Patent ID: 7572626

Claim:
A system for separating biomass from media in a fluidized bed reactor containing an aqueous suspension of biomass and media, said system comprising: a lift configured to extend within the reactor, said lift having an inlet for receiving aqueous suspension and an outlet spaced from said inlet for delivering the aqueous suspension from said lift; a gas inlet positioned to feed gas into said lift for urging the aqueous suspension toward said outlet of said lift; a shield disposed about said lift and defining a first annular passageway between said shield and said lift, said first annular passageway being positioned to receive aqueous suspension from said outlet of said lift; and a biomass separator body comprising, an inner member disposed about said shield, a second annular passageway being defined between said inner member of said biomass separator body and said shield, said second annular passageway being positioned to receive aqueous suspension from said first annular passageway, an outer member, a third annular passageway being defined between said inner member and said outer member, said third annular passageway being positioned to receive aqueous suspension from said second annular passageway, a barrier extending between said inner member and said outer member at an end portion of said third annular passageway, and an excess biomass discharge in fluid communication with said third annular passageway; wherein said barrier of said biomass separator body is configured to direct biomass from said third annular passageway toward said excess biomass discharge.