Patents Assigned to Valmet AB
  • Patent number: 11371186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating biomass (2). In a step (S10), biomass (2) and an impregnation liquid are fed into a first reactor unit (10) such that the biomass (2) is impregnated with the impregnation liquid while the biomass (2) is transferred through the first reactor unit (10) by a conveyor means (11). In another step (S20), the impregnated biomass (2a) is transferred from the first reactor unit (10) to a separation unit (25), wherein at least a part of the impregnation liquid is separated from the impregnated biomass (2a) within the separation unit. In a step (S30), the separated impregnation liquid is discharged from the separation unit (25), such that a first part (26a) of the impregnation liquid is recirculated back to the first reactor unit (10). The invention further relates to a system for treating biomass (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Valmet AB
    Inventor: Francois Lambert
  • Patent number: 11371185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outlet system for transporting comminuted lignocellulosic material from a vessel, said bottom portion (1) having an upper circumference (15) that is essentially circular and a lower circumference (16) comprising at least two essentially straight portions (16a, 16c) opposite each other. The invention also relates to a vessel having such an outlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Roger Jansson, Jonas Saetheråsen, Jerk Söderman, Magnus Wilhelmsson
  • Publication number: 20220186437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double disc pulp refiner (10) comprising a first refining disc (11) and a second refining disc (12), the first refining disc being arranged at a feed end of the refiner (10) where lignocellulosic material (M) is fed into the refiner (10) through inlet openings (16) in the first refining disc (11) and the second refining disc (12) being arranged coaxially, spaced apart from and opposed to the first refining disc (11), said first refining disc (11) being provided with at least one refining segment (13) for refining the lignocellulosic material (M) and a center plate (20)having a cross-sectional profile adapted such that when the center plate (20) is arranged on the first refining disc (11) in the refiner (10), the center plate (20) protrudes to a maximum height which is the same as, or higher than, a maximum height of the at least one refining segment (13) provided on the first refining disc (11), said double disc pulp refiner (10), wherein said maximum height is such that the distanc
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Karl LÖNNGREN, Mikael LUNDFORS
  • Publication number: 20220186927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat recovery system 10, 11, 12 for recovering heat from flue gas generated by combustion at a biomass plant installation. The heat recovery system 10, 11, 12 comprises a flue gas cooler 200 configured to receive flue gas 201 from a combustion and transfer heat from the flue gas 201 to feed water in a heat recovery fluid circuit101. The feed water in the heat recovery fluid circuit101 is taken from and returned to a feed water main system. The feed water main system could be provided with a feed water tank 100to which a heat recovery circuit inlet 112 and a heat recovery circuit outlet are connected. Further, the heat recovery system comprises a waste heat accumulator 300 configured to receive feed water, heated by flue gas 201 in a flue gas cooler 200, and cool by flashing the received feed water in order to generate flash steam, and the heat recovery system 10, 11, 12 comprises a control arrangement 533.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Erik WALLIN
  • Publication number: 20220162798
    Abstract: A system (1) for refining lignocellulosic biomass material (A) comprising a presteaming bin (2), a dewatering device (3), a preheater (4), a defibrator (9) comprising at least one refining zone (14) wherein steam is generated during refining of said biomass material so that a pressure peak occurs, a blowpipe (19), and a first steam flow path (D) arranged to convey steam from said refining zone to said presteaming bin (2). The system further comprises a second steam flow path (E) arranged to convey steam from said refining zone to said presteaming bin, wherein said first and second steam flow paths are connected to the refining zone on opposite sides of the pressure peakin a biomass material transport direction, and wherein said first and second steam flow paths are separate from said blow pipe. The invention also relates to a process for refining lignocellulosic biomass material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Per ERIKSSON
  • Patent number: 11319603
    Abstract: A method for processing lignocellulose materials comprising the steps of hydrothermal treatment of the material with saturated or superheated steam in a hydrothermal pressure vessel, wherein the steam is provided by means of a steam boiler. The treatment is performed at a pressure of 5-30 bars, and at a temperature of 160-240° C. for a duration of 1-20 minutes. The method further comprises discharging hydrothermally treated lignocellulose material and steam from the pressure vessel by means of rapid pressure reduction, separating the steam and vapours released from the lignocellulose material, and burning the vapours together with additional fuel and combustion air in the furnace of said steam boiler. Furthermore, a corresponding system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Peter Björklund, Mattias Erixon, Francois Lambert, Andreas Averheim
  • Publication number: 20220081834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating vapours released from lignocellulose biomass during acid treatment at elevated temperature of the lignocellulose biomass. The process comprises condensing (3) the vapours to produce a condensate, adjusting (4) the pH of the condensate to about 9, and decanting (5) the condensate to produce turpentine, and may further comprise distilling (6) the mixture remaining after decanting to produce furfuraland a reject comprising tall oil fatty acids. The invention also relates to a corresponding system for treating vapours released from lignocellulose biomass during acid treatment at elevated temperature of the lignocellulose biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Naveen CHENNA
  • Patent number: 11268240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Yankee drying hood arrangement (1) which has a first temperature main supply conduit (9, 9?) for a fluid such as hot air, or hot air and steam and/or water vapour, at a first temperature T1 and a second temperature main supply conduits (10, 10?) for a fluid such as hot air, or hot air and steam and/or water vapour, at a second temperature T2 which is not the same as T1, the first temperature and second temperature main supply conduits (9, 9?, 10, 10?) being in communication with the distributor conduits (8) such that a fluid such as hot air can stream from the first temperature and second temperature main supply conduits (9, 9?, 10, 10?) to the distributor conduits (8), wherein at least one distributor conduit (8) is provided with damper means (31) for changing the ratio between amount of fluid at temperature T1 from the first temperature main conduit and the amount of fluid at temperature T2 from the second temperature main conduit that streams into the distributor conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Olli Saikkonen, Luca Moscatelli, Klavdij Lasic, Raffaele Malutta, Michele Durisotti, Lorenzo Simeoni
  • Publication number: 20220056995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gasket (1, 1?, 1?) for sealing a drive shaft of a pulp washer, the gasket comprising a gasket body (10) having a central opening delimited by an inner edge (21) and the gasket body (10) also having an outer edge (22), wherein the gasket (10) further comprises a cut-in portion (30) that extends from the outer edge (22) in a radial direction inwards into the gasket body (10). The invention also relates to a pulp washer comprising at least one such gasket and to a method for mounting such a gasket on a drive shaft of a pulp washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: James Michael Klingler, Frank John Merchel, III
  • Publication number: 20210404116
    Abstract: The invention relates to a discharge screw arrangement (12) for discharging lignocellulosic material (7) from a lignocellulosic treatment reactor (1) and comprises a discharge screw (10), a feeder pipe (11) and a blow pipe (5), the discharge screw being accommodated in and rotatably arranged inside the feeder pipe and being configured to mechanically transport the lignocellulosic material in a longitudinal direction along a rotational axis of the discharge screw through the feeder pipe towards a downstream end (14) of the feeder pipe, which discharge screw arrangement is configured to allow steam to flow through the feeder pipe to help transporting the lignocellulosic material in the longitudinal direction along through the feeder pipe and out of the feeder pipe through an outlet nozzle (24) arranged in a side wall of the feeder pipe (11) at the downstream end of the feeder pipe and into the blow pipe, wherein the discharge screw arrangement further comprises a material spreader (20), which is rotatably arran
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Örjan AHLGREN
  • Publication number: 20210370324
    Abstract: Alignment device (1) for adjusting a position of a curved shower bar nozzle flange (2) relative a permeable outer cylindrical surface (3) of a drum roll (4) of for instance a drum washer. The alignment device comprises a body element (8), an attachment device (9) and a contact element (11). The body element has a length adapted to a desired predetermined distance between the end (7) of the nozzle flange and the outer cylindrical surface (3). The attachment device (9) is arranged at a first end (10) of the body element (8) for releasably connecting the body element to the nozzle flange end (7) to extend tangentially therefrom. The contact element (11) is arranged at a second opposite end (12) of the body element, said contact element being adapted to abut against said permeable outer cylindrical surface (3). A method for aligning a nozzle flange using such an alignment device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: James Michael KLINGLER, Frank John Merchel, III
  • Patent number: 11186949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for impregnating biomass (10). In a step (S100) of the method, a reactor unit (11) is fed with biomass (10) by means of a plug screw (12). In another step (S200), the reactor unit (11) is at least partially filled up to a predetermined fill level (13) with a reactant (18), such that a reaction between the fed biomass (10) and the reactant (18) takes place in order to obtain an impregnated biomass. In another step (S300), the impregnated biomass (10) is discharged from the reactor unit (11) for further processing (S300). The invention further relates to a device (1) for impregnating biomass (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Valmet AB
    Inventors: Andreas Averheim, Per Grundström, Anders Löfström
  • Publication number: 20210363309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing lignin with reduced amount of guaiacoland etylguaiacol in order to reduce the content of odorous substances by subjecting the ligninto a heating processing order to remove guaiacol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Anders UHLIN, Lars-Erik ÅKERLUND, Anders LITTORIN, Henrik WALLMO
  • Patent number: 11174591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for clarification of raw green liquor in a sedimentation tank. According to the invention is a part of dregs separated in the sedimentation tank recirculated back into the inflow of raw green liquor, and preferably after passing the dregs through at least one turbulence generator (30, 31) that could break up larger dregs particles into smaller dregs particles, and thus create larger total surface on the dregs particles, improving sedimentation rate in the sedimentation tank. In a preferred embodiment is the recirculated dregs added into the flow of raw green liquor before a flocculant is added into the flow of raw green liquor and mixed recirculated dregs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Zicheng Zhang, John Johnson, Magnus Ingelman, Sanchuan Guo
  • Publication number: 20210340487
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized prehydrolysis reactor unit and dewatered before it is cooled with cold liquid. The cooled slurry of biomass is then enzymatically treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Patrik Pettersson, Johan Carlsson
  • Patent number: 11162216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating biomass (1). In a step (S10) of the method, the biomass (1) and an amount of water (2) is fed into a first reactor unit (10) such that the biomass (1) is impregnated using the amount of water (2) while the biomass (1) is transferred through the first reactor unit (10) by a conveyor means (11). In another step (S20), the impregnated biomass (22) is transferred from the first reactor unit (10) to a separation unit (20) in which at least a part (21) of the amount of water (2) used for impregnation can be separated from the impregnated biomass (22). In another step (S30), the impregnated biomass (22) is transferred from the separation unit (20) into a second reactor unit (30) in which the impregnated biomass (22) is subjected to a predetermined pressure (S30). The invention further relates to the use of the method for treating non-wood material as well as to a device for treating biomass (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Valmet AB
    Inventor: Francois Lambert
  • Publication number: 20210310029
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a treatment process system for biomass material and methods for h such system. The system comprises a first dewatering stage arranged to receive biomass material, to remove liquid from the biomass material, and to feed the biomass material forward in the process. Further, the system includes a water treatment stage arranged to collect the removed liquid and an addition stage located downstream said dewatering stage and operatively coupled to the first dewatering stage. The addition stage is arranged to receive the de-watered biomass material, wherein the addition stage includes inlets for adding acid containing solution into the addition stage. A reactor stage arranged to receive the biomass material treated in the addition stage and to perform a pre-hydrolysis process to the biomass material. A filtrate feeding arrangement is arranged to feed liquid from the filtrate tank to the reactor stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Örjan AHLGREN, Johan CARLSSON, Anders LÖFSTRÖM, Patrik PETTERSSON
  • Publication number: 20210309449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outlet system for transporting comminuted lignocellulosic material from a vessel, said bottom portion (1) having an upper circumference (15) that is essentially circular and a lower circumference (16) comprising at least two essentially straight portions (16a, 16c) opposite each other. The invention also relates to a vessel having such an outlet system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Roger JANSSON, Jonas SAETHERÅSEN, Jerk SÖDERMAN, Magnus WILHELMSSON
  • Publication number: 20210262167
    Abstract: There is disclosed a refiner segment (10) adapted to be attached to a refiner disc (30) in a refiner (100) of lignocellulosic material, said refiner segment (10) being provided with a plurality of spaced apart bars (20,) extending in a direction from an inner periphery (10a) of said refiner segment (10) towards an outer periphery (10b) of said refiner segment (10), where each pair of adjacent bars (20?; 20K+I) bounds a corresponding intermediate area (22) on said refiner segment (10). The refiner segment (10) comprises at least one intermediate area (22) that comprises a channel region (23) and a ridge region (24), said channel region (23) connecting at a first side (23b) to said ridge region (24) and extending deeper into said refiner segment (10) than said ridge region (24) in order to create an intermediate area (22) having a cross-section with a varying depth profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Thommy LINDBLOM
  • Publication number: 20210252436
    Abstract: A pulp-filter arrangement (1) comprises a rotatable drum (10) and a non-rotating valve arrangement (30). The rotatable drum (10) has a cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14), a plurality of drain pipes (16) and a rotating hollow shaft (18). The plurality of drainpipes (16) connects the rotating hollow shaft (18) with a collecting channel (22) situated radially directly inside the cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14). The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is disposed within the rotating hollow shaft (18) for sealing off the rotating hollow shaft (18) from a radially inner outlet (24) of the drain pipes (16) when respective radially inner outlet (24) is situated within a sealed zone. The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is further arranged to, in a transition zone immediately following the sealed zone, open a throttled passage between the rotating hollow shaft (18) and the radially inner outlet (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Åke SUNDSTRÖM, Jonas MAGNUSSON, Anders LÖFSTRAND, Peter NYKVIST, Jörgen LUNDBERG