Ultrafast heating by high efficient biomass direct mixing with supercritical water

Abstract

This work analyzes the influence of the mixer configuration on the mixing efficiency in the process of biomass ultrafast hydrolysis by supercritical water. The results of the CFD simulations of a horizontal tee, a vertical tee and a cross mixer, selected as the optimal mixing configurations, together with the experimental results obtained in our hydrolysis plant, are the base to determine the configuration which provides the best mixing performance. While the CFD simulation results predict that the cross mixer is the optimum geometry as it provides the best temperature homogenization and flow distribution, the highest experimental conversions, approximately a 5% higher than with the other configurations, are reached with the horizontal tee. Therefore, further experimental testing at higher concentrations can reveal whether the horizontal tee or the cross mixer is the optimal geometry.