Abstract: A method for removing liquid from a slurry includes: (i) feeding the slurry into the inlet of a press; (ii) removing liquid from the slurry as the slurry advances through a deliquifying section of the press, thereby producing a pressate stream; (iii) forming a plug of material as the slurry is advanced through a plug formation section of the press; (iv) advancing the plug of material to a discharge section of the press; and (v) removing additional liquid from the plug of material by operating the press so that the pressure in the discharge section of the press is greater than the pressure of the pressate stream by at least 2 psi. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling discharge consistency from a press, without provision of discharge restrictors, by varying the pressure differential between a discharge section of the press and a pressate stream.

Abstract: Discharging pretreated biomass from a pretreatment reactor and mixing the discharged pretreated biomass with a cooling liquid in a vessel provides a cooled slurry having a consistency that is less than about 12 wt %. Since the consistency is relatively low, the cooled slurry may be pumped to a higher elevation using standard pumping equipment. At the higher elevation, the cooled slurry may be separated into a first stream comprising a liquid component of the slurry and a second other stream comprising a solid component of the slurry (e.g., having a consistency between about 15 wt % and 40 about wt %). The solid component may be fed to an inlet of a hydrolysis reactor, while the liquid component may be fed to a cooling system that provides a cooled stream. The cooled stream may then be cycled back to the vessel.

Abstract: A method for removing liquid from a slurry includes: (i) feeding the slurry into the inlet of a press; (ii) removing liquid from the slurry as the slurry advances through a deliquifying section of the press, thereby producing a pressate stream; (iii) forming a plug of material as the slurry is advanced through a plug formation section of the press; (iv) advancing the plug of material to a discharge section of the press; and (v) removing additional liquid from the plug of material by operating the press so that the pressure in the discharge section of the press is greater than the pressure of the pressate stream by at least 2 psi. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling discharge consistency from a press, without provision of discharge restrictors, by varying the pressure differential between a discharge section of the press and a pressate stream.

Abstract: The method includes the following steps: (i) feeding a slurry into the inlet of a press; (ii) removing liquid from the slurry as the slurry advances through a deliquefying section of the press, thereby producing a pressate stream; (iii) forming a plug of material as the slurry is advanced through a plug formation section of the press; (iv) advancing the plug of material to a discharge section of the press; and (v) removing additional liquid from the plug of material by operating the press so that the pressure in the discharge section of the press is greater than the pressure of the pressate stream by at least 2 psi. There is also described a method for controlling discharge consistency from a press, without provision of discharge restrictors, by varying a pressure differential between a discharge section of the press and a pressate stream.

Abstract: Discharging pretreated biomass from a pretreatment reactor and mixing the discharged pretreated biomass with a cooling liquid in a vessel provides a cooled slurry having a consistency that is less than about 12 wt %. Since the consistency is relatively low, the cooled slurry may be pumped to a higher elevation using standard pumping equipment. At the higher elevation, the cooled slurry may be separated into a first stream comprising a liquid component of the slurry and a second other stream comprising a solid component of the slurry (e.g., having a consistency between about 15 wt % and 40 about wt %). The solid component may be fed to an inlet of a hydrolysis reactor, while the liquid component may be fed to a cooling system that provides a cooled stream. The cooled stream may then be cycled back to the vessel.

Abstract: The method includes the following steps: (i) feeding a slurry into the inlet of a press; (ii) removing liquid from the slurry as the slurry advances through a deliquefying section of the press, thereby producing a pressate stream; (iii) forming a plug of material as the slurry is advanced through a plug formation section of the press; (iv) advancing the plug of material to a discharge section of the press; and (v) removing additional liquid from the plug of material by operating the press so that the pressure in the discharge section of the press is greater than the pressure of the pressate stream by at least 2 psi. There is also described a method for controlling discharge consistency from a press, without provision of discharge restrictors, by varying a pressure differential between a discharge section of the press and a pressate stream.

Abstract: An improved screening apparatus for fiber suspensions is provided comprisingat least one stationary, generally cylindrical screen drum into which the fiber suspension is fed having a central axis and a plurality of apertures through which rejectable material from the suspension cannot pass and is retained on a reject side of the drum and through which accepted fibers from the suspension can pass to an opposite side of the drum;a generally cylindrical rotor, co-axial with the axis of the cylindrical screen drum;the rotor supporting a series of blades arranged circumferentially about the rotor and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotor, with the lateral extent of each blade being adjacent the surface of the cylindrical screen drum; andeach blade in the series of blades having opposing ends and being inclined in the opposite direction to any adjacent blade relative to a line in the circumferential path of the blades which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor and the cylindrica

Abstract: A paper pulp refiner for refining high consistency stock characterized by two virtually identical refining zones connected in series which have an interstage device to remove excess steam and whose axial loads can be varied independently thus producing two stage pump from a single refiner.