TWI618564B - Equipment for extracting wet biomass - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for extracting wet biomass. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass includes a wet biomass pretreatment unit, a high pressure extraction vessel, a liquefied gas supply unit, and an extract separation unit. The wet biomass pretreatment unit is configured to mix a wet biomass with a solvent to prepare a mixture, and then separate the mixture to obtain a concentrated biomass. The high pressure extraction vessel is for extracting the concentrated biomass, and the high pressure extraction vessel comprises a vessel body and a porous element. The container body has an internal space, an inlet and an outlet for placing the concentrated biomass, and the inlet and the outlet communicate with the internal space. The porous element is disposed in an interior space of the container body and above the inlet. The liquefied gas supply unit is connected to the inlet of the container body for supplying a liquefied gas to the internal space to mix the concentrated biomass with the liquefied gas. The extract separation unit is connected to the outlet of the container body for separating the oil, solid slag and the liquefied gas obtained by extracting the concentrated biomass from the high-pressure extraction container.

Description

Equipment for extracting wet biomass

This invention relates to an extraction apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for extracting wet biomass.

Biomass, such as algae, has become a popular source of bio-energy and nutraceutical ingredients due to its rapid growth and production of oils and fats. The biomass generally grows in a humid environment, so the water content is extremely large at the time of harvest.

In order to prevent the moisture from hindering the extraction of the oil and fat of the biomass, the conventional extraction equipment may perform dehydration treatment such as high-temperature drying or freeze-drying on the wet biomass. However, the high-temperature drying treatment causes loss or qualitative change of the thermally unstable substance in the biomass, and the lyophilization treatment consumes a large amount of energy and has a long processing time, which is disadvantageous for commercial operation.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide an innovative and progressive device for extracting wet biomass to solve the above problems.

The method for extracting fats and oils in a wet biomass comprises mixing a wet biomass with a first solvent to prepare a mixture; separating the mixture to obtain a solution containing the first solvent and a concentrated biomass; and adding a liquefied gas The concentrated biomass is extracted from the concentrated biomass and mechanically dispersed to obtain a fat. The liquefied gas system means that the gas is liquefied under a high pressure environment to improve the solubility of the oil, so that the extracted wet biomass is carried out under a high pressure environment, and the concentrated biomass is extracted by a liquefied gas in a high pressure vessel to obtain a fat. When the extraction is completed, decompression is performed. The liquefied gas is vaporized and separated, and can be recycled and reused.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for extracting wet biomass includes a wet biomass pretreatment unit, a high pressure extraction vessel, a liquefied gas supply unit, and an extract separation unit. The wet biomass pretreatment unit is configured to mix a wet biomass with a solvent to prepare a mixture, and then separate the mixture to obtain a concentrated biomass. The high pressure extraction vessel is for extracting the concentrated biomass, and the high pressure extraction vessel comprises a vessel body and a porous element. The container body has an internal space, an inlet and an outlet for placing the concentrated biomass, and the inlet and the outlet communicate with the internal space. The porous element is disposed in an interior space of the container body and above the inlet. The liquefied gas supply unit is connected to the inlet of the container body for supplying a liquefied gas to the internal space to mix the concentrated biomass with the liquefied gas. The extract separation unit is connected to the outlet of the container body for separating the oil, solid slag and the liquefied gas obtained by extracting the concentrated biomass from the high-pressure extraction container.

In one embodiment, a high pressure extraction vessel includes a vessel body and a porous element. The container body has an internal space, an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet and the outlet communicate with the internal space. The porous element is disposed in an interior space of the container body and above the inlet.

1‧‧‧ Equipment for extracting wet biomass

10‧‧‧ Wet Biomass Pretreatment Unit

20‧‧‧High pressure extraction vessel

21‧‧‧ container body

211‧‧‧ entrance

212‧‧‧Export

21S‧‧‧Internal space

22‧‧‧Porous components

23‧‧‧Extraction basket

23B‧‧‧ bottom of the extraction basket

24‧‧‧Agitator

241‧‧‧ drive

242‧‧‧ stir bar

30‧‧‧liquefied gas supply unit

31‧‧‧Liquified gas storage tank

32‧‧‧Transport pump

40‧‧‧Extraction unit

41‧‧‧ solid-liquid separation device

411‧‧‧First fluid direction switching element

411A‧‧‧ inlet end of the first fluid direction switching element

411B‧‧‧Outlet end of the first fluid direction switching element

412‧‧‧First solid-liquid separation element

412A‧‧‧ inlet end of the first solid-liquid separation element

412B‧‧‧Exit end of the first solid-liquid separation element

413‧‧‧Second solid-liquid separation element

413A‧‧‧ inlet end of the second solid-liquid separation element

413B‧‧‧Exit end of the second solid-liquid separation element

414‧‧‧Second fluid direction switching element

414A‧‧‧ inlet end of the second fluid direction switching element

414B‧‧‧ outlet end of the second fluid direction switching element

42‧‧‧Separation tank

42B‧‧‧Bottom of the separation tank

43‧‧‧Extract collection container

43P‧‧‧ gas discharge pipeline

B‧‧‧ Wet biomass

B'‧‧‧ Concentrated biomass

G‧‧‧liquefied gas

G'‧‧‧Residual liquefied gas

M‧‧‧Mixture

S‧‧‧ solvent

S'‧‧‧ solution

Fig. 1 is a view showing the structure of an apparatus for extracting wet biomass according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the structure of a high pressure extraction container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing a solid-liquid separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The drawings and the common reference numbers are used herein to refer to the same or the like. The invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a view showing the structure of an apparatus for extracting wet biomass according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the structure of a high pressure extraction container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2, the wet biomass extraction apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises a wet biomass pretreatment unit 10, a high pressure extraction vessel 20, a liquefied gas supply unit 30, and an extract separation unit 40.

The wet biomass pretreatment unit 10 is configured to mix a wet biomass B and a solvent S to prepare a mixture M, and then separate the mixture M to obtain a concentrated biomass B' and a solution containing the solvent S. S'.

In one or more embodiments, the wet biomass B line can be an alga, fungus, animal mud or plant mud.

The above algae include, but are not limited to, one of the following: green alga, algae, spirulina, rhodococcus, chlorella, chlorella, platensis, gold algae, algae, blue-green algae, Thraustochytrium sp.) and Schizochytrium sp., Crypthecodinium cohnii, Ulkenia sp.

The above fungi include, but are not limited to, one of the following: yeast, Escherichia coli, and lactic acid bacteria.

The above animal mud composition includes one of the following: fish, shrimp, shellfish, birds, pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens. Further, the mud component includes the skin, meat, bone, shell of the above animal or a mixture thereof.

The above plant-based mud component includes one of the following: a fruit of a plant, a pulp, a peel, a fruit seed, a seed coat, a root, a stem, a leaf or a mixture thereof.

The solvent S includes one of the following: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, acetone or a mixture thereof.

The high pressure extraction vessel 20 is used to extract the concentrated biomass B'. The high pressure extraction vessel 20 includes a vessel body 21 and a porous element 22. The container body 21 has an internal space 21S, a An inlet 211 and an outlet 212. The internal space 21S is used to place the concentrated biomass B'. The inlet 211 and the outlet 212 communicate with the internal space 21S. The porous member 22 is disposed in the inner space 21S of the container body 21 and above the inlet 211.

To facilitate the placement of the concentrated biomass B' into the interior space 21S, the high pressure extraction vessel 20 may further include an extraction basket 23 in one or more embodiments. The extraction basket 23 is for holding the concentrated biomass B', and the extraction basket 23 is disposed in the internal space 21S after the loading is completed. Further, the porous member 22 may be disposed at the bottom 23B of the extraction basket 23.

The liquefied gas supply unit 30 is connected to the inlet 211 of the container body 21 for supplying a liquefied gas G to the internal space 21S to mix the concentrated biomass B' with the liquefied gas G. In this embodiment, the liquefied gas G passes through the porous element 22 and enters the extraction basket 23 and is mixed with the concentrated biomass B' in the extraction basket 23. The porous member 22 serves to disperse the liquefied gas G so that the liquefied gas G can be dispersed into the internal space 21S.

In one or more embodiments, the high pressure extraction vessel 20 can further include a stirring device 24. The agitating device 24 has a driver 241 and a stirring rod member 242. The driving device 241 is disposed above the container body 21. The stirring rod member 242 is disposed in the inner space 21S of the container body 21, and the stirring rod member 242 is disposed. One end is connected to the driver 241. The driver 241 is configured to drive the stirring rod member 242 to rotate to fully mix and mix the concentrated biomass B' and the liquefied gas G, so that the oil extraction rate of the concentrated biomass B' can be greatly improved.

The liquefied gas supply unit 30 includes a liquefied gas storage tank 31 and a delivery pump 32. The liquefied gas storage tank 31 is for storing the liquefied gas G. The two ends of the delivery pump 32 are respectively connected to the liquefied gas storage tank 31 and the inlet 211 of the container body 21 for conveying the liquefied gas G in the liquefied gas storage tank 31 into the inlet 211 of the container body 21.

In one or more embodiments, the liquefied gas G can be propane, butane, isobutane, Fluorocycloalkanes, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) refrigerants, hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) refrigerants or mixtures thereof. The hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) refrigerant comprises 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and the hydrofluoroolefin (HFOs) refrigerant comprises 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.

The extract separation unit 40 is connected to the outlet 212 of the container body 21 for separating the high-pressure extraction container 20 to extract the fat B1 obtained from the concentrated biomass B', the solid slag B2, and the liquefied gas G.

The extract separation unit 40 includes a solid-liquid separation device 41, a separation tank 42, and an extract collection container 43.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing a solid-liquid separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the solid-liquid separation device 41 is connected to the outlet 212 of the container body 21 for separating the solid slag B2 to obtain the grease B1 and the liquefied gas G.

The solid-liquid separation device 41 includes a first fluid direction switching element 411, a first solid-liquid separation element 412, a second solid-liquid separation element 413, and a second fluid direction switching element 414. The inlet end 411A of the first fluid direction switching element 411 is connected to the outlet 212 of the container body 21, and the inlet end 412A of the first solid-liquid separating element 412 and the inlet end 413A of the second solid-liquid separating element 413 are connected thereto. The outlet end 411B of the first fluid direction switching element 411, the outlet end 412B of the first solid-liquid separation element 412, and the outlet end 413B of the second solid-liquid separation element 413 are connected to the inlet end of the second fluid direction switching element 414. 414A, the outlet end 414B of the second fluid direction switching element 414 is connected to the separation groove 42. In one or more embodiments, the solid-liquid separation device 41 can be a filter, a cyclone, or a baffle.

In this embodiment, the first fluid direction switching element 411 and the second fluid direction switching element 414 simultaneously switch the same pipeline to flow the solid slag B2, the grease B1, and the liquefied gas G to the first The solid-liquid separation element 412 or the second solid-liquid separation element 413.

If the first solid-liquid separation element 412 is switched to the first solid-liquid separation element 412, after the first solid-liquid separation element 412 is filtered to fill the solid slag B2, the second solid-liquid separation element 413 can be switched to The first solid-liquid separation element 412 of the solid slag B2 is taken out to perform a cleaning operation.

In one or more embodiments, the first solid-liquid separation element 412 and the second solid-liquid separation element 413 may be a filter, a cyclone, or a baffle.

The separation tank 42 is connected to the solid-liquid separation device 41 for separating the grease B1 and the liquefied gas G. In the present embodiment, the separation tank 42 is further connected to the liquefied gas storage tank 31. Therefore, the liquefied gas G separated by the separation tank 42 can be recovered into the liquefied gas storage tank 31.

The extract collection container 43 is connected to the bottom portion 42B of the separation tank 42 for collecting the separated grease B1. Since the separated grease B1 still mixes a little residual liquefied gas G', there is a risk of explosion in the extraction collection container 43 to avoid excessive accumulation of residual liquefied gas G' in the vaporization, in one or more embodiments. The extract collection container 43 may have a gas discharge line 43P for discharging the vaporized residual liquefied gas G' to the atmosphere or by an exhaust gas burner.

The apparatus for extracting wet biomass of the present invention can directly extract the oil and fat in the wet biomass, and the wet biomass does not need to be dehydrated by high temperature drying or freeze drying, so it is very suitable for commercial operation. Further, the apparatus for extracting wet biomass of the present invention can be operated in a low temperature environment, thereby reducing energy consumption and avoiding loss or qualitative change of the extracted component due to high temperature.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention should be as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

An apparatus for extracting wet biomass, comprising: a wet biomass pretreatment unit for mixing a wet biomass with a solvent to prepare a mixture, and separating the mixture to obtain a concentrated biomass; a high pressure extraction a container for extracting the concentrated biomass, the high pressure extraction container comprising a container body and a porous member, the container body having an internal space, an inlet and an outlet for placing the concentrated biomass, The inlet and the outlet are connected to the internal space, the porous element is disposed in the inner space of the container body and located above the inlet; a liquefied gas supply unit is connected to the inlet of the container body for supplying a liquefied gas Into the internal space, the concentrated biomass is mixed with the liquefied gas; and an extract separation unit is connected to the outlet of the container body for separating the oil and solid residue obtained by extracting the concentrated biomass from the high-pressure extraction container and The liquefied gas. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass of claim 1, wherein the high pressure extraction vessel further comprises an extraction basket disposed in the inner space for holding the concentrated biomass. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass of claim 2, wherein the porous element is disposed at a bottom of the extraction basket for the liquefied gas to penetrate into the extraction basket. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure extraction container further comprises a stirring device, the stirring device having a driver and a stirring rod member, wherein the driving device is disposed at the Above the container body, the stirring rod member is disposed in an inner space of the container body, and one end of the stirring rod member is connected to the driver. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass according to claim 1, wherein the liquefied gas supply unit comprises a liquefied gas storage tank and a transfer pump, and the two ends of the transfer pump are respectively connected to the liquefied gas storage tank and the inlet of the container body. . The apparatus for extracting wet biomass according to claim 1, wherein the extract separation unit comprises a solid-liquid separation device, a separation tank and an extract collection container, and the solid-liquid separation device is connected to the outlet of the container body for separation. The solid slag is obtained to obtain the grease and the liquefied gas, and the separation tank is connected to the solid-liquid separation device for separating the oil and the liquefied gas, and the extract collection container is connected to the bottom of the separation tank for collecting and separating grease. The apparatus for extracting wet biomass of claim 6, wherein the solid-liquid separation device is a filter, a cyclone or a baffle.