHANCED WASH METHOD - A reaction vessel including: a material input receiving cellulosic material and a material discharge for the cellulosic material, wherein the cellulosic material flows through the reaction vessel from the material input to the material discharge; a hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen; a hydrolysis zone between the material input and the hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen; a wash zone between the hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen and a wash liquid extraction screen; a wash liquid inlet port for introducing a wash liquid into the wash zone, wherein at least a portion of the wash liquid entering the wash liquid inlet port flows through the wash zone and is extracted by the hydrolysate and liquid extraction screen; a cooking zone between the wash zone and the material discharge and a cooking liquor extraction screen at or below the cooking zone and above the material discharge. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080277082 | HIGH PRESSURE COMPRESSOR AND STEAM EXPLOSION PULPING METHOD - A steam explosion pulping method including: impregnating a cellulosic biomass feed material in a pressurized reactor vessel; discharging the impregnated feed material from the vessel to a high pressure compressor; elevating a pressure of the feed material in the compressor; discharging the pressurized feed material from the compressor to a conduit coupled to a blow valve; rapidly reducing pressure of the pressurized feed material as the feed material passes through the blow valve, and pulping the feed material by expansion of fluid in the feed material during the rapid pressure reduction. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080257511 | OUTLET DEVICE FOR A PRESSURIZED VESSEL HAVING A COMBINED RADIAL BEARING AND HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTOR - An outlet device and motor assembly for a pressured vessel is disclosed, where the assembly includes: a generally vertical drive shaft extending below and through the vessel and coupled to a rotating mechanism within the vessel; a stationary outlet housing supporting the drive shaft; a thrust bearing mounted on the outlet housing and around the drive shaft to rotationally engage the drive shaft; a hydraulic drive coupled to rotationally drive the drive shaft, and a radial bearing mounted around the drive shaft to rotationally engage the drive shaft and said radial bearing is at or below the hydraulic drive. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080257506 | High capacity and high efficiency filter deck assembly system and method of use and replacement - A rotary drum filter has a plurality of longitudinally extending division grids mounted about the outer circumference of a drum. A plurality of corrugated sheets are provided, with the leading and trailing edges of each sheet mounted to circumferentially adjacent pairs of division grids to define filtrate compartments. An equivalent number of perforated filter plates are also provided. Each filter plate is attached to the top of a corrugated sheet and has a leading edge and a trailing edge that are set back from the leading edge and trailing edge of the corrugated sheet. A seal clip is positioned near the leading edge of each corrugated sheet. A seal member or seal members is/are held in place by the seal clip and is/are positioned at the face of the leading edge of each corrugated sheet or beneath and near the face or each corrugated sheet. A perforated cap strip can be removably attached to the top of each division grid to thereby retain for confined movement each filter plate and corrugated sheet combination (filter deck and drainage deck) during rotary drum filter operation and to allow easy replacement of the filter plate and corrugated sheet combination(s) and/or cap strip(s) when the rotary drum filter is not in operation. This rotary drum filter design and operation has increased capacity and efficiency. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080210795 | REFINER PLATES WITH HIGH-STRENGTH HIGH-PERFORMANCE BARS - A refiner plate for mechanical refiner of lingocelluosic material, the refiner plate including: a refining surface including bars and grooves, wherein the bars each have an upper section including a leading edge and a lower section including a root at a substrate of the plate; the upper section of the bars has a narrow width and a draft angle less than five degrees, and the lower section of the bars has a wide width greater than the narrow width of upper section and a draft angle of at least five degrees on at least one sidewall of the bar. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080202714 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE USE OF RECYCLED FILTRATE IN BLEACHING PULP - A system for the bleaching of lignocellulosic pulp including: a first oxygen reactor and a second oxygen reactor connected in series to the first oxygen reactor, wherein each reactor bleaches the pulp; an upstream pulp washer that washes pulp and discharges washed pulp to a first pulp conduit having an outlet coupled to the first oxygen reactor; an oxygen supply conduit connected to the first pulp conduit and supplying oxygen to the washed pulp flowing through the first pulp conduit; a downstream pulp washer that washes bleached pulp discharged from the second oxygen reactor; a filtrate conduit receiving filtrate discharged from the downstream pulp washer; a second pulp conduit receiving bleaches pulp discharged from the first oxygen reactor and conveying the bleached pulp to the second oxygen reactor, wherein the filtrate conduit is connected to the second pulp conduit such that at least a portion of the filtrate in the filtrate conduit flows into the second pulp conduit, and a second oxygen supply conduit connected to the second pulp conduit and introducing oxygen to the pulp flowing through the conduit. | 08-28-2008 |
