Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for chemical-looping combustion of a solid hydrocarbon-containing feed using a particular configuration of the reduction zone with: a first reaction zone R1 operating under dense fluidized bed conditions; a second reaction zone R2; a fast separation zone S3 for separation of the unburnt solid feed particles, of fly ashes and of the oxygen-carrying material particles within a mixture coming from zone R2; fumes dedusting S4; a particle stream division zone D7, part of the particles being directly recycled to first reaction zone R1, the other part being sent to an elutriation separation zone S5 in order to collect the ashes through a line 18 and to recycle the dense particles through a line 20 to first reaction zone R1. The invention also relates to a chemical-looping combustion plant allowing said method to be implemented.

Abstract: An apparatus for a three-stage cooling and scrubbing system for the treatment of hot crude gases and liquid slag downstream of an entrained flow gasification. Crude gas and slag are firstly cooled and prescrubbed in a first stage by injection of water from ring and/or wall nozzles into a free quench space. Crude gas and slag are then fed together with excess water into a waterbath as a second stage before intensive spraying is once again carried out as a third cooling and scrubbing stage in an annular space.

Abstract: A saturator includes: a flow path inside of which a first fluid flows; a first heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between the first fluid and a second fluid; a second heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between a third fluid and the first fluid after the first fluid has passed through the first heat exchange unit; a humidifying unit that adds water to the first fluid upstream from the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit; and a conveyance path that conveys the third fluid after heat exchange from the second heat exchange unit to the upstream side of the first heat exchange unit and causes said third fluid to flow into the flow path as the first fluid.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, tar crackers, and methods for breaking down vaporized tars in a syngas stream are described. An example system may include a gasifier comprising a combustion chamber configured to, during a startup operation, receive heated air at a first port near a bottom of the combustion chamber and to support combustion of a column of biomass feedstock in an upward direction within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber may be further configured to receive, during normal operation, air at a second port near a top of the combustion chamber to support gasification of the column of biomass feedstock in a downward direction within the combustion chamber to provide syngas from the first port near the bottom of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cylindrical non-melt and partial melt type entrained flow bed gasifier with one or more burners mounted on the top thereof for supplying pulverized raw coal and oxidizer thereto, wherein each of the burners comprises three or four pipes so as to form a central supplying line for injecting the pulverized coal with a carrier gas into the gasifier, a primary oxidizer annular region around the central supplying line having a plurality of primary oxidizer supplying bores for injecting primary oxidizer vertically or at an angle to the injection region of the pulverized coal supplied through the central supplying line so as to direct the pulverized coal to the central region, and an outer cooling annular region around the primary oxidizer annular region for flowing cooling water, which is operated preferably at a temperature range of 1,250˜1,450° C., or of 1,150˜1,500° C. according to the properties of the coal.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode, a case that receives the electrode assembly therein, a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode, a second terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, a cap plate coupled with an opening of the case and electrically connected to the first electrode, the cap plate including a short circuit hole, a short circuit member located in the short circuit hole, the short circuit member being deformable to electrically connect the cap plate to the second terminal, and an upper cover that covers the short circuit hole. The second terminal includes a positioning groove into which a lateral end of the upper cover is insertable, the upper cover being slidably installed with respect to the second terminal.

Abstract: A method of controlling a circulating fluidized bed gasifier includes feeding first and second portions of particulate material to be gasified through inlets in a gasifier. Oxygen and steam are fed through a bottom grid into a lower portion of the gasifier to fluidize the bed. Product gas and entrained particles are discharged from an upper portion of the gasifier. Particles are separated from the product gas and a portion of the separated particles is returned to the lower portion. A portion of the returned particles is oxidized to generate heat. Heat and oxidizing products from the lower portion are transferred to the center portion to generate the product gas. A ratio of the first and second portions of particulate material to be gasified is determined on the basis of a measured temperature profile so as to control the vertical temperature distribution in the gasifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hydrogen and a passivating oxide using water splitting techniques is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container filled with a passivating-oxide preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of a solid-state material during oxidation and a conduit for inserting a solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent in which the solid-state material is submerged in the passivating-oxide preventing agent without being in direct contact with water. The solid-state material is capable of dissolving in the passivating-oxide preventing agent and reacting with the water. Thus, the method provides continuous dissolution of the solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent and its alloys in the presence of excess water at or near room temperature to enable continuous generation of hydrogen, passivating oxide and heat.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for producing a feedstock for a reformer, the mixing apparatus including at least one mixing vessel comprising a cylindrical vessel with a conical bottom; a steam inlet configured for introducing steam into the conical bottom; a carbonaceous material inlet configured for introducing a carbonaceous feed into the cylindrical vessel; and an outlet for a reformer feedstock comprising at least 0.3 pounds of steam per pound of carbonaceous material, with the at least one mixing vessel configured for operation at a pressure of greater than about 10 psig.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a process for hydrogen production in which at least a part of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas (a) is passed into a reformer (c), wherein the feed gas is contacted in the reformer with a catalyst and the feed gas is converted to hydrogen and solid carbon, for the direct production of a hydrogenous gas at filling stations for sale to a consumer, and also to a reactor (d) for hydrogen production.

Abstract: A solids circulation system receives a gas stream containing char or other reacting solids from a first reactor. The solids circulation system includes a cyclone configured to receive the gas stream from the first reactor, a dipleg from the cyclone to a second reactor, and a riser from the second reactor which merges with the gas stream received by the cyclone. The second reactor has a dense fluid bed and converts the received materials to gaseous products. A conveying fluid transports a portion of the bed media from the second reactor through the riser to mix with the gas stream prior to cyclone entry. The bed media helps manipulate the solids that is received by the cyclone to facilitate flow of solids down the dipleg into the second reactor. The second reactor provides additional residence time, mixing and gas-solid contact for efficient conversion of char or reacting solids.

Abstract: A square secondary battery suppresses welding failure from occurring by temporarily retaining and securing a sealing cover and enabling detection by a leakage test even when welding failure occurs. The square secondary battery has a case surface portion with an injection opening for injecting an electrolyte, a sealing cover disposed at a position opposite to the case surface portion and sealing the injection opening and having an outer edge welded to the case surface portion to seal the injection opening, and a pressure sensitive adhesive member interposed between the sealing cover and the case surface portion for securing the sealing cover to the case surface portion. A gas passage is provided between the case surface portion and the sealing cover for communicating a gap formed at a position outer to the pressure sensitive adhesive member with respect to a battery case and the injection opening in a ventilation manner.

Abstract: A method and a device for generating of hydrogen are provided with which an instantaneous release of hydrogen in considerable amounts is possible. The method comprises a one or two step mixing including injecting the fuel and an activator fluid into a reaction chamber. The device is adapted to be operated with such a method. Further, a fuel suitable for the use with such a method is provided, the fuel being based on a dry metal hydride or a dry metal borohydride being dispersed in a non-aqueous dispersion medium. Moreover, a method for (re-) fuelling the hydrogen generating device at a service station and a method for supplying a service station with fuel are provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator and method for generating hydrogen gas for a fuel cell stack. The hydrogen generator includes container, and a first reactant storage area configured to contain a liquid first reactant. The hydrogen generator also includes a reaction area and a solid second reactant within the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The hydrogen generator further includes a flexible liquid delivery member extending into the reaction area and configured to deliver liquid reactant from the first reactant storage area to the reaction area. The flexible liquid delivery member includes a flexible portion that flexes to allow the delivery member to move with the solid second reactant as the second reactant is consumed.

Abstract: A method and system for processing an input fuel gas and steam to produce separate CO2 and output fuel gas streams. The method comprises the steps of using a decarbonizer segment for reacting at least a solid sorbent with the fuel gas and steam to remove carbon from the input fuel gas and to produce the output fuel gas stream in an exhaust gas from the decarbonizer; using a calciner segment for reacting the solid sorbent from the decarbonizer segment therein to release the CO2 into the CO2 gas stream; wherein CO2 partial pressures and temperatures in the decarbonizer and calciner segments respectively are controlled such that the temperature in the decarbonizer segment is higher than the temperature in the calciner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for chemical-looping combustion of a solid hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, wherein the ashes and fines are removed at the outlet of reactive oxidation zone R1 by sending transported phase (5) coming from reactive zone R1, comprising gas and solid, to a gas-solid separation zone S2, then by sending solid stream (7) coming from gas-solid separation zone S2 to a dense phase elutriation separation zone S3 fluidized by a non-reducing gas (8) allowing the fines and the fly ashes to be separated from the oxygen-carrying material particles. Optionally, deeper separation is carried out in a dedusting zone S5 arranged downstream from dense phase elutriation separation zone S3. The invention also relates to a chemical-looping combustion plant allowing the method according to the invention to be implemented.

Abstract: A food container (2) includes a rigid thermoformed plastics carton (4) which holds a dry food 6 and is closed by a removable film closure (8). The film (8) incorporates a hydride which is arranged to generate hydrogen on contact with moisture. Additionally, the film (8) is arranged to have relatively high water vapour permeability and relatively low hydrogen gas permeability. In use, water vapour from air surrounding the container (2) passes into the film (8) and reacts with the hydride to generate hydrogen. Due to the relatively low hydrogen permeability of the film (8), the hydrogen is restricted from escaping from the container. Instead, the hydrogen then reacts with any oxygen within the container in a reaction catalysed by a catalyst also associated with the film closure (8), thereby to scavenge oxygen within the container (2) and protect the food (6) from oxidation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for the cooling of hot gases by means of a cooling fluid includes at least one vertically oriented tank containing a cooling fluid bath and having a collection space of the vapor phase generated above said cooling fluid bath, at least one vertical tubular element inserted inside said tank, and submerged in the bath open at the ends and coaxial to the tank, at least one spiral duct which rotates around the axis of the tank, inserted in the coaxial tubular element, at least one outlet for the vapor phase generated on the head of tank, wherein at least one transfer line is inserted in the lower part of the vertical tank for feeding the hot gases to the tank, the transfer line being open at the two ends, of which one is connected with the vertical tank and the other is free and outside the tank, the transfer line being tubular and protruding laterally outside the exchanger, the transfer line containing at least one central internal duct having an outer jacket in which a cooling fluid circulates,

Abstract: Devices for a three-stage scrubbing system for treatment of hot crude gases and liquid slag by an entrained flow gasification. Crude gas and slag are conducted downward into a water bath in a central tube. The upper part of the central tube consists of a double-threaded tube screen welded in a gas-tight manner, in which water is injected directly as the first scrubbing and cooling stage in the interior thereof. In the water bath, a bubble column is formed, which simultaneously constitutes the second scrubbing and cooling stage. Surface bodies arranged in three layers increase the scrubbing effect. After leaving the bubble column, the crude gas is again sprayed with water in a cavity, wherein one or more nozzle rings are disposed. This forms the third scrubbing stage. The crude gas then leaves the quenching and scrubbing apparatus in steam-saturated form at 200-220° C. and is sent to further treatment.

Abstract: A reactor using honeycomb catalyst is provided for fuel reformation with high activity and heat stability. The reactor comprises a heating tube, a methane gas inlet, a three-way steam inlet and a hydrogen-rich gas outlet. The three-way steam inlet is near to the heating tube for providing heat required for reformation and to reduce power consumption. The heating tube is made of an inconel material so that the overall reaction may be carried out at high temperature. The heating tube is set with a honeycomb carrier of cordierite. The honeycomb carrier is pasted with carbon nanotube and heat-treated to increase internal surface area. The honeycomb carrier has a Pt/CeO2/?-Al2O3 catalyst; is placed in the heating tube; and has honeycomb-pores channels parallel to a main axis of the heating tube.