The subject disclosure relates to production of bio-fuel from feedstock and, more specifically, to generation of synthesis gas based in part on multi-phased gasification and steam reformation, wherein the multi-phased gasification can be enabled through a secondary solids reactor.
A convergence of various financial factors, such as increase in fossil fuel costs; market forces (e.g., adherence to sustainable energy consumption paradigms); and geopolitical conditions (instability in oil-rich regions, climate change, etc.) has renewed interest in gasification of organic or carbonaceous materials, often called feedstock, to generate combustible synthesis gas (or syngas) for renewable generation of fuel. Synthesis gas can be utilized to generate electricity with reduced CO2 emissions compared to electricity derived from fossil fuel. In addition, feedstock utilized for generation of synthesis gas is largely encompassed by post-processed (organically or synthetically) waste; therefore, feedstock is intrinsically sustainable. Amongst various gasification processes commonly employed for generation of synthesis gas is pyrolysis. Such process produces by-products, such as chars or tars, in addition to production of synthesis gas. In conventional gasification systems, the feedstock is dried and supplied into a stirred, heated kiln. As the feedstock passes through the kiln, combustible synthesis gas is produced and is continuously removed from the kiln. However, production of synthesis gas in conventional gasification systems is generally inefficient, with an energy balance that renders production of fuel or electricity derived thereof commercially non-viable. In addition, conventional processes generally exacerbate commercial viability issues with elevated operational costs associated with process inefficiencies related to manipulation of produced by-products. In addition, poorly designed management of the by-products also result in synthesis gas of lesser quality, with ensuing low quality of derived fuels and ensuing limited commercial thereof.
The following presents a simplified summary of the subject disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects thereof. This summary is not an extensive overview of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate any scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
One or more embodiments provide system(s) and process(es) to produce synthesis gas from feedstock through multi-phased gasification and steam reformation. In the multi-phased gasification, an amount of feedstock material is supplied to a pyrolysis chamber in which high-pressure pyrolysis at a first temperature decomposes (e.g. devolatizes) into pyrolysis gas at least a portion of the amount of feedstock material; the pyrolysis gas includes synthesis gas and other gases comprising heavier molecules. High pressure can increase efficiency of the pyrolysis phase. An amount of feedstock by-product that results from the high-pressure pyrolysis is conveyed to a solids reactor which is functionally coupled to the pyrolysis chamber so as to maintain a high-pressure environment. At least a portion of the amount of feedstock by-product is reformed into syngas at high-pressure and at a second temperature within the solids reactor; an amount of disposable solids is ejected from the solids reactor. Gas produced in the pyrolysis chamber is reacted in a steam reformation reactor, syngas produced in the solids reactor also can be saturated via steam reformation in the steam reformation reactor. Syngas produced from steam reformation of pyrolysis gas and reacted syngas are cleaned in a scrubbing apparatus. In certain embodiments, one or more cyclones also can be employed to clean the pyrolysis gas. Clean syngas is supplied for fuel production or for chemical production.
When compared to conventional processes for synthesis gas production, implementation of a primary gasification phase and a secondary gasification phase has at least the following three advantages. (i) Increased efficiency of thermal management in a steam reformation phase, with ensuing increased efficiency (reduced operational costs, higher yield, etc.) of synthesis gas production. (ii) Increased durability of equipment employed to implement the steam reformation phase due in part to reduced amount of abrasive material injected in the equipment. (iii) At a time of achieving a production of clean synthesis gas or after a time interval thereafter, the multi-phased gasification process disclosed herein can be effected in an energy self-sustained mode.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.
The subject disclosure is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the various embodiments of the subject disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present disclosure.
As employed in this specification and annexed drawings, the terms “component,” “system,” “structure,” “platform,” “interface,” and the like are intended to include a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. One or more of such entities are also referred to as “functional elements.” As an example, a component may be, but is not limited to being a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry which is operated by a software or a firmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of the software or firmware application. An illustration of such a component can be a water pump. In addition or in the alternative, a component can provide specific functionality based on physical structure or specific arrangement of hardware elements; an illustration of such a component can be a filter or a fluid tank. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can include a processor therein to execute software or firmware that provides at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. An illustration of such apparatus can be control circuitry, such as a programmable logic controller. The foregoing example and related illustrations are but a few examples and are not intended to limiting. Moreover, while such illustrations are conveyed for a component, the examples also apply to a system, a structure, a platform, an interface, and the like.
In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs A or B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.
Furthermore, the term “set” as employed herein excludes the empty set; e.g., the set with no elements therein. Thus, a “set” in the subject disclosure includes one or more elements or entities. As an illustration, a set of synthesis gas collection structures includes one or more synthesis gas collection structures; a set of devices includes one or more devices; a set of regulators includes one or more regulators; etc.
Various aspects or features will be presented in terms of systems that may include a number of devices, components, modules, and the like. It is to be understood and appreciated that the various systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., or may not include all of the devices, components, modules etc. discussed in connection with the figures. A combination of these approaches also can be used.
Pressure (PP) and temperature (TP) of the primary gasification phase 120 are regulated. In addition, decomposition and gasification of the feedstock material is effected for a predetermined period ΔτP. Specific values of pressure PP, temperature TP, and ΔτP can be determined through simulation or experimentation. In one or more embodiments, PP ranges from about 25 psi to 100 psi; TP ranges from nearly 1000° F. to nearly 1750° F.; and 10 min≦ΔτP≦36 min, where “min” is the abbreviation of the term minutes; in an embodiment ΔτP is equal to about 36 min and in another embodiment ΔτP is equal to about 10 min. Values of PP elevated with respect to atmospheric pressure allow high efficiency, e.g., high gas yield, of the primary gasification phase 120. Primary gasification phase 120 results in gas stream 124, also referred to as gas 124 and solid material 128, which is conveyed to a secondary gasification phase 130; the gas stream 124 can be a volume of gas or a flow of gas. If the primary gasification phase 120 is a pyrolysis phase, which can be conducted in one or more pyrolysis chambers, the gas stream 124 is pyrolysis gas which includes synthesis gas (syngas) and other gases comprising heavier molecules. Synthesis gas that is part of pyrolysis gas can have a H2-to-CO that is non-ideal for fuel production. Solid material 128 can be by-product condensed matter that is produced in primary gasification phase 120; e.g., solid material 128 can include incompletely pyrolyzed feedstock material, such as char, bio-char, or the like.
The secondary gasification phase 130 also is a non-combustion gasification phase effected at a predetermined pressure (PS) and at a temperature (TS) during a specific period ΔτS. In certain embodiments, for example, the non-combustion gasification phase may be a pyrolysis phase. The products of the secondary gasification phase 130 are gas stream 134, also referred to as gas 134, and disposable solids 138; the gas stream 134 can be a volume of gas or a flow of gas. In an aspect, the gas in the gas stream 134 can be substantially synthesis gas (syngas). A disposal structure (not shown in
In an aspect of the subject disclosure, values of the set of parameters {PP,TP;ΔτP} and {PS,TS;ΔτS} can be based at least on one or more of (i) intended operation condition(s), such as amount of input feedstock material 110, type of feedstock material 110, moisture level of feedstock material 110, particle size of feedstock material 110, or likely or expected types of by-product produced through gasification of feedstock material 110; intended synthesis gas yield; (ii) budgetary or other financial considerations; (iii) delivery and installation costs of equipment to perform the primary gasification phase 120; or the like. In certain embodiments, determination of such set of parameters can be effected autonomously, e.g., via an assessment platform (not shown), in order to attain specific output performance, such as syngas quality, syngas yield, specific loading rate(s) of feedstock material, operational costs, or the like.
As a result of primary gasification phase 120 and secondary gasification phase 130, a first volume of gas 124 (e.g., pyrolysis gas) and a second volume of gas 134 (e.g., syngas) are supplied to a steam reformation phase 140, in which the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) and second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) are reacted with steam (e.g., superheated steam) to produce consistent raw syngas, wherein the consistent raw syngas can be saturated syngas, e.g., syngas with nearly the highest H2/CO ratio. In one or more embodiments, based on quality (H2/CO ratio, concentration of impurities, etc.) gas 134 (e.g., syngas) produced in secondary gasification phase 130 can be supplied to clean-up phase 160 instead of steam reformation phase 140. In an aspect, a quality assessment phase (not shown in
At least one advantage of multi-phase gasification process 100 is that efficiency of steam reformation phase 140 is increased with respect to conventional gasification systems that exploit a single gasification phase because hot gases (e.g., gas 124 and gas 134) are allowed in the steam reformation phase 140, and structure that enables such steam reformation phase, while ash and partially decomposed feedstock are directed to secondary gasification phase 130. Addition of such ash and decomposed feedstock in the steam reformation phase 140, and structure that enables such reformation phase, generally consumes heat and thus excess heat can be required to maintain temperature level of steam reformation phase 140. In addition, at least another advantage of multi-phase gasification process 100 is that throughput of steam reformation phase 140, for example, reacted syngas 150, is increased with respect to conventional gasification systems since non-reactive materials do not occupy space in the structure(s) (e.g., steam reformation reactor) that enable the steam reformation phase 140. Moreover, by redirecting solid material 128 to secondary gasification phase 130, durability, or life span, of structure(s) that enable steam reformation phase 140 is increased since injection of abrasive material into such structure(s) is reduced and thus premature wearing of the structure(s) is largely mitigated.
The clean syngas 170 can be produced through removal of particulate matter (pm), tars, and other contaminants (sulfur-based compounds, soluble acid gas(es), etc.) from the produced, reacted syngas 150. The clean-up phase 160 can include a set of cyclones through which raw gas is circulated. In addition, the clean-up phase 160 can include liquid-based refrigeration of the reacted syngas 150, which is saturated dirty syngas at elevated temperature, e.g., 1000° F. or substantially 1000° F. In certain embodiments, clean-up phase 160 does not include a cooling stage—for example, reacted syngas 150 is not circulated through an entrained heat-flow exchanger—and thus temperature of the reacted syngas 150 can range from about 1700° F. to 1750° F. In an aspect, the temperature of the reacted syngas 150 is reduced to about saturation temperature (for example, 237° F. under certain conditions) through ambient-temperature liquid coolant (e.g., water) that removes the particulate matter, the tars, and other contaminants from the reacted syngas 150. In additional or alternative aspects, the temperature of the reacted syngas 150 can be reduced to temperatures below the saturation temperature or to temperatures above the saturation temperature, but that are substantially lower than the temperature at which the reacted syngas 150 exits the steam reformation phase 140. In certain embodiments, the temperature of the reacted syngas 150 is lower than about 237° F., while in alternative or additional embodiments, the temperature of the reacted syngas 150 is higher than about 237° F.
Secondary gasification phase 130 increases the amount of feedstock material that is gasified and thus reduces the amount of or eliminates extraneous, abrasive solid matter that is conveyed to the steam reformation phase 140. Thus, when compared to conventional processes for synthesis gas production, implementation of the secondary gasification phase 130 has at least the following two advantages. (1) Increased efficiency of thermal management, e.g., heat exchange, temperature preservation, in the steam reformation phase 140, with ensuing increased efficiency (reduced operational costs, higher yield, etc.) of synthesis gas production. (2) Increased durability of equipment employed to implement the steam reformation phase 140 due in part to reduced amount of abrasive material injected in the equipment.
Additionally, at a time of achieving a production of clean syngas 170 or after a time interval thereafter, the multi-phased gasification process disclosed herein can be effected in an energy self-sustained mode. Utilization of produced clean syngas 170 to fuel the multi-phased gasification process described herein, leads to emissions that are low, similar to emissions that result when clean natural gas is utilized, for example. It should be appreciated that clean syngas produced through the multi-phased process described herein is carbon neutral. Utilization of clean syngas 170 also allows for consistent gas to be provided to the multi-phased gasification process. In contrast, with various conventional gasification processes the combustion of the feedstock provides process heat (process of combustion (POC) heat) which produces large amounts of contaminants and introduces process variation related to feedstock type, composition size, and moisture. In such mode, production of clean syngas 170 is effected at a predetermined rate with a specific product mix standard, e.g., a specific quality of clean syngas 170, and at least a portion of the clean syngas 170 fuels equipment that enables or implements at least one of primary gasification phase 120, secondary gasification phase 130, steam reformation phase 140, or clean-up phase 160. Such energy self-sustained mode of implementation of the multi-phased gasification process described herein is at least another advantage of the subject disclosure; self-sustained mode of implementation is generally not accomplished in conventional gasification systems.
It should be appreciated that, based on the content of fixed carbon (C) in the feedstock material 110, the secondary gasification phase 130 can be avoided and the solid material 128 can be discarded. In an aspect, low fixed C feedstock can result in solid material 128 with an elevated energy barrier for decomposition and gasification, and therefore production of gas 134 can be energy inefficient. In addition, in certain embodiments, primary gasification phase 120 or secondary gasification phase 130 can incorporate steam from an external source (not shown) to react gas that results from gasification and produce a larger concentration of synthetic gas (syngas) or a syngas with better composition.
To inject an amount of feedstock material 110 into accumulation vessel 203, at least one air-lock valve in the set of air-lock valves 202a is opened for a period of time suitable to inject the amount of feedstock material 110, while each air-lock valve in a set of air-lock valves 202b at the opposing end of accumulation vessel 203 remains closed. After injection of the amount of feedstock material 110 is complete, the at least one air-lock valve in the set of air-lock valves 202a is closed and the accumulation vessel 203 is pressurized to an operating pressure substantially the same as the pressure of primary gasification phase; e.g., pressure PP in the range from about 25 psi to about 100 psi. It should be appreciated that the sets of air-lock valves 202a and 202b and the accumulation vessel 203 enable supply of the amount of feedstock material 110 at any or most any predetermined pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. After pressurization of accumulation vessel 203, at least one air-lock valve in the set of air-lock valves 202b is opened, which allows at least a portion of the amount of feedstock material 110 to be supplied to accumulation chamber 204 at the operating pressure (e.g., a pressure in the range from about 25 psi to nearly 100 psi). In addition, accumulation chamber 204 includes a structure, such as an auger or a plunger, that enables ejecting the amount of feedstock material 110 collected in the accumulation chamber 204 to the pyrolysis chamber 206. In an embodiment, the plunger can be embodied in a pneumatic cylinder functionally coupled (e.g., through a rigid bar and suitable attachment(s)) to a plate that can push at least a portion of the amount of feedstock material 110 into the pyrolysis chamber 206. Accumulation chamber 204 also includes at least one control valve (not shown) that holds positive pressure (e.g., a pressure from about 25 psi to about 100 psi) in example gasification system 200.
In an aspect of the subject disclosure, the two sets of air-lock valves 202a and 202b, and the accumulation vessel 203 allow air removal from collected feedstock material 110. The air removal mitigates (e.g., avoids) injection of air into the pyrolysis chamber 206 and can improve quality (H2/CO ratio, concentration of impurities, etc.) of synthesis gas produced as part of generation of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) through the primary gasification phase (e.g., 120). In an aspect, as part of pressurization of accumulation vessel 203, operating pressure of example gasification system 200 flushes, or purges, air contained in the feedstock material 110 collected in the accumulation vessel 203. As indicated supra, the operating pressure can range from nearly 25 psi to nearly 100 psi.
Injection of the feedstock material 110 can be accomplished in batch mode. The set of air-lock valves 202b (such set represented with thick line segments in
In contrast to conventional gasification systems, in view of a steam reformation stage that is part of non-combustion gasification described herein, the feedstock material 110 injected into example gasification system 200 can contain moisture and thus it need not be dried prior to injection into the pyrolysis chamber 206. In particular, though not exclusively, in one or more embodiments, a volume of steam can be supplied to pyrolysis chamber 206. Injection of the volume of steam is optional—as represented by a dashed flat, short arrow that reaches the pyrolysis chamber 206—and allows control of the composition of produced synthesis gas during the various gasification phases conducted in example gasification system 200. In addition or in the alternative, steam can be injected in the accumulation vessel 203; injection of such steam also is optional. Injection of steam allows for production of synthesis gas with specific, predetermined chemical composition (e.g., ratio of H2/CO); based at least on moisture of the feedstock material 110, an amount (e.g., a flow or a volume) of steam is regulated to achieve a specific, desired ratio of steam to carbon for a desired syngas composition. Moreover, in additional or alternative embodiments, injection of feedstock material 110 into pyrolysis chamber 206 can include addition of water into the feedstock material; water can be injected in a specific water-to-solid ratio ρ (a real number). As an example, ρ can range from about 1 to about 1.5.
In one or more embodiments, such as the example embodiment illustrated in
The vessel 302 is also can be coated with thermally insulating material; a suitable amount of the thermally insulating material can be installed to ensure a substantive lower temperature in the environment outside vessel 302 when compared with the operating temperature inside vessel 302. In
Pyrolysis chamber 206 also includes an injection structure 307 (e.g., an injection chamber) that collects an amount of feedstock material to be supplied to metal drum 308. Injection structure 307 is functionally coupled to accumulation chamber 204; in an aspect, functional coupling is accomplished through direct attachment via one or more suitable means (e.g., welding, bolting, etc.). In additional or alternative embodiments, the injection structure 307 is part of the accumulation chamber 204. Attached to the injection structure 307 is a conduit 311 (e.g., pipe(s), tube(s), valve(s), or the like) that can receive specific amount(s) of steam at a predetermined controllable pressure to adjust moisture level, or content, of the amount of feedstock material that is introduced in metal drum 308 for gasification (e.g., primary gasification phase 120). The specific amount(s) of steam that are received through the conduit 311 can be based on various characteristics of the feedstock material 110, such as the amount of feedstock material 110 or the moisture level of the feedstock material 110. In one or more modes of operation accomplished in certain embodiments, conduit 311 also allows injection of water into the amount of feedstock material in the injection chamber 307; as described supra, in one or more scenarios, the water can be injected in a specific water-to-solid ratio ρ; e.g., ρ can range from about 1 to about 1.5. The specific value of the water-to-solid ration r depends at least in part on amount of carbon that is present in feedstock material 110. The conduit 311 can be attached to injection structure 307 by any suitable means (welding, bolting, etc.), and can be manufactured out of metal.
A group of one or more heating elements 312 (represented with grey-shaded rectangles in
Metal drum 308 houses feedstock material and has cylindrical symmetry or is substantially cylindrically symmetric; see, e.g.,
Metal drum 308 includes a set of openings (not shown) for release of feedstock by-product (not shown) via discharge structure 318. In addition, metal drum 308 includes a flight structure comprising one or more sets of flights; such structures are represented as crossed segments in
In the embodiment illustrated in
In example gasification system 200, as a result of primary gasification, pyrolysis chamber 206 supplies gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) to a steam reformation reactor 230, the gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) is provided at elevated pressure PP, e.g., a pressure in the range from about 25 psi to about 100 psi. The supplied gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) is represented with a set of open arrows in
In one or more embodiments, the steam source(s) 240 can include a boiler and additional structure to recover dissipated heat (e.g., heat from exhaust conduit(s)) from one or more of the pyrolysis chamber 206, solids reactor 210, and steam reformation reactor 230. Water for generation of steam can be supplied at least from a water recuperation loop that is part of a syngas clean-up phase (e.g., 160); as an example, water can be collected from a condenser 260 and a water cleansing circuit that includes tank 270, filter(s) 280, and cooling tower 290. In an aspect, condenser 260 reduces temperature and removes at least a portion of moisture of clean saturated syngas received from a wet scrubber that is part of the cleaning platform 250; in certain scenarios, temperature of the clean saturated syngas is reduced to at least about 75° F. Removed moisture is streamed into accumulation tank 270 for subsequent filtering and recuperation in tank 295.
As described supra, by-product solid matter (e.g., 128) is transferred to solids reactor 210, which performs a secondary gasification phase (e.g., 130) that results in additional syngas and disposable material. As described supra, temperature of the by-product solid matter (e.g., 128) can be increased up to about 1750° F. in order to gasify any or most any organic material that remains within the amount of by-product solid matter that is injected in the solids reactor 210. In an embodiment, the solids reactor 210 can receive streams of by-product solid matter from a plurality of pyrolysis chambers. Utilization of two or more pyrolysis chambers (or any suitable gasification chambers) can result in each of the two or more pyrolysis chambers receiving smaller loads of feedstock material; however, the two or more pyrolysis chambers can be manufactured with dimensions adequate for conventional transportation and related logistics (e.g., no need of special delivery vehicles or permits or transportation conditions). In such embodiment, the plurality of pyrolysis chambers is deployed instead of pyrolysis chamber 206, wherein each pyrolysis chamber can operate in substantially the same or the same manner as pyrolysis chamber 206. At least one advantage of a non-combustion gasification system that includes a plurality of pyrolysis chambers is that production rate of syngas can be increased without straining the capacity of the secondary solids reactor 210 to gasify feedstock by-product. In additional or alternative embodiments, the plurality of pyrolysis chambers can be separated in groups operationally coupled to a plurality of secondary solid reactors.
In one or more embodiments, such as in the example embodiment illustrated in
A group of one or more heating elements 412, such as sealed radiant tubes, an electrical element or other external source of heat, provide heat to cavity 404, which transfers heat to a metal drum 406 within the vessel 402, the metal drum houses the received feedstock by-product material and has cylindrical symmetry or is substantially cylindrically symmetric. In a scenario in which one or more sealed radiant tubes are utilized as heating element, relatively low BTU (British Thermal Unit) value process, or product, gas can be employed for combustion and source of heat.
Solids reactor 210 also includes an injection structure 416 (e.g., an injection chamber) that collects by-product solid matter (e.g., solid material 128) to be supplied to metal drum 406. Attached to injection structure 416 is a conduit 414 (pipe(s), tube(s), valve(s), etc.) that can receive specific amounts of steam to adjust moisture level of the feedstock by-product solid matter that is introduced in the metal drum 406 for gasification (e.g., secondary gasification phase 130. The conduit 414 can be attached to injection structure 416 by any suitable means (welding, bolting, etc.).
The metal drum 406 can rotate about its axis of symmetry or substantial symmetry, such axis is illustrated in
Metal drum 406 includes a set of openings (not shown) for release of disposable solid matter (not shown) via a discharge structure 418. In addition, the metal drum 406 includes a flight structure comprising one or more sets of flights; such structure is represented as crossed segments in
In the illustrated embodiment, a set of five exhaust pipes, or collection pipes, 432 stream any produced synthesis gas (e.g., 134) out of the solid reactor 210. It should be appreciated that the number of exhaust pipes can be different in additional or alternative embodiments.
In example gasification system 200, syngas produced in the solids reactor 210 can be conveyed to steam reformation reactor 230, whereas the disposable material (e.g., 138) can be discarded through disposal structure 220. Deployment (e.g., installation, testing, acceptance, and maintenance) of disposal structure 220 increases duration of the example multi-phase gasification system 200 through mitigation of transfer of disposable solids (ash, tar, mineral impurities, etc.) through steam reformation reactor 230; particularly, though not exclusively, through the set of metal coils 232. In an embodiment, the disposal structure 220 is a coolant-jacketed auger that removes, or ejects, the disposable material (e.g., 138) at a discharge end of solids reactor 210. The coolant can be water (at ambient temperature or refrigerated) or other liquid fluid that extracts heat as the auger ejects the disposable solids; the material of the auger can be substantially any simple metal, metal alloy, or ceramic alloy with physical properties suitable for operation in a high-pressure, high-temperature and high-abrasion environment. A set of air-lock valves 222 maintain operating pressure, e.g., a pressure in the range from nearly 25 psi to nearly 100 psi, of the solids reactor 210 in accumulation vessel 224 as the coolant-jacketed auger operates. As described supra, the set of air-lock valves 222 and accumulation vessel 224 mitigate (i) uncontrolled oxidation and ensuing combustion of the disposable material and (ii) uncontrolled ejection of the high-pressure disposable material. Similarly to accumulation chamber 204, accumulation vessel 224 includes at least one control valve that holds positive pressure (e.g., a pressure in the range of about 25 psi to about 100 psi) when the disposal material is released to the accumulation vessel 224. The at least one control valve also enables decompression of the accumulation vessel 224.
Syngas that is reacted in the steam reformation reactor 230 is conveyed to a cleaning platform 250 as part of a clean-up phase (e.g., 160). The cleaning platform 250 can include one or more of a set of scrubbing apparatus(es) (a wet scrubber, a dry scrubber, a filter etc.) or a set of cyclones; wherein the one or more cyclones in the set of cyclones can be employed for ash separation. In the illustrated example gasification system, cleaning platform 250 includes a wet scrubber, which can be a Venturi wet scrubber that exploits a liquid coolant, such as water, and can remove a substantive amount (e.g., 90-95%) of particles with typical sizes of the order of a micrometer or smaller; e.g., particulate matter with sizes below 1 μm. Operating pressure (e.g., about 25 psi to about 100 psi) in example non-combustion gasification system 200 can convey scrubbing water to accumulation tank 270, or accumulation tank 270. Collected water can be filtered through filter(s) 280, which can include screen filter(s), dual-media sand filter(s), bag filter(s), or the like. Recycled, filtered scrubbing water is circulated through cooling tower structure 290 (also referred to as cooling tower 290 in the subject disclosure) and collected in tank 295, or accumulation tank 295. Condenser 260, filter(s) 280, cooling tower 290, and accumulation tank 295 form at least part of a water recuperation circuit which is closed by the wet scrubber that is part of cleaning platform 250 and accumulation tank 270. Recuperated or recycled water can be reintroduced in the wet scrubber in cleaning platform 250. In addition, as indicated supra, recycled water can be utilized for steam generation.
Design of example gasification system 200 is modular and can be deployed in substantially any location with access to feedstock supplies. Pyrolysis chamber 206 and solids reactor 210 are dimensioned to enable transportation in standard roads without incurring or warranting especial transportation conditions, such as need of escort vehicles. Therefore, costs associated with transportation can be contained, which increases commercial viability of example non-combustion gasification system 200 and structure, components, and equipment thereof. Other equipment or structures employed in example gasification system 200 also are dimensioned so as to allow ease of transportation.
In addition, and in contrast to certain conventional gasification systems for production of syngas, the multi-phased gasification process (e.g., 100) and related example multi-phased gasification system 200 described herein can produce syngas without reliance in complex materials, such as ionized, electrostatically enhanced water, or complex structures such as those that provide ionized, electrostatically enhanced water or other types of chemically processed water.
In an aspect, raw syngas is supplied to heat exchanger(s) 520, which can increase the temperature of a flow of combustion air as it circulates through the heat exchanger 520. In an aspect, the one or more heat exchangers can include various heat exchangers, including gas-to-gas heat exchanger(s) or liquid-to-gas heat exchanger(s). Such combustion air is part of the closed circuit (not shown in
Magnitude of temperature increase ΔTs of the flow of steam ranges from about 100° F. to several hundred ° F.; ΔTs depends on design factors such as elements or parts, and sizes thereof, of the one or more heat exchangers 520, mechanism(s) of heat transfer exploited by the heat exchanger 520, and temperature of the raw syngas that supplies the heat excess. As an example, in certain embodiments, ΔTs=300° F., wherein the initial temperature of the flow of steam can be nearly 300° F.
A flow of heated steam at temperature Th, e.g., at least 600° F., is supplied to super-heater structure 530, also referred to as super-heater 530 in the subject disclosure, to further increase the temperature of the heated steam to at most about 1750° F. Super heated steam flow(s) (indicated with short, flat open arrows in diagram 500) are supplied to one or more of steam reformation reactor 230, pyrolysis chamber 206, or solids reactor 210.
In addition, or in the alternative, assessment platform 620 also can analyze produced syngas (e.g., 134) in solids reactor 210, and based at least on such analysis it can establish that the quality of the produced syngas is sufficient to convey the syngas to a clean-up phase (e.g., 160) instead of a steam reformation phase (e.g., 140). Data collected as part of the analysis can be contrasted with a set of quality criteria to establish if quality of syngas warrants bypassing the steam reformation reactor 230. In certain embodiments, assessment platform 620 also can analyze a sample of feedstock material 110 and determine that carbon content in the feedstock material is sufficiently low so as not to justify steam reaction, and thus syngas produced in the solids reactor 210 can be supplied directly to the clean-up phase (e.g., 160).
It should be noted that the added complexity (structural and procedural) of the analysis conducted by assessment platform 620 and deployment and operation of solids loader 610 can outweigh the cost of disposing solid matter with reformation value, e.g., solid matter than can yield syngas upon gasification, particularly though not exclusively in operational locations in which feedstock is costly, such as in remote locations, or during unusual operational conditions, e.g., stored feedstock is unusable because of poor storage conditions. Similarly, complexity of analysis of produced syngas can outweigh the cost of circulating syngas into steam reformation reactor 230, for example, in conditions in which steam reformation reactor 230 or steam source(s) 240 operate under capacity.
In one or more embodiments, assessment platform 620 can exploit artificial intelligence (AI) methods to generate the foregoing assessment(s) without human intervention as described supra. Such intelligence can be generated through inference, e.g., reasoning and conclusion synthesis based upon a set of metrics, arguments, or known outcomes in controlled scenarios, or training sets of data. Artificial intelligence methods or techniques referred to herein typically apply advanced mathematical algorithms—e.g., decision trees, neural networks, regression analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) for feature and pattern extraction, cluster analysis, genetic algorithm, or reinforced learning—to a data set.
Such methodologies can include, for example, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) and related prototypical dependency models can be employed. General probabilistic graphical models, such as Dempster-Shafer networks and Bayesian networks like those created by structure search using a Bayesian model score or approximation can also be utilized. In addition, linear classifiers, such as support vector machines (SVMs), non-linear classifiers such as methods referred to as “neural network” methodologies, fuzzy logic methodologies can also be employed. Moreover, game theoretic models and other approaches that perform data fusion, etc., can be exploited.
Processor(s) (not shown) can be configured to provide or can provide, at least in part, the described functionality of an assessment platform, or components therein, that can determine whether quality of produced synthesis gas in a secondary gasification phase (e.g., 130) warrants bypassing a steam reformation phase, or spectral properties of disposable solid(s) indicated that further gasification can be achieved through implementation of an additional cycle of the secondary gasification phase.
In an aspect, to provide such functionality, the processor(s) can exploit a bus that can be part of the assessment platform to exchange data or any other information amongst components therein and a memory (not shown) or elements therein, such as or algorithm store, data store, or monitoring logic, etc. The bus can be embodied in at least one of a memory bus, a system bus, an address bus, a message bus, or any other conduit, protocol, or mechanism for data or information exchange among components that execute a process or are part of execution of a process. The exchanged information can include at least one of code instructions, code structure(s), data structures, or the like.
It is noted that the various example gasification systems described herein include equipment, components, or other structure for automated control of the various portions of the multi-phased gasification process disclosed herein. The equipment, components, or other structure for automated control can be deployed and configured (e.g., programmed) in accordance with various aspects described herein and via conventional and novel control paradigms, mechanisms, or programming.
In view of the example systems described above, example process(es) that can be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter can be better appreciated with reference to flowcharts in
Regarding example method 700, at act 705, feedstock material is injected in a gasification chamber. In certain embodiments, the gasification chamber is embodied in one or more pyrolysis chambers. As described supra, injecting the feedstock material can include removing air there from, to ensure the gasification does not include combustion reactions which can produce tars and other oxidant-based contaminants. In addition, in one or more embodiments, the injecting act can include injecting a volume of steam into the gasification chamber; injecting the volume of steam allows controlling, to certain degree, the composition of produced synthesis gas during gasification. The volume of steam can be superheated at a temperature of at least 1200° F. Moreover, as described supra, the injecting act can include mixing the feedstock material with water in a specific water-to-solid ratio ρ (with ρ a real number); from example, ρ can range from nearly 1 to nearly 1.5. At act 710, the feedstock material is gasified and a first volume of gas (e.g., gas 124) and a first amount of by-product material are produced. The feedstock material is gasified at a first temperature and a first pressure in the range from about 25 psi to about 100 psi, and the first temperature ranges from about 1000° F. to about 1750° F. In an aspect, as described supra, if gasifying the feedstock material is accomplished in one or more pyrolysis chambers (see, e.g.,
At act 715, the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) is collected. In an aspect, the collecting act includes releasing the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) into a reactor for steam reformation via a set of gas collection structures, such as pipes and regulation valves (see, e.g.,
At act 740, at least a portion of the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) and at least a portion of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) are reacted with steam within the reactor for steam reformation (e.g., 230). As discussed supra, the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) is reacted with a volume of superheated steam at a reaction temperature TR for a predetermined time ΔτR. At act 745, a volume of syngas obtained in part from at least the portion of the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) reacted with steam and at least the portion of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) reacted with steam is cleaned. The cleaning can be conducted in a cleaning platform (e.g., 250), which includes scrubbing apparatus(es) (e.g., wet scrubber, dry scrubber) or other cleaning structure (e.g., one or more cyclones); in certain embodiments, the other cleaning structure can be functionally coupled to the scrubbing apparatus(es) for cleaning the volume of syngas. At act 750, the clean volume of syngas is supplied.
Regarding example method 800, at act 805, feedstock material is injected in a gasification chamber. Injecting the feedstock material can include removing air there from, to ensure the gasification does not include combustion reactions, which can produce tars and other oxidant-based contaminants. In addition, the injecting act can include injecting a volume of steam into the gasification chamber; injecting the volume of steam allows controlling, to certain degree, the composition of produced gas (e.g., gas stream 124) during gasification. In an aspect, the volume of steam can be superheated at a temperature of at least 1200° F. Moreover, the injecting act can include mixing the feedstock material with water in a specific water-to-solid ratio ρ (a real number); from example, ρ can range from nearly 1 to nearly 1.5. At act 810, the feedstock material is gasified and a first volume of gas and a first amount of by-product material are produced. In an aspect, as described supra, the temperature at which at least the portion of the first amount of by-product material is gasified is at most about 1750° F., whereas the pressure at which at least the portion of the first amount of by-product material is gasified ranges from 25 psi to 100 psi. In another aspect, as described supra, if gasifying the feedstock material is accomplished in one or more pyrolysis chambers (see, e.g.,
At act 815, the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) is collected. In an aspect, the collecting includes releasing the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) into a reactor for steam reformation, such as reactor 230, via a set of gas collection structures, such as pipes and regulation valves (see, e.g., elements 332 in
At act 840, at least a portion of the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) is reacted with steam within the reactor for steam reformation. At act 845, a volume of syngas obtained in part from at least the portion of the first volume of gas (e.g., pyrolysis gas) reacted with steam and at least the portion of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) reacted with steam is cleaned. The cleaning can be conducted in the cleaning platform (e.g., 250), or any part thereof (a wet scrubber, a dry scrubber, a cyclone, a filter, etc.). In an aspect, as described supra, cleaning at least the portion of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) includes collecting the second volume of gas directly from the solids reactor. In one or more embodiment, the cleaning of at least the portion of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) includes comprises analyzing a chemical composition of the second volume of gas (e.g., syngas) and, based at least on the chemical composition, bypassing the reactor for steam reformation (e.g., steam reformation reactor 230), as described supra. At act 850, the clean volume of syngas and at least the clean portion of the second volume of syngas are supplied.
As described supra, the supplying acts 750 and 850 include streaming, or delivering, at least a first portion of clean syngas into one or more combustion lines that produce heat for gasification phase(s), steam reformation, and other processes that can be part of the multi-phase gasification of feedstock described herein. In addition, supplying acts 750 and 850 also can include converting at least a second portion of clean syngas into fuel for operating an electricity generator, which can power up one or more structures (e.g., motor drives that rotate the set of drums in pyrolysis chamber 206 or within solids reactor 210) that enable the multi-phased gasification of feedstock disclosed herein.
As employed in the subject disclosure, the term “relative to” means that a value A established relative to a value B signifies that A is a function of the value B. The functional relationship between A and B can be established mathematically or by reference to a theoretical or empirical relationship. As used herein, coupled means directly or indirectly connected in series by wires, traces or other connecting elements. Coupled elements may receive signals from each other.
In the subject disclosure, terms such as “store,” “data store,” data storage,” and substantially any term(s) that convey other information storage component(s) relevant to operation and functionality of a functional element (e.g., a platform) or component described herein, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprising the memory. The memory components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.
By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of further illustration and not limitation, RAM can be available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.
Certain illustrative components or associated sub-components, logical blocks, modules, and circuits, described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Additionally, at least one processor may comprise one or more modules operable to perform one or more of the steps and/or actions described above.
Further, certain steps or actions (or acts) of a process, method, or algorithm described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor, such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. Further, in some aspects, the processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. Additionally, in some aspects, certain steps or acts of a process, method, or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes or instructions on a machine readable medium or computer readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.
While the foregoing disclosure discusses illustrative aspects and/or embodiments, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the described aspects and/or embodiments as defined by the appended claims. In addition, although elements of the described aspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Moreover, all or a portion of any aspect and/or embodiment may be utilized with all or a portion of any other aspect and/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/218,197, entitled “Rotatory Retort Pyrolyzer System” and filed on Jun. 18, 2009. The entirety of the above-noted US Provisional Patent Application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61218197 | Jun 2009 | US |