Patent ID: 8628623

Claim:
A reactor for the treatment of biomass, the reactor comprising: a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion (i) is configured to receive biomass and is configured to pressurize and heat the biomass via a pressurizing gas and (ii) comprises at least one upper wall, wherein the lower portion (i) is configured to receive the pressurized biomass and is configured to facilitate hydrolysis or autohydrolysis of the biomass without excess or free liquid, (ii) comprises at least one lower wall comprising a corrosion resistant material, and (iii) is configured to transport the biomass without a transport liquid, the vessel further comprising a pressure envelope that is formed between an outer wall of the vessel and the at least one lower wall, the at least one lower wall being inside the vessel, and wherein the upper portion of the vessel and the pressure envelope are operatively connected with a pressurization line, such that a pressure of the pressure envelope and a pressure of the upper portion may be equalized.