Reactor system

Abstract

A reactor tank is provided having an enzyme inlet, a heating jacket positioned around the exterior center of the tank, a gas outlet for communicating with a vacuum apparatus to create a vacuum within the reactor tank and for communicating with a condensing unit, a first gas inlet for receiving gas from a feed tank and a first liquid outlet for recirculating the liquid from the first liquid outlet back to the feed tank. The reactor tank further includes a sparged unit and a screen positioned within the tank between the sparged unit and the first liquid outlet, where the sparged unit is connected to the first gas inlet for receiving gas from the feed tank. The reactor tank is utilized in a reactor system further including a condensing unit, vacuum pump or venturi valve, a first feed tank connected to the first gas inlet, a coalescer having at least one circulation pipe and a first circulation pump connected to the first liquid outlet for circulating a portion of the liquid dispelled from the liquid outlet to the coalescer, which after being filtered through coalescer is recirculated through circulation pipe back to the first feed tank.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A reactor comprising:
 a tank having a catalyst inlet;   a heating jacket positioned around the exterior center of the tank;   a gas outlet for communicating with a contact condenser unit for the continuous removed of water from the tank during use;   a first gas inlet for receiving gas from a feed tank;   a first liquid outlet for recirculating the liquid from the first liquid outlet back to the feed tank;   a sparged unit positioned within the tank and in communication with the first gas inlet to sparge the gas received through the first gas inlet; and   a screen positioned within the tank between the sparged unit and the first liquid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor of  claim 1  further includes a second gas outlet on the second end of the vessel to vent air from the reactor. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 1  further including an agitator mount. 
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 1  further including a raw material inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 1  where the sparged unit further includes sparger arms mounted radial about a central pipe hub. 
     
     
         6 . A reactor system, the reactor system including:
 a reactor tank having a cavity, a first end and second end, whereby the reactor tank includes:
 a catalyst inlet; 
 a heating jacket positioned around the center of the vessel; 
 a first gas outlet at the first end of the vessel; 
 a first gas inlet at the second end of the vessel; 
 a first liquid outlet at the second end of the vessel; 
 a sparged unit positioned within the cavity of the vessel at its second end and in communication with the first gas inlet to sparge the gas received through the first gas inlet; 
 a screen positioned adjacent the sparged unit between the first gas inlet and the liquid outlet. 
   a first feed tank connected to the first gas inlet;   a recirculation pump connected to the first liquid outlet for recirculating at least a portion of the liquid expelled from the liquid outlet back to the first feed tank.   a contact condensing unit in communication with the first gas outlet for removing water from the tank during use.   
     
     
         7 . The reactor system of  claim 1  further including a vacuum apparatus connected to the first gas outlet for creating a vacuum within the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The reactor system of  claim 7  where the vacuum apparatus is a venturi valve. 
     
     
         9 . The reactor system of  claim 7  where the vacuum apparatus is a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor system of  claim 6  further including:
 a coalescer having at least one circulation pipe in communication with the first feed tank; and 
 where the recirculating pump circulates the liquid from the liquid outlet to the coalescer for recirculation through the at least one circulation pipe to the first feed tank. 
 
     
     
         11 . The reactor system of  claim 6  where the first feed tank is an alcohol feed tank. 
     
     
         12 . A reactor system of  claim 6  further including a second feed tank connected to tank for feeding raw material into the tank, said second feed tank including a pump for feeding raw material to the tank. 
     
     
         13 . A reactor system of  claim 12  where the raw material is feedstock. 
     
     
         14 . A reactor system of  claim 12  where the coalescer further includes a second circulating pipe for recirculating raw material to the second feed tank. 
     
     
         15 . A reactor system of  claim 6 , further including a second gas outlet at the second end of the tank and a purge pump for venting gas dispensed from the second gas outlet. 
     
     
         16 . A reactor comprising:
 a reactor tank;   a condenser for pulling vapor gas from the tank; and   a feed tank having a feed pump for pumping a carrier gas into the condenser for pumping the gas into the reactor tank.   
     
     
         17 . The reactor of  claim 16  further comprising a liquid separating unit in communication with the reactor tank to draw liquid from the tank and filter the liquid for recirculation of the filtered liquid back into the feed tank. 
     
     
         18 . The reactor of  claim 17  where the separating unit is a coalescer. 
     
     
         19 . The reactor of  claim 16  further including vacuum apparatus connected to the reactor tank for creating a vacuum in the tank and for withdrawing vapor from the tank for circulation to the condenser. 
     
     
         20 . The reactor of  claim 19  where the vacuum apparatus is a vacuum pump.