Pyrolysis Vapour Condenser System and Method of Condensing Pyrolysis Vapour

Abstract

A pyrolysis vapour condenser system (1) and a method for condensing pyrolysis vapour, the pyrolysis vapour condensing system comprising a condenser vessel (2), comprising a vapour inlet (3), and a cleaning device (9) for removing deposits from the vapour inlet (3). The cleaning device (9) is moveable between a cleaning position, in which it is disposed at least partially in the vapour inlet (3) for cleaning it, and a retracted position, in which the cleaning device (9) is retracted away from the vapour inlet (3) towards the condenser vessel (2).

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system, comprising: a condenser vessel, comprising a vapour inlet for feeding pyrolysis vapour to be condensed into the condenser vessel, wherein the vapour inlet comprises a tube section defining a longitudinal direction; and a cleaning device for removing deposits from the vapour inlet, deposited thereon during a pyrolysis vapour condensation process, and thereby cleaning said inlet, characterized in that the cleaning device is moveable between a cleaning position, in which it is disposed at least partially in the vapour inlet for cleaning it, and a retracted position, in which the cleaning device is retracted away from the vapour inlet towards the condenser vessel.

26. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein the movement of the cleaning device between the retracted position and the cleaning position describes a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction.

27. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein at least a part of the cleaning device is configured to rotate about an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal direction, for removing the deposits.

28. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, further comprising drive means for driving the cleaning device, wherein optionally the drive means are configured to drive the cleaning device during operation of the condenser system.

29. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 28, further configured to temporarily reduce the input rate of pyrolysis vapour at least during cleaning of the vapour inlet.

30. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 28, further comprising a user interface, wherein the drive means are activatable via the user interface.

31. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein the cleaning device comprises a reamer, wherein optionally the reamer defines a central axis, the reamer further comprising a blade helically wound around the central axis and extending radially outwards away from the central axis.

32. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 30, wherein an outer diameter of the reamer decreases towards a free end of the reamer, the reamer thereby having a generally tapered shape.

33. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein the condenser vessel comprises a resealable opening through which deposits are removable from the condenser vessel, further comprising a sluice connecting the condenser vessel to an exterior thereof, the sluice forming said resealable opening.

34. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, further comprising a transport screw extending from within the condenser vessel to an exterior of the condenser vessel for transporting deposits out of the condenser vessel.

35. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein in its retracted position the cleaning device is disposed in a lower half of the condenser vessel.

36. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein the cleaning device comprises an axle which extends through a side wall of the condenser vessel, optionally further comprising a stuffing box for rotatably sealing the axle to the condenser vessel, optionally further comprising a cleaning liquid dispenser for dispensing cleaning liquid into the stuffing box for cleaning stuffing in the stuffing box.

37. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, further comprising a protective housing into which at least part of the cleaning device is moveable in its retracted position.

38. Pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to claim 25, wherein in the cleaning position the cleaning device leaves free at least 20% of an inner cross sectional area of the vapour inlet for vapour to flow into the condenser vessel from the vapour inlet, wherein preferably the cleaning device leaves free at least 30%, more preferably at least 40% and most preferably at least 50%.

39. Method of condensing pyrolysis vapour using a pyrolysis vapour condenser system, the condenser system preferably according to claim 25, wherein the method comprises: feeding pyrolysis vapour to a condenser vessel via a vapour inlet of the condenser vessel; condensing the pyrolysis vapour in the condenser vessel; and outputting condensed pyrolysis products, the method further comprising: moving a cleaning device from a retracted position, in which the cleaning device is retracted away from the vapour inlet towards the condenser vessel, to a cleaning position in which it is disposed at least partially in the vapour inlet; and cleaning the vapour inlet by removing deposits therefrom using the cleaning device.

40. Method according to claim 39, further comprising: removing deposits from the condenser vessel through a sluice while continuing use of the pyrolysis vapour condenser system.

41. Method according to claim 39, wherein at least the feeding step and the cleaning step are conducted concurrently.

42. Method according to claim 41, wherein during the feeding step the pyrolysis vapour is input at a first input rate, and wherein during the cleaning step the pyrolysis vapour is input at a second input rate, wherein the second input rate is lower than the first input rate.

43. Method according to claim 39, the pyrolysis vapour condenser system being according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising cleaning stuffing of the stuffing box using a cleaning fluid.

44. Method according to claim 39, wherein the pyrolysis vapour was made by pyrolyzing biomass.

Description

[0075] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0076] FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to the invention;

[0077] FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show a transversal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to the invention;

[0078] FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a stuffing box that can be used in pyrolysis vapour condenser systems according to the invention; and

[0079] FIG. 4 schematically shows yet another embodiment of a pyrolysis vapour condenser system according to the invention.

[0080] In the figures, like elements are referred to using like reference numerals. Like elements of different embodiments are identified with reference numerals that have been increased by 100 (one hundred).

[0081] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a pyrolysis vapour condenser system 1. The pyrolysis vapour condenser system 1 has a condenser vessel 2 which has a vapour inlet 3. The pyrolysis vapour condenser system 1 can be used to condense pyrolysis vapour that originates from the pyrolysis of biomass in a pyrolysis reactor (not shown). The pyrolysis vapour is supplied into the condenser vessel 2 via the vapour inlet 3. The vapour inlet comprises a tube section 4 which defines a longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal direction L coincides with a centre axis of the tube section 4. The tube section 4 in this example has a circular cross-section, since it is formed of a pipe. The condenser vessel 2 shown further has an outlet 5 for letting out condensed products, such as oil referred to as pyrolysis oil or bio-oil. Further, an outlet 6 for letting out non-condensed gasses is provided. The pyrolysis vapour condenser system 1 condenses with the aid of a spraying system consisting of a plurality of sprayers 7 supplied via spraying supply lines 8. For the sake of clarity, not all sprayers 7 are provided with a reference number, and only one supply line 8 is shown. The sprayer system may be used to spray the condensed product, i.e. bio-oil, or another liquid. During the condensation of pyrolysis vapour, the vapour cools down. This prompts the formation of deposits, since deposits may form where condensed pyrolysis vapour comes into contact with relatively hot surfaces, such as surfaces of over 100° C. The pyrolysis vapour entering the vapour inlet 3 is relatively hot, whereas pyrolysis vapour in the condenser vessel 2 has cooled down substantially. Accordingly, there exists a temperature difference around the vapour inlet 3. As such, deposits form at least in the vicinity of the vapour inlet 3, since the vapour inlet may be relatively hot, whilst some of the pyrolysis vapour has already condensed in the vicinity of the vapour inlet. The deposits can form a layer on the inside of the tube section 4, thereby at least partially clogging the tube section 4, and thus possibly hindering the supply of pyrolysis vapour. To periodically clean the vapour inlet 3, a cleaning device 9 has been provided. According to the invention, the cleaning device is moveable between a cleaning position (see FIG. 1B) and a retracted position (see FIG. 1A). In the cleaning position, the cleaning device 9 is disposed at least partially in the vapour inlet 3 for cleaning it, or rather, the inside of it. In the retracted position, the cleaning device 9 is retracted away from vapour inlet 3 towards the condenser vessel 2. The retracted position is directly opposite the vapour inlet 3, on a far side of the condenser vessel 2. Accordingly, the cleaning device 9 moves in a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction. In this example, the cleaning device 9 includes an axle 10 and a head 11. The cleaning device 9 is moved by displacing the axle in the longitudinal direction L through the condenser vessel 2 from the retracted position towards the cleaning position and vice versa. The axle 10 extends through a side wall 17 of the condenser vessel 2. Although not shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, a stuffing box 50 (see FIG. 3) can be used to seal the axle 10 to the side wall 17, whilst allowing rotation of the axle 10. On the outside of the side wall 17 of the condenser vessel, a protective housing 18 is arranged. The housing 18 protrudes from the condenser vessel 2, opens towards the condenser vessel 2 and is otherwise closed. Accordingly, the cleaning device 9 can be retracted to its retracted position, so that the head 11 is placed in the protective housing 18.

[0082] Drive means 12 are provided for driving the movement of the cleaning device 9 between its positions. The drive means 12 further rotate the head 11 of the cleaning device 9 about an axis of rotation, which coincides with the longitudinal direction L and with a centreline of the axle 10. The head 11 is formed by a reamer 11. The reamer 11 defines a central axis, which is an extension of the centreline of the axle 10, and thus coincides with its axis of rotation. The reamer 11 comprises a blade 13 which is helically wound around the central axis which extends radially outwards away from the central axis. An outer diameter of the reamer 11 is relatively large near the axle 10, and decreases towards the free end of the reamer 11. The blade 13 forms a thread, which according to the principle of an Archimedes' screw transports deposits towards the condenser vessel 2 when the reamer 11 rotates. The deposits then collect at the bottom of the condenser vessel 2. In their retracted position, but in this particular embodiment also in the cleaning position, the cleaning means 9 are disposed in a lower half of the condenser vessel 2. Accordingly, they are disposed below the sprayers 7, so that when the cleaning device is or has been used, it is sprayed by the sprayers 7. An area between consecutive windings of the blade 13 forms a channel through which pyrolysis vapour can flow. Accordingly, the reamer 11 has a certain area referred to as free flow area, which is an area left free for the passage of pyrolysis vapour. In this example, the free flow are is about 50% of a transversal cross-sectional area of the vapour inlet 3, so that while the cleaning device 9 is in the cleaning position, pyrolysis vapour can still flow into the condenser vessel 2 from the vapour inlet through the channels between the consecutive windings of the blade 13.

[0083] The drive means 12 are configured to drive the cleaning device 9 while the pyrolysis vapour condenser system 1 is in use, i.e. while a condensation process is being performed. For this purpose, the drive means 12 are connected to an interface (not shown) which a user can use to activate the drive means 12 in order to clean the vapour inlet 3 using the cleaning device 9.

[0084] As shown in this embodiment, an opening 14 is provided at the bottom of the condenser vessel 2. The opening 14 can be opened and closed. The opening 14 is part of a sluice 15, which further consists of a second opening 16, which can also be opened and closed. By opening and closing the openings 14 and 16 consecutively deposits can be removed from the condenser vessel 2 to be collected, for instance in a container 19, at the bottom of the condenser vessel 2.

[0085] FIGS. 2A and 2B show another embodiment of the pyrolysis vapour condenser system 101. The embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B is largely the same as the described embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Only the mutual differences will therefore be described herein. In this embodiment, no protective housing is provided. Accordingly, in its retracted position, the cleaning device 109 and more specifically its head 111 is disposed in the condenser vessel 102 towards the inside of its side wall 117. Moreover, in this figure the stuffing box 50 is more clearly shown.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows in more detail a top part of the stuffing box 50. The stuffing box 50 includes a connector 51 for connecting the stuffing box 50 to an opening in a side wall 117 of the condenser vessel 102. The stuffing box 50 further includes a main body 52 of generally cylindrical shape. The axle 10 of the cleaning device 9 extends through the main body 52. The main body 52 defines two receiving spaces for guide rings 53, 54 which contact the axle 10 in order to guide the axle 10 in rotation. The stuffing box 50 further includes stuffing rings 55 configured to seal around the axle 10, whilst allowing the axle 10 to rotate. A pressure on the stuffing rings 55 can be adjusted by moving a pressing element 56 using adjustment bolt 57. The stuffing box 50 is further provided with an inlet 58 for receiving cleaning fluid. The inlet can be connected to a suitable liquid dispenser (not shown). The inlet connects via a channel 59 in the main body 52 to a ring 60 with radial perforations, which is disposed between the stuffing rings 55. Via the perforations in the ring 60, cleaning fluid from the channel 59 can be fed to the stuffing rings 55, the axle 10 in order to clean and/or lubricate their respective surfaces. A further channel 61 connects the channel 59 to an annular space 62 between the guide rings 53, 54, in order to supply said annular space 62 with cleaning fluid. From there, the axle 10 and the guide rings 53, 54 are cleaned using the cleaning fluid.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the pyrolysis vapour condenser system 201, similar to that of FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, in this embodiment, instead of the sluice 15 the condenser vessel 202 connects to a conveyer screw 220 which transports deposits upwards out of the condenser vessel 202 through a conduit 221 to an outlet 222 where the deposits can be collected. Although the invention has been described hereabove with reference to a number of specific examples and embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto. Instead, the invention also covers the subject matter defined by the claims, which now follow.