Patents Assigned to Andritz, Inc.
  • Two vessel reactor system and method for hydrolysis and digestion of wood chips with chemical enhanced wash method
    Patent number: 9194080
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Namhee Shin, Bertil Stromberg, Ventzislav H. Kirov, William J. Cann
  • Method and apparatus for pre-heating recirculated flue gas to a dry scrubber during periods of low temperature
    Patent number: 9186625
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing exclusions in an air quality control system (AQCS) of a type having a scrubber, either a circulating fluidized bed (CFB), transport reactor (TR) or spray-dryer absorber SDA, and in all three cases with a flue gas recirculation FGR system. The invention automatically pre-heats flue gas recirculated to the input of the CFB/TR/SDA scrubber during periods of low temperature operation. The system supplements the “traditional” gas recirculation scheme with heater(s) that are used during periods of low temperature. During periods of low load conditions, the system monitors the SDA/TR/CFB inlet temperature and, when it falls below a setpoint, the control system increases the heat input of the pre-heater(s) in the FGR system in order to maintain a minimum inlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E Petty
  • Refiner plate having a smooth, wave-like groove and related methods
    Patent number: 9181654
    Abstract: A set of plate segments for refining comminuted cellulosic material including: a first plate segment and a second plate segment, wherein the first plate segment and the second plate segment each have a refining side configured to oppose the refining side on the other segment, and each of said refining sides includes a refining zone having bars and grooves between adjacent ones of the bars, wherein distance between the grooves in the first plate segment and the grooves in the second plate segment is substantially constant along an arc through the refining zone while the set is mounted to discs in a refiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Gingras
  • High solids enzyme reactor mixer with vertical paddle and method
    Patent number: 9169505
    Abstract: A reactor vessel including: a mixing chamber having a vertical length, an upper inlet, and a lower outlet; and a vertically oriented paddle within the mixing chamber and having a cross-sectional shape of a hydrofoil, wherein the paddle moves with respect to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin William Bolz, Rodolfo Romero
  • Apparatus for disperser plate and method to refine paper
    Patent number: 9145641
    Abstract: An assembly of opposing discs or cones for a disperser where each disc or cone has mounted to it a plate or an array of plate segments with a front surface on each plate or array of plate segments and each surface has a series of bars, grooves and dams. The bars are in rows, with the rows separated by annular dams at substantially fixed radial locations, and the grooves are adjacent the bars in the rows so that the grooves form a serpentine passage extending radially between the opposing plates or array of plate segments on the opposing discs or cones. The opposing plate or array of plate segments are arranged such that the annular dams on one plate or array of plate segments face roughly the middle of the row of bars on the opposing plate or array of plate segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Gingras
  • Method and apparatus for mixing a lignocellulosic material with enzymes
    Patent number: 9139858
    Abstract: A method to treat a lignocellulosic material including: pretreating the lignocellulosic material to produce a slurry; adding an alkali material to the slurry in a first conveyor; adding a first portion of an enzyme solution to the slurry while the slurry is in, entering or passing through the discharge of a second conveyor; transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the second conveyor slurry to a mixer; mixing the slurry with a second portion of the enzyme solution, and transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution mixed with the first and second portions of the enzyme solution to a first reactor vessel for enzymatic hydrolysis, wherein the viscosity of the slurry is reduced in the first reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Romero, Bertil Stromberg
  • Method for adjusting inlet flow to a flash
    Patent number: 9139956
    Abstract: A flash tank including: a closed interior chamber; a gas exhaust port coupled to an upper portion of the chamber; a liquid discharge port coupled to a lower portion of the chamber; an inlet nozzle attached to an inlet port of the chamber, wherein the inlet nozzle includes a flow passage, and a movable valve plate in the flow passage, wherein the valve plate has a first position which defines a first throat in the flow passage and a second position which defines a second throat having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson Bradford Hunt, Richard M. Grogan, Keith Vogel, Todd S. Grace
  • Flash tank with flared inlet insert and method for introducing flow into a flash tank
    Patent number: 9127403
    Abstract: A flash tank including: an interior chamber having a interior surface formed by a sidewall of the flash tank; a vapor exhaust port coupled to an upper portion of the chamber; a liquid discharge port coupled to a lower portion of the chamber; an insert inlet tube having an insert outlet and inserted into an inlet port of the chamber, wherein the insert inlet tube extends inward of the sidewall and the insert outlet has an elongated cross-sectional shape oriented substantially parallel to a center vertical axis of the flash tank and substantially perpendicular to a radial line of the flash tank, such that the insert outlet is substantially tangential to the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Grogan, Walter Edward Nellis, Tyson Bradford Hunt
  • Chemical treatment of lignocellulosic fiber bundle material, and methods and systems relating thereto
    Patent number: 9115468
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and process in which pulp is produced using a chemical mechanical pulping process, during which lignocellulosic material undergoes fiberization without chemical impregnation. Chemical treatment of the lignocellulosic material is performed during or after fiberization of the material to become fiber bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Xu
  • Flash tank with adjustable inlet
    Patent number: 9103070
    Abstract: A flash tank including: a closed interior chamber; a gas exhaust port coupled to an upper portion of the chamber; a liquid discharge port coupled to a lower portion of the chamber; an inlet nozzle attached to an inlet port of the chamber, wherein the inlet nozzle includes a flow passage, and a movable valve plate in the flow passage, wherein the valve plate has a first position which defines a first throat in the flow passage and a second position which defines a second throat having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson Bradford Hunt, Richard M. Grogan, Keith Vogel, Todd S. Grace
  • Reversible low energy refiner plates
    Patent number: 9085850
    Abstract: A system for refining lignocellulosic material including a first stator plate segment refining zone and a first rotor place segment refining zone, each of which has grooves. The rotor plate groove width is larger than the stator plate groove width in the inner part of the refining zone, but substantially similar in the outer part of the refining zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Gingras
  • PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF MICRO FIBRILLATED CELLULOSE
    Publication number: 20150090412
    Abstract: A method for producing micro fibrillated cellulosic material from pulp in which a pulp feed material is pre-treated by passing through a high consistency refiner a single time, followed by dilution and multiple passes through low consistency refiners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Marc SABOURIN, Antti Luukkonen
  • Enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials
    Patent number: 8993274
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for treating a biomass comprising a lignocellulosic material to produce fermentable sugars comprising the steps of treating the biomass to produce a biomass with a depolymerized lignin, adding a carbonyl scavenger to the biomass before, during, or after said treating step to inhibit repolymerization of the lignin, adding at least one of a laccase enzyme and a cellulases enzyme to the biomass with depolymerized lignin subsequently to the addition of the carbonyl scavenger, and producing a fermentable sugar from the action of the laccase enzyme and cellulases enzyme on the biomass with depolymerized lignin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Romero
  • Method for using washer press with multiple nips and multiple displacement wash zones
    Patent number: 8926795
    Abstract: A method for using a washer press for washing and dewatering a wide range of solids concentrations of pulp in liquid suspensions includes multiple distinct displacement wash zones about a drum with multiple nips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Hallas, Todd S. Grace
  • Vapor phase hydrolysis vessel and methods related thereto
    Patent number: 8916023
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian F. Greenwood
  • Method for production of micro fibrillated cellulose
    Patent number: 8906198
    Abstract: A method for producing micro fibrillated cellulosic material from pulp where multiple passes through a medium consistency refiner are made either singularly or in combination with low consistency refiners and high consistency refiners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Sabourin, Antti Luukkonen
  • FLASH TANK WITH FLARED INLET INSERT AND METHOD FOR INTRODUCING FLOW INTO A FLASH TANK
    Publication number: 20140352900
    Abstract: A flash tank including: an interior chamber having a interior surface formed by a sidewall of the flash tank; a vapor exhaust port coupled to an upper portion of the chamber; a liquid discharge port coupled to a lower portion of the chamber; an insert inlet tube having an insert outlet and inserted into an inlet port of the chamber, wherein the insert inlet tube extends inward of the sidewall and the insert outlet has an elongated cross-sectional shape oriented substantially parallel to a center vertical axis of the flash tank and substantially perpendicular to a radial line of the flash tank, such that the insert outlet is substantially tangential to the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Grogan, Walter Edward Nellis, Tyson Bradford Hunt
  • In-line drainer with shaped screen slots
    Patent number: 8894819
    Abstract: An in-line drainer or liquid separator for draining liquid from a moving black liquor slurry stream having a screen basket mounted in the internal chamber of the in-line drainer. The screen basket includes slots to retain solid particles of the moving black liquor slurry stream within the black liquor slurry stream flow chamber and block the solid particles from entering the liquid collection chamber. The slots each have a curved corner edge adjacent a surface screen basket facing the black liquor slurry stream flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Sheerer, Jeffrey Lawrence Gazdik
  • REDUCED MASS PLATES FOR REFINERS AND DISPERSERS
    Publication number: 20140339348
    Abstract: A light weight plate segment configured to be mounted on a disc of a disperser or refiner for comminuted cellulosic material including: a front face having disperser teeth or refining bars; a back face having a raised post surrounding a fastener attachment structure and a raised plate positioning section; side edges of the plate segment; and a radially outer edge and a radially inner edge extending between the side edges; wherein the back face lacks raised structures along the side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: MIKAEL REHNSTROM, Ismo Ihalainen, Yves Raymond
  • Pressure diffuser with an annular baffle screen plate over water inlet
    Patent number: 8888958
    Abstract: A pressure diffuser washer comprising: an outer wall, an inner wall adjacent to the outer wall, the inner wall defining annular baffle chambers between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein each of the annular baffle chambers is configured to connect to a source of a wash liquid, a reciprocating screen assembly adjacent to the inner wall, the reciprocating screen assembly defining a first annular chamber between the inner wall and the reciprocating screen assembly, an area in the inner wall defining a gap associated with each of the annular baffle chambers, wherein the wash liquid from an annular baffle chamber flows through the gap into the first annular chamber, and an annular baffle screen plate covering the gap, wherein the annular baffle screen plate defines openings sized to prevent rocks and other large particulate debris from entering the annular baffle chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Bechard, Keith Vogel, Jay Sheerer, Edward James Cummings, Carl Luhrmann