A plant and process for performing thermolysis of cellulose uses a thermolysis reactor which comprises a reactor duct having a longitudinal axis, and an eductor at one end of the reactor duct. The eductor has an entry chamber and a venturi-shaped exit channel, a nozzle, a sloping deflector plate above the nozzle, and an inlet port through which particulate material may be fed onto the deflector plate and into the entry chamber. The nozzle and the venturi-shaped exit channel are aligned with the longitudinal axis. A superheater provides superheated steam at a temperature above 450° C. to flow through the nozzle. The particulate matter is entrained in the flowing steam, and undergoes thermolysis. This may be combined with a pre-treatment to hydrolyse hemicellulose, so that lignocellulosic biomass can be processed.

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).

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).

A refining disc (6) in a defibrator (1) for refining fibrous material is provided with non-central openings (11) for allowing steam developed in the refining space (2) during refining to flow from the front side to the backside of the refining disc (6), where the front side is facing a second refining disc (5) and the backside is facing away from the second refining disc (5). The refining disc (6) also comprises a central hole (12) for allowing steam (8b) to flow from the backside to the front side at the rotational center of the refining disc (6), and escape from the defibrator (1) backwards through the feed screw (3a) without passing through the fibrous material (7) being refined in the refining space (2).

A refining disc (6) in a defibrator (1) for refining fibrous material is provided with non-central openings (11) for allowing steam developed in the refining space (2) during refining to flow from the front side to the backside of the refining disc (6), where the front side is facing a second refining disc (5) and the backside is facing away from the second refining disc (5). The refining disc (6) also comprises a central hole (12) for allowing steam (8b) to flow from the backside to the front side at the rotational center of the refining disc (6), and escape from the defibrator (1) backwards through the feed screw (3a) without passing through the fibrous material (7) being refined in the refining space (2).

Processing systems and methods are described for pre-processing processing of biomass. The systems include an extruder characterized by one or more ports though which acids and/or bases may be introduced to the biomass during extrusion. The acids may be selected to hydrolyze the biomass and the base may be selected to neutralize the acid. Neutralization can occur using a solid base within the extruder.

A refining disc (6) in a defibrator (1) for refining fibrous material is provided with non-central openings (11) for allowing steam developed in the refining space (2) during refining to flow from the front side to the backside of the refining disc (6), where the front side is facing a second refining disc (5) and the backside is facing away from the second refining disc (5). The refining disc (6) also comprises a central hole (12) for allowing steam (8b) to flow from the backside to the front side at the rotational center of the refining disc (6), and escape from the defibrator (1) backwards through the feed screw (3a) without passing through the fibrous material (7) being refined in the refining space (2).

A refining disc (6) in a defibrator (1) for refining fibrous material is provided with non-central openings (11) for allowing steam developed in the refining space (2) during refining to flow from the front side to the backside of the refining disc (6), where the front side is facing a second refining disc (5) and the backside is facing away from the second refining disc (5). The refining disc (6) also comprises a central hole (12) for allowing steam (8b) to flow from the backside to the front side at the rotational center of the refining disc (6), and escape from the defibrator (1) backwards through the feed screw (3a) without passing through the fibrous material (7) being refined in the refining space (2).

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).

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).