Enclosures for treating materials

Abstract

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in two or more vaults that can share a common wall.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A biomass treatment facility, comprising:
 a first conveying system configured to convey a biomass material through a first enclosure while exposing the biomass material to a first dose of ionizing radiation from a first electron accelerator to produce a first treated biomass material; and   a second conveying system configured to convey the first treated biomass material through a second enclosure while exposing the first treated biomass material to a second dose of ionizing radiation from a second electron accelerator to produce a second treated biomass material.   
     
     
         17 . The facility of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second enclosure share a common wall. 
     
     
         18 . The facility of  claim 16 , wherein each accelerator operates at a power of between about 100 kW and about 300 kW. 
     
     
         19 . The facility of  claim 16 , wherein walls of both the first and second enclosures are fabricated from discrete interconnecting blocks configured to provide a photo-tight structure.