Abstract: A method for continuous steam explosion discharge of a pressurised reactor for thermal treatment of lignocellulose biomasses. The steam explosion discharge is complete decoupled from the thermal treatment step and the loss of steam from the process is fully controlled without jeopardizing the mechanical disintegration of the lignocellulose material from the process.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle pre-tensioning system that is integrated into a seat assembly including a seat bottom and seat back pivotably coupled together. When an impact event is detected (or anticipated), a seat belt assembly anchorage point is rapidly moved forwards and downwards such that a coupled lap belt is pre-tensioned and moved into a position that optimizes lap belt geometry and prevents submarining during an impact event. This may be done using an explosive pre-tensioner, a mechanical pre-tensioner, and/or an electronic pre-tensioner with an appropriate controller and may be applied to the lap belt anchorage points on one or both sides of the seat. This serves to ensure that the occupant's pelvic bone adequately engages the lap belt of the seat assembly and does not slide under the lap belt during the impact event, thus preventing submarining.

Abstract: A method for continuously treating biomass material includes: feeding the biomass material into a substantially vertically arranged pressurized vessel; adding steam to said pressurized vessel for hydrothermal treatment of the biomass material, wherein said adding steam comprises adding steam at a lower portion of the pressurized vessel; discharging the biomass material from a bottom portion of the pressurized vessel using a discharge device; withdrawing vapor from a top portion of the pressurized vessel, and adding said vapor to the discharge device; controlling differential pressure between said top portion of the pressurized vessel and said discharge device by controlling a flow of said vapor; and determining a minimum flow of steam needed to heat the biomass material in the pressurized vessel to a predetermined temperature, wherein said adding steam comprises adding steam at a flow that is higher than said minimum flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for defibrating a lignocellulosic material in a steam explosion process, the method comprising: —supplying (1001) lignocellulosic material to a reactor (8), —treating (1002) the lignocellulosic material in the reactor (8) at a first pressure (P1), —discharging (1003) the lignocellulosic material from the reactor (8) to a vessel (13), wherein the vessel (13) is at a second pressure (P2) that is lower than the first pressure (P1) so that the lignocellulosic material is defibrated through steam explosion as it passes from the reactor (8), wherein lignocellulosic material is continuously supplied to and discharged from the reactor (8) in such a way that the first pressure (P1) is constant. The invention also relates to a defibration system for defibrating a lignocellulosic material in a steam explosion process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the blow tank is then enzymatically treated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank and then a flash tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained above atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure in the flash tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the flash tank is then enzymatically treated. The heat from the thermally treated biomass is recovered from the latent heat of a vaporous aqueous stream withdrawn from the blow tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank and then a flash tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained above atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure in the flash tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the flash tank is then enzymatically treated. The heat from the thermally treated biomass is recovered from the latent heat of a vaporous aqueous stream withdrawn from the blow tank.

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.

Abstract: A method for continuous steam explosion discharge of a pressurised reactor for thermal treatment of lignocellulose biomasses. The steam explosion discharge is complete decoupled from the thermal treatment step and the loss of steam from the process is fully controlled without jeopardizing the mechanical disintegration of the lignocellulose material from the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the blow tank is then enzymatically treated.

Abstract: Provided are a method and to an arrangement for monitoring characteristics of a furnace process in a furnace space limited by a furnace shell of a metallurgical furnace. The arrangement comprises a process monitoring unit having a frame mounted by means of a mounting means on the metallurgical furnace outside the furnace space of the furnace shell. Also provided is a process monitoring unit for use in the method and/or in the arrangement.

Abstract: A resource node has application modules that are functionally interconnected by an application management proxy node to one another and/or to application modules of another resource node to provide combined functionality to a user. The resource node includes a plurality of the application modules and an application agent. Each of the application modules controls the resource node to provide corresponding defined functionality. The application agent communicates with the application management proxy node to establish functional interconnections between two or more of the application modules of the resource node and/or between at least one of the application modules of the resource node and at least one of the application modules of the other resource node. The application agent translates communication traffic to provide compatible communications between the application modules that are functionality interconnected. Related application management proxy nodes and methods are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an arrangement for operating a metallurgical furnace. The method comprises a feeding step, and a temperature controlling step for controlling the temperature of a molten metal layer and a slag layer in a furnace space of the metallurgical furnace. The temperature controlling step comprises a first measuring step for measuring the slag temperature (Tslag), a second measuring step for measuring the slag liquidus temperature (Tslag, liquidus), and a calculating step for calculating a superheat temperature (Tsuperheat) by calculating the temperature difference between the slag temperature (Tslag) and the slag liquidus temperature (Tslag, liquidus). In case the calculated superheat temperature (Tsuperheat) is outside a predefined superheat temperature range (Tsuperheat set), the method comprises an adjusting step for adjusting to adjust the actual superheat temperature. Also provided are computer program products.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a burner of a suspension smelting furnace. The burner includes a reaction gas feeding device, and a fine solids feeding device. The fine solids feeding device being at an upstream end of the fine solids feeding device pivotably supported in the reaction gas feeding device. The burner including by at least one first mechanical actuator configured to center the fine solids feeding device in the annular reaction gas outlet opening. Said at least one first mechanical actuator being in response to receiving the control signal configured to perform a centering action to center the fine solids channel in the annular reaction gas outlet opening.

Abstract: A feed mixture distribution device configured to even out a feed of feed mixture in an annular feed mixture feed channel of a burner. The feed mixture distribution device includes a cylindrical member having a cylindrical wall, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal central axis X. The cylindrical member is at the first end provided with rectangular flat plate means, which extend radially from the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member and which are arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal central axis X of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member is between the rectangular flat plate and the second end provided with helical plate means arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal central axis X of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: Provided are a burner such as a concentrate burner, a calcine burner, or a matte burner, or a burner using a mixture of these for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into a reaction shaft of a suspension smelting furnace, and a fine solids feeding apparatus for a burner such as a concentrate burner, a calcine burner, or a matte burner, or a burner using a mixture of these. The fine solids feeding apparatus comprises gas outlets in a fine solids discharge channel upstream of a downstream outlet end of the fine solids discharge channel. The gas outlets comprise spiral path guiding members configured to facilitate gas to flow from the gas outlets in a spiral flow path around a center axis A of the fine solids discharge channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding feed material from a bin (10) for feed material into a furnace space of a smelting furnace. The method comprises a first providing step for providing a feed material feeding arrangement (9) for feeding feed material from the bin (10) for feed material into the furnace space of the smelting furnace (1), and a feeding step for feeding feed material from the bin (10) for feed material into the furnace space of the smelting furnace. The method comprises additionally a second providing step for providing at least one sensor (11) for measuring flow of feed material at a position between the bin (10) for feed material and the furnace space of the smelting furnace (1), and a measuring step for measuring flow of feed material by means of said at least one sensor (11) at said position.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a burner of a suspension smelting furnace. The burner includes a reaction gas feeding device, and a fine solids feeding device. The fine solids feeding device being at an upstream end of the fine solids feeding device pivotably supported in the reaction gas feeding device. The burner including by at least one first mechanical actuator configured to center the fine solids feeding device in the annular reaction gas outlet opening. Said at least one first mechanical actuator being in response to receiving the control signal configured to perform a centering action to center the fine solids channel in the annular reaction gas outlet opening.

Abstract: A system for producing aqueous sulphuric acid is provided, the system including a first heat exchanger configured to cool aqueous sulphuric for producing cooled aqueous sulphuric acid; a pre-cooling unit comprising an inlet or inlets for receiving the gas containing sulphur trioxide and the cooled aqueous sulphuric acid, an outlet for letting out aqueous sulphuric acid and the gas containing sulphur trioxide, and a first nozzle for spraying the cooled aqueous sulphuric acid onto the gas containing sulphur trioxide. The system further includes a condensation tower comprising a first inlet for receiving the cooled gas containing sulphur trioxide and aqueous sulphuric acid from the pre-cooling unit and means for circulating the aqueous sulphuric acid within the condensation tower by spraying. An associated method and pre-cooling unit suitable for cooling gas comprising sulphur trioxide from at least 400° C. to at most 150° C. are also provided.