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NZ777258B2 - Thermal hydrolysis methods and plants - Google Patents

Thermal hydrolysis methods and plants Download PDF

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Publication number
NZ777258B2
NZ777258B2 NZ777258A NZ77725819A NZ777258B2 NZ 777258 B2 NZ777258 B2 NZ 777258B2 NZ 777258 A NZ777258 A NZ 777258A NZ 77725819 A NZ77725819 A NZ 77725819A NZ 777258 B2 NZ777258 B2 NZ 777258B2
Authority
NZ
New Zealand
Prior art keywords
pulper
liquid substrate
pressure
operated
flashtank
Prior art date
Application number
NZ777258A
Other versions
NZ777258A (en
Inventor
Hans Rasmus Holte
Andreas Helland Lilleb
Original Assignee
Cambi Technology As
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cambi Technology As filed Critical Cambi Technology As
Priority claimed from PCT/EP2019/082945 external-priority patent/WO2020126397A1/en
Publication of NZ777258A publication Critical patent/NZ777258A/en
Publication of NZ777258B2 publication Critical patent/NZ777258B2/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
    • C02F11/02—Biological treatment
    • C02F11/04—Anaerobic treatment; Production of methane by such processes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
    • C02F11/18—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by thermal conditioning
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/28—Anaerobic digestion processes
    • C02F3/2866—Particular arrangements for anaerobic reactors
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P2201/00—Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P5/00—Preparation of hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons
    • C12P5/02—Preparation of hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons acyclic
    • C12P5/023—Methane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/30—Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/50—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
    • Y02P20/582—Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials

Abstract

method for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature below about 50 °C, to be used in an anaerobic fermentation or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane. The method relies on the use of a first pulper under vacuum, an additional pulper, and one or several pressure reduction flashtanks in series respectively to perform the thermal hydrolysis. Steam produced from the one or several flashtanks is introduced into the pulpers to provide pre-heating of the liquid substrate within the pulpers. The use of flashsteam to pre-heat the liquid substrate prior to treatment is important for achieving a high energy efficiency and a low steam consumption.

Claims (21)

1. A method for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature below about 50 C, which liquid substrate is subsequently to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane in one or more reactors, wherein; - the same number of flashtanks and pulpers are used; - at least a first and a second pulper in series and at least a first and a second flashtank in series are used for step-wise pre-heating and pressure reduction, respectively, wherein: a) said liquid substrate is transferred to and preheated and mixed in said first pulper, which is operated at a temperature of 40 C to 90 C and at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from the second flashtank located downstream, which is operated at a higher pressure than said first pulper; b) said pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, under which said first pulper is being operated, is being maintained by a vacuum system working to maximize the condensation of any condensable vapors that are not condensed when passing through said liquid substrate in said first pulper; c) said preheated liquid substrate is transferred from said first pulper to said second pulper, which is operated at a temperature of 90 C to 135 C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 3.3 barA, and wherein said liquid substrate is subjected to further mixing and pre-heating, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said first flashtank located downstream, which is operated at a higher pressure than said second pulper; d) said further preheated liquid substrate is transferred from said second pulper to said one or more reactors working in parallel or series wherein said liquid substrate is heated to temperatures in the range of 140 C to 220 C, and at a pressure of 3.6 to 10 barA; e) said liquid substrate is transferred from said one or more reactors 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ working in series or parallel to said first flashtank operated at a temperature of 100 C to 140 C and at a pressure of 1 to 3.6 barA whereby a pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said pressure reduction is transferred to said second pulper operated at the temperature of 90 C to 135 C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 3.3 barA; f) said liquid substrate is transferred from said first flashtank to said second flashtank operated at a temperature of 70 C to 100 C and at a pressure of 0.35 to 1 barA, whereby a further pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said further pressure reduction in said second flashtank is transferred to said first pulper operated at the temperature of 40 C to 90 C and at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA by means of said vacuum system.
2. A method for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate according to claim 1 further comprising, transferring said liquid substrate from said second flashtank to a third flashtank whereby a further pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said further pressure reduction is transferred to an additional third pulper.
3. A method for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 % and a temperature below about 50 C, which liquid substrate is subsequently to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane in one or more reactors, wherein: - the number of flashtanks used is one less the number of pulpers used; - at least a first and a second pulper in series and at least one flashtank are used for step-wise pre-heating and pressure reduction, respectively; and wherein: a) said liquid substrate is transferred to and preheated and mixed in a first pulper, which is operated at a temperature of 40 C to 90 C and at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said at least one flashtank located downstream, which is operated at a higher pressure than said first pulper; 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ b) said pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, under which said first pulper is being operated, is being maintained by a vacuum system working to maximize the condensation of any condensable vapors that are not condensed when passing through said liquid substrate in said first pulper; c) said preheated liquid substrate is transferred from said first pulper to said second pulper, which is operated at a temperature of 90 °C to 135 °C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 3.3 barA, and wherein said liquid substrate is subjected to further mixing and pre-heating, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said one or more downstream reactors, which are operated at a higher pressure than said second pulper; d) said further preheated liquid substrate is transferred from said second pulper to said one or more reactors working in parallel or series wherein said liquid substrate is heated to temperatures in the range of 140 C to 220 C, , and at a pressure of 3.6 to 10 barA; e) said one or more reactors working in parallel or series is depressurized by transferring steam from a reactor headspace to said second pulper until the pressures of said one or more reactors working in parallel or series and said second pulper are in equilibrium following which said liquid substrate is transferred from said one or more reactors working in parallel or series to said at least one flashtank located downstream;
4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising transferring said liquid substrate from said at least one flashtank to an additional flashtank whereby a further pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said further pressure reduction is transferred to an additional third pulper.
5. A method according to one of claims 1,to 4 further comprising a vapor cooler, which is interconnected between said first pulper and said vacuum system, works to condense and remove any vapors condensable below the temperature under which said first pulper is being operated. 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ
6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising steps aimed at compressing the remaining non-condensable vapors from a headspace of said first pulper, which are neither condensed in said first pulper nor in said interconnected vapor cooler and steps aimed at injecting said compressed non-condensable vapors into an anaerobic digester for gas treatment.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer of said liquid substrate between pulpers, reactors, flashtanks is achieved at least partly by barometrical pumping.
8. A plant for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature of below about 50 C, which liquid substrate is subsequently to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane, said plant comprising: - the same number of flashtanks and pulpers, - at least a first and a second pulper being interconnected either directly or indirectly in series, - a vacuum system interconnected by piping to said first pulper, - one or more reactors working in parallel or series and being interconnected by piping to said second pulper, which is not interconnected to said vacuum system, - at least a first and a second flashtank: ? being interconnected either directly or indirectly in series, ? of which the first flashtank is interconnected by piping to said one or more reactors working in parallel or series, ? of which the second flashtank is individually interconnected by piping to the first pulper, and the first flashtank is individually interconnected by piping to the second pulper, and ? of which each is individually capable of being operated at a higher pressure than the one of the at least two pulpers with which it is individually interconnected by piping; and wherein: a) said first pulper is operated at a temperature of 40 °C to 115 °C and at a 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ pressure of 0.2 to 1.8 barA, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said downstream second flashtank to which it is individually interconnected; b) said vacuum system can maintain a pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, when said first pulper is to be operated below ambient pressure and is worked to maximize the condensation of any condensable vapors that are not condensed when passing through said liquid substrate in said first pulper; c) said second pulper is operated at a temperature of 90 °C to 174 °C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 8.7 barA, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said downstream first flashtank to which it is individually interconnected; d) said one or more reactors working in parallel or series is operated at temperatures in the range of 140 °C to 220 °C and at a pressure of 3.6 to 23.2 barA; e) said liquid substrate is transferred from said one or more reactors working in series or parallel to said first flashtank operated at a temperature of 100 °C to 176 °C and at a pressure of 1 to 9 barA whereby a pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said pressure reduction is transferred to said second pulper operated at the temperature of 90 °C to 174 °C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 8.7 barA; f) said liquid substrate is transferred from said first flashtank to said second flashtank operated at a temperature of 70 °C to 119 °C and at a pressure of 0.35 to 2 barA, whereby a further pressure reduction occurs, and wherefrom flash steam resulting from said further pressure reduction in said second flashtank is transferred to said first pulper operated at the temperature of 40 °C to 115 °C and at a pressure of 0.2 to 1.8 barA, if below ambient pressure by means of said vacuum system.
9. A plant for thermal hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature of below about 50 C, which liquid substrate is to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane, said plant comprising: - one more pulper(s) than flashtank(s), 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ - at least a first and a second pulper being interconnected either directly or indirectly in series, - a vacuum system interconnected by piping to said first pulper, - one or more reactors working in parallel or series and being interconnected by piping to said second pulper, which is not interconnected to said vacuum system - at least one flashtank: o being interconnected by piping to said one or more reactors working in parallel or series, o being interconnected by piping to said first pulper, and o being capable of being operated at a higher pressure than said first pulper with which it is individually interconnected by piping and wherein: a) said first pulper is operated at a temperature of 40 °C to 115 °C and at a pressure of 0.2 to 1.8 barA, by injection of flash steam below liquid level from said downstream flashtank to which it is interconnected; b) said vacuum system can maintain a pressure of 0.2 to 0.9 barA, when said first pulper is to be operated below ambient pressure and is worked to maximize the condensation of any condensable vapors that are not condensed when passing through said liquid substrate in said first pulper; c) said second pulper, is operated at a temperature of 90 °C to 174 °C and at a pressure of 0.7 to 8.7 barA; d) said one or more reactors working in parallel or series is operated at temperatures in the range of 140 C to 220 C, and at a pressure of 3.6 to 23.2 barA; e) said liquid substrate is transferred from said one or more reactors working in series or parallel to said flashtank, by depressurizing said one or more reactors working in parallel or series by transferring steam from a reactor headspace to said second pulper until the pressures of said one or more reactors working in parallel or series and said second pulper are in equilibrium following which said liquid substrate is transferred from said one or more reactors working in parallel or series to said flashtank.
10. A plant according to either of claims 8 or 9, further comprising a vapor cooler interconnected between said first pulper and said vacuum system, which is operated at a temperature below the temperature of said first pulper, thereby enabling the removal of 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ condensable vapors that are not condensed in said first pulper.
11. A plant according to claim 10, further comprising means for compressing remaining non-condensable vapors from a headspace of said first pulper, which are neither condensed in said first pulper nor in said interconnected vapor cooler and means forinjecting said compressed non-condensable vapors into an anaerobic digester or any other means for gas treatment.
12. A plant according to any one of claims 8-11, further comprising vessels to be used for at least the partial transfer of said liquid substrate by barometrical pumping.
13. A plant according to any one of claims 8-11, further comprising: - piping allowing for the transfer of said liquid substrate, having the dry solids content of between 2 and 30 % and the temperature below about 50 °C, directly to any of said at least two pulpers, said piping being equipped with one or more closing valve(s) enabling the selection of to which of said at least two pulpers said liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 % and a temperature below about 50 °C, is to be transferred; - connections by piping that enables the transfer of said liquid substrate from any of said at least two pulper(s) to any of said one or more reactors; - connections by piping that enables ventilation from any of said one or more reactors to any of said at least two pulpers; - connections by piping that enables the transfer of said liquid substrate from any of said one or more reactors to any of said one or more flash tank(s); - connections by piping that enables the by-passing of said vacuum system.
14. A method for retrofitting an existing plant for hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature below about 50 C which liquid substrate is to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane, whereby said retrofitting ensures that said plant comprises at least the features of the plant accordingto claim 8.
15. A method for retrofitting an existing plant for hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 %, and a temperature of below about 50 C, which liquid substrate is to be used in an anaerobic fermentation process or digestion process aimed at producing or extracting methane, whereby said retrofitting ensures that said plant comprises at least the features of the plant according to claim 9.
16. A method for retrofitting according to either of claims 14 or 15 further, comprising ensuring that said plant comprises a vapor cooler interconnected between said first pulper and said vacuum system, which is operated at a temperature below the temperature of said first pulper, thereby enabling the removal of condensable vapors that are not condensed in said first pulper.
17. A method for retrofitting according to claim 16, further comprising ensuring that said plant comprises means for compressing remaining non-condensable vapors from a headspace of said first pulper, which are neither condensed in said first pulper nor in said interconnected vapor cooler and means for injecting said compressed non- condensable vapors into an anaerobic digester for gas treatment.
18. A method for retrofitting according to any one of claims 14-17, wherein the transfer of said liquid substrate is achieved at least partly by barometrical pumping by a thermal transfer and mixing unit, connected to a live steam system pressurizing a vessel of said thermal transfer and mixing unit, and connected to a system to generate a vacuum to increase the filling rate of said vessel of said unit, and wherein said vessel of said unit is equipped to either discharge said liquid substrate to a reactor or return the substrate to a pre-heating vessel.
19. A method for retrofitting according to claim 18, wherein a volume of said thermal transfer and mixing unit is equal to the desired reactor fill volume.
20. A method for retrofitting according to claim 19, wherein said thermal transfer and mixing unit is used to measure reactor filling.
21. A method for retrofitting according to any one of claims 14-20, further comprising ensuring that said plant comprises: 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ - piping allowing for the transfer of said liquid substrate, having the dry solids content of between 2 and 30 % and the temperature below about 50 C, directly to any of said at least two pulpers, said piping being equipped with one or more closing valve(s) enabling the selection of to which of said at least two pulpers said liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30 % and a temperature below about 50 °C, is to be transferred; - connections by piping that enables the transfer of said liquid substrate from any of said at least two pulper(s) to any of said one or more reactors; - connections by piping that enables ventilation from any of said one or more reactors to any of said at least two pulpers; - connections by piping that enables the transfer of said liquid substrate from any of said one or more reactors to any of said one or more flash tank(s); - connections by piping that enables the by-passing of said vacuum system. 20672058_1 (GHMatters) P116482.NZ
NZ777258A 2019-11-28 Thermal hydrolysis methods and plants NZ777258B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18213186 2018-12-17
PCT/EP2019/082945 WO2020126397A1 (en) 2018-12-17 2019-11-28 Two-times-two tank process and system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
NZ777258A NZ777258A (en) 2024-03-22
NZ777258B2 true NZ777258B2 (en) 2024-06-25

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