Digester apparatus

Abstract

A digester apparatus is provided for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising: a vessel, a first downcomer, an outer fluid supply downcomer and structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers. The first downcomer extends into the vessel for delivering a first fluid into the vessel. The first fluid is generally at a first temperature when passing into the first downcomer. The outer fluid supply downcomer extends into the vessel and may be located about the first downcomer for supplying a second fluid into the vessel. The second fluid may be generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into the outer downcomer. The structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers functions to reduce heat transfer between the first and outer downcomers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digester apparatus for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising:
 a vessel;   a first downcomer extending into said vessel for delivering a first fluid into said vessel, the first fluid being generally at a first temperature when passing into said first downcomer;   a second downcomer extending into said vessel and located about said first downcomer;   a third downcomer extending into said vessel and located about said second downcomer for delivering a second fluid into said vessel, the second fluid being generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into said third downcomer; and   structure for preventing continuous liquid flow through said second downcomer such that said second downcomer defines an insulating region between said first and third downcomers so as to reduce heat transfer between said first and third downcomers.   
     
     
         2 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first downcomer is defined by a first pipe extending into said vessel;   said second downcomer is defined by an outer surface of said first pipe and an inner surface of a second pipe; and   said third downcomer is defined by an outer surface of said second pipe and an inner surface of a third pipe.   
     
     
         3 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 first fluid supply structure for supplying a cold blow filtrate defining the first fluid to said first downcomer; and   second fluid supply structure for supplying a cooking liquor defining the second fluid to said third downcomer, wherein the cooking liquor supplied to said third downcomer is at a temperature greater than a temperature at which the cold blow filtrate is supplied to said first downcomer.   
     
     
         4 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 3 , wherein said first fluid supply structure supplies the cold blow filtrate to the first downcomer at a temperature of from about 120 degrees F. to about 160 degrees F. 
     
     
         5 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 4 , wherein said second fluid supply structure supplies the cooking liquor to the third downcomer at a temperature of from about 285 degrees F. to about 340 degrees F. 
     
     
         6 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 3 , wherein said first pipe extends to a location near a bottom of said vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 6 , wherein said third pipe extends to a location near a mid-point of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A digester apparatus for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising:
 a vessel;   a first downcomer extending into said vessel for delivering a first fluid into said vessel, the first fluid being generally at a first temperature when passing into said first downcomer;   an outer fluid supply downcomer extending into said vessel and located about said first downcomer for supplying a second fluid into said vessel, the second fluid being generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into said outer downcomer; and   structure defining an insulating region between said first and outer downcomers so as to reduce heat transfer between said first and outer downcomers.   
     
     
         9 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said first downcomer is defined by a first pipe extending into said vessel;   said insulating structure comprises an outer surface of said first pipe and an inner surface of a second pipe, wherein said first pipe outer surface and said second pipe inner surface are spaced apart to define an insulating passage; and   said outer fluid supply downcomer is defined by an outer surface of said second pipe and an inner surface of a third pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 first fluid supply structure for supplying a cold blow filtrate defining the first fluid to said first downcomer; and   second fluid supply structure for supplying a cooking liquor defining the second fluid to said outer fluid supply downcomer, wherein the cooking liquor supplied to said outer fluid supply downcomer is at a temperature greater than a temperature at which the cold blow filtrate is supplied to said first downcomer.   
     
     
         11 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 10 , wherein said first supply structure supplies the cold blow filtrate to the first downcomer at a temperature of from about 120 degrees F. to about 160 degrees F. and said second fluid supply structure supplies the cooking liquor to said outer fluid supply downcomer at a temperature of from about 285 degrees F. to about 340 degrees F. 
     
     
         12 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 9 , wherein said first pipe extends to a location near a bottom of said vessel and said third pipe extends to a location near a mid-point of the vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said insulating structure comprising an insulating layer on an inner surface of a first pipe;   said first downcomer is defined by an inner surface of said insulating layer on said first pipe inner surface; and   said outer fluid supply downcomer is defined by an outer surface of said first pipe and an inner surface of a second pipe.   
     
     
         14 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 first fluid supply structure for supplying a cold blow filtrate defining the first fluid to said first downcomer; and   second fluid supply structure for supplying a cooking liquor defining the second fluid to said outer fluid supply downcomer, wherein the cooking liquor supplied to said outer fluid supply downcomer is at a temperature greater than a temperature at which the cold blow filtrate is supplied to said first downcomer.   
     
     
         15 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 14 , wherein said first fluid supply structure supplies the cold blow filtrate to said first downcomer at a temperature of from about 120 degrees F. to about 160 degrees F. and said second fluid supply structure supplies the cooking liquor to said outer fluid supply downcomer at a temperature of from about 285 degrees F. to about 340 degrees F. 
     
     
         16 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 14 , wherein said first pipe extends to a location near a bottom of said vessel and said second pipe extends to a location near a mid-point of the vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said first downcomer is defined by a first pipe extending into said vessel;   said insulating structure comprises an insulating layer on an outer surface of said first pipe; and   said outer fluid supply downcomer is defined by an outer surface of said insulating layer and an inner surface of a second pipe.   
     
     
         18 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 first fluid supply structure for supplying a cold blow filtrate defining the first fluid to said first downcomer; and   second fluid supply structure for supplying a cooking liquor defining the second fluid to said outer fluid supply downcomer, wherein the cooking liquor supplied to said outer fluid supply downcomer is at a temperature greater than a temperature at which the cold blow filtrate is supplied to said first downcomer.   
     
     
         19 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 18 , wherein said first supply structure supplies the cold blow filtrate to the first downcomer at a temperature of from about 140 degrees F. to about 160 degrees F. and said second supply structure supplies the cooking liquor to the outer fluid supply downcomer at a temperature of from about 285 degrees F. to about 340 degrees F. 
     
     
         20 . The digester apparatus as set out in  claim 17 , wherein said first pipe extends to a location near a bottom of said vessel and said second pipe extends to a location near a mid-point of the vessel.