Coal And Water Patents (Class 48/202)
  • Publication number: 20090229182
    Abstract: Particulate compositions are described comprising a carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke and/or coal, treated or otherwise associated with a gasification catalyst, where the catalyst is at least in part derived from a leachate from a biomass char, for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Nelson Yee
  • Publication number: 20090199478
    Abstract: The invention provides a process that comminutes fuel solids in a steam-driven shear field, with controlled water content and catalyst, with gasification of the particles entrained in the vented steam. Unlike conventional gasification methods the invention requires no dioxygen to be present, and produces dry friable ash that has significant marketable value as a material in its own right.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: David W. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20090166588
    Abstract: Particulate compositions are described comprising an intimate mixture of a petroleum coke, coal and a gasification catalyst, where the gasification catalyst is loaded onto at least the coal for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Spitz, Alkis S. Rappas
  • Publication number: 20090165376
    Abstract: Steam generating gasification reactors for providing high-pressure and high-temperature steam for catalytic gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock can be based on oxygen blown gasification reactors adapted for processing a slurry feedstock comprising at least 40% water. The exhaust from the slurry gasifier comprises at least steam, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The slurry composition and the oxygen to fuel ratio can be varied to control the ratio of carbonaceous gases in the generator exhaust. By directing substantially all of exhaust gases produced from the slurry gasification reactor through the catalytic gasifier and subsequent gas separation and sequestration processes, a greatly higher energy efficiency and decreased carbon footprint can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Francis S. Lau, Earl T. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20090151250
    Abstract: Systems and processes for producing syngas and power therefrom are provided. One or more feedstocks and one or more oxidants can be combined in a fluidized reaction zone operated at a temperature from 550° C. to 1,050° C. to provide a syngas. Heat can be indirectly exchanged in a first zone from the syngas to a condensate to provide steam. Heat can also be indirectly exchanged in a second zone from the syngas to the steam to provide superheated steam. Heat can then be indirectly exchanged in a third zone from the syngas to provide a cooled syngas and the condensate for the first zone. At least a portion of the superheated steam can be directly supplied to one or more steam turbines to produce power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: RAVINDRA K. AGRAWAL
  • Publication number: 20090107046
    Abstract: A fuel feed system for use in a gasification system includes a feed preparation section, a pressurization and conveyance section, and a slag additive section. The feed preparation section is configured to grind the fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust the moisture content within the particulate fuel. The pressurization and conveyance section is coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, and includes at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure. The slag additive section is configured to feed a slag additive mixture into the gasifier and to substantially control the total water content within the gasification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Publication number: 20090047193
    Abstract: A method for operating a syngas cooler is provided. The method includes channeling a flow of syngas into an annular cooling chamber having a longitudinal axis, injecting a cooling fluid into a manifold such that the cooling fluid is channeled substantially circumferentially about the annular cooling chamber, and discharging the cooling fluid from the manifold such that the cooling fluid contacts a surface of the cooling chamber at a predetermined angle relative to the axis of the cooling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Judeth Helen Brannon Corry, Yulianto Salahuddin Mohsin
  • Publication number: 20090038316
    Abstract: An integrated process wherein a CO2-free fuel gas is produced from steam reforming a carbonaceous material and sent to a gas turbine which is associated with an electrical generator. The CO2 produced during the steam reforming of the carbonaceous material is passed to a second steam reforming zone where it is mixed with a second carbonaceous feed to produce a syn-gas that is used to produce ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: International Financial Services #1, LLC
    Inventor: Stanley R. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20090007488
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for use in a fixed-bed gasification system for the disengagement of gas and the removal of ash and charcoal. In one example, the invention includes an auger system, a water seal system, and a gas disengagement system. The gas disengagement mechanism prevents plugging and blinding of the gas offtake system and simultaneously limits particulate entrainment in the gas produced by the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Darren D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7452392
    Abstract: This invention is a reactor and a process for the conversion of organic waste material such as municipal trash, sewage, post-consumer refuse, and biomass to commercially salable materials. The invention produces the following: 1. Maximum energy conversion from the organic material 2. High volume consumption of the organic feed material 3. Less pollution of gaseous products than prior art systems 4. Solid residuals for disposal are minimal and non-hazardous. The conversion is accomplished by combining anaerobic gasification and pyrolysis of the feed organic material and making it into synthetic gas. The synthetic gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons (CxHy), hydrogen, and carbon monoxide with small amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. An essential feature of the invention is a hot driver gas, devoid of free oxygen and rich in water, which supplies the entire thermal and chemical energy needed for the reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventors: Peter A. Nick, Hugh Hunnicutt, Robert Roy Peters, Eric A. Anderson, Geoffrey E. Dolbear
  • Publication number: 20080216406
    Abstract: A method of gasification burner online feeding for a coal-water slurry gasifier, where a coal-water slurry line and an oxidizer line are both protected by shield gas. The method may realize online, pressurized and continuous feeding of the gasification burners which are fixed after they stalled for other reasons than their own, thus greatly reducing the probability of accidental shutdown of gasifiers and improving the reliability of long-term service of the multi-nozzle opposed gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Xin Wang, Minglin Zhang, Qingrui Zhu, Min Zhu, Jiyong Zhang, Xinfang Jiang, Yifei Zhang, Yongkui Sun, Mei Han, Weihua Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080202028
    Abstract: The present invention provides a carbonaceous feedstock gasification system with integrated control subsystem. The system generally comprises, in various combinations, a gasification reactor vessel (or converter) having one or more processing zones and one or more plasma heat sources, a solid residue handling subsystem, a gas quality conditioning subsystem, as well as an integrated control subsystem for managing the overall energetics of the conversion of the carbonaceous feedstock to energy, as well as maintaining all aspects of the gasification processes at an optimal set point. The gasification system may also optionally comprise a heat recovery subsystem and/or a product gas regulating subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: PLASCO ENERGY GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Kenneth C Campbell, D Michael Feasby, Ke Li
  • Publication number: 20080190024
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing substitute natural gas and electricity, while mitigating production of any greenhouse gasses. The system includes a hydrogasification reactor, to form a gas stream including natural gas and a char stream, and an oxygen burner to combust the char material to form carbon oxides. The system also includes an algae farm to convert the carbon oxides to hydrocarbon material and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
    Inventor: Raymond Hobbs
  • Publication number: 20080172941
    Abstract: A gasification reactor comprising a vessel (1), provided at its upper end with a downwardly directed burner (2), and provided with supply conduits for an oxidizer gas (3), a carbonaceous feed (4) and a moderator gas (5), a combustion chamber (6) in the upper half of the vessel provided with a product gas outlet (7) at its bottom end and an opening for the outlet of the burner (2) at its top end, wherein between the wall of the combustion chamber (6) and the wall of the vessel (1) an annular space (9) is provided, and wherein the wall of the combustion chamber (6) comprises an arrangement of interconnected parallel arranged tubes (10) resulting in a substantially gas-tight wall running from a common lower arranged distributor (12) to a higher arranged common header (11), said distributor (12) provided with a cooling water supply conduit (14) and said header (11) provided with a steam discharge conduit (13) and wherein the steam discharge conduit (13) and the water supply conduit (14) are fluidly connected to a
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Steffen JANCKER, Thomas Paul Von Kossak-Glowczewski, Joachim Wolff
  • Publication number: 20080134579
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are unmixed fuel processors and methods for using the same. In one embodiment, an unmixed fuel processor comprises: an oxidation reactor comprising an oxidation portion and a gasifier, a CO2 acceptor reactor, and a regeneration reactor. The oxidation portion comprises an air inlet, effluent outlet, and an oxygen transfer material. The gasifier comprises a solid hydrocarbon fuel inlet, a solids outlet, and a syngas outlet. The CO2 acceptor reactor comprises a water inlet, a hydrogen outlet, and a CO2 sorbent, and is configured to receive syngas from the gasifier. The regeneration reactor comprises a water inlet and a CO2 stream outlet. The regeneration reactor is configured to receive spent CO2 adsorption material from the gasification reactor and to return regenerated CO2 adsorption material to the gasification reactor, and configured to receive oxidized oxygen transfer material from the oxidation reactor and to return reduced oxygen transfer material to the oxidation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Zhe Cui
  • Publication number: 20080005966
    Abstract: A method and device for cooling hot crude gas and slag from entrained flow gasification of liquid and solid combustibles at crude gas temperatures ranging from 1,200 to 1,800° C. and at pressures of up to 80 bar in a cooling chamber disposed downstream of the gasification reactor by injecting water. The cooling water is distributed, with a first portion being finely dispersed into to cooling chamber and a second portion being fed at the bottom into an annular gap provided between the pressure-carrying tank wall and an incorporated metal apron for protecting said pressure-carrying tank wall. The second portion of the cooling water flows upward in the annular gap and trickles down the inner side of the metal apron in the form of a water film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Norbert Fischer, Dietmar Degenkolb, Friedemann Mehlhose, Manfred Schingnitz
  • Publication number: 20070277437
    Abstract: A high efficiency gasification process for converting carbonaceous solids to methane and apparatus for its practice are described. The process includes reacting steam and carbonaceous solids comprising ash in the presence of alkali metal catalyst in a gasification reactor to produce combustible gases and char particles comprising ash and alkali metal catalyst constituents, treating a stream of such char particles in an alkali metal catalyst recovery system to recover the catalyst constituents as alkali metal compounds, and recycling such recovered compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Atul C. Sheth
  • Patent number: 7247281
    Abstract: A methanation assembly for use with a water supply and a gas supply containing gas to be methanated in which a reactor assembly has a plurality of methanation reactors each for methanating gas input to the assembly and a gas delivery and cooling assembly adapted to deliver gas from the gas supply to each of said methanation reactors and to combine water from the water supply with the output of each methanation reactor being conveyed to a next methanation reactor and carry the mixture to such next methanation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Sanjay C. Parab
  • Patent number: 7229483
    Abstract: A method for gasifying carbonaceous materials to fuel gases comprises the formation of an ultra-superheated steam (USS) composition substantially containing water vapor, carbon dioxide and highly reactive free radicals thereof, at a temperature of about 2400° F. (1316° C.) to about 5000° F. (2760° C.). The USS composition comprising a high temperature clear, colorless flame is contacted with a carbonaceous material for rapid gasification/reforming thereof. The need for significant superstoichiometric steam addition for temperature control. Methods for controlling a gasification/reforming system to enhance efficiency are described. A USS burner for a fluidized bed gasification/reforming reactor, and methods of construction, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Frederick Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 7128767
    Abstract: The ash content of raw coals, lignite, and other carbonaceous materials is reduced by leaching the high-ash material with an aqueous acidic waste product produced by a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The acidic aqueous waste is mixed with coal and process conditions are described. The claim takes advantage of using otherwise uneconomic coal, lignite or other carbonaceous material by upgrading the material to a suitable feedstock for combustion in a power plant or gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Energy
    Inventors: Robert R French, Robert A. Reeves
  • Patent number: 7090707
    Abstract: A new combustion chamber design for a quench gasifier. Electrical heating is used in the throat area of the combustion chamber to achieve temperatures up to 3500° F. to melt ash deposits and to increase carbon conversion (reduce soot production). Silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride refractory materials are used in the hot face of the throat to withstand high temperatures and high temperature shocks. The proposed design reduces the capital cost of a gasification plant by eliminating the need for soot recovery and recycle system. This design also reduces the operating cost of the gasification plant by decreasing the frequent refractory damages that have been experienced in the throat area of the existing quench gasifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventor: Devendra T. Barot
  • Patent number: 7087097
    Abstract: A pressure-supercharged fluidized-bed gasification chamber has a pressure-tight lock for supplying the feed materials which are to be gasified. The fluidized-bed gasification chamber is connected to a filter chamber via a connecting channel, with the result that the gas produced can flow over from the fluidized-bed gasification chamber into the filter chamber, where it is directed through the filter layer. An external heat source provides the necessary heat for the allothermic gasification. A heat-pipe arrangement directs the heat from the external heat source into the gasification bed of the fluidized-bed gasification chamber, in order to provide the temperature which is necessary for the gasification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Technische Universitat Munchen Lehrstuhl fur Thermische Kraftanlagen
    Inventor: Jurgen Karl
  • Patent number: 7077878
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a method for gasifying organic materials which is simple to carry out and requires minimal equipment and which produced an undiluted gas of high calorific value. The inventive method should eliminate the need to use fluid beds and heat exchangers with high temperatures on both sides, with the heat being transferred from the furnace to a heat-carrying medium in a particularly defined way. To this end, the feed material is divided into a volatile phase and a solid carbon-containing residue in the pyrolysis reactor by circulating a hot heat-carrying medium. After the reaction agent has been added, said volatile phase is converted into the product gas by further heating in the reaction area, also using the heat-carrying medium. The solid, carbon-containing residue is separated from the heat-carrying medium in the separating stage and burnt in the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Dr. Mühlen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz-Jürgen Mühlen, Christoph Schmid
  • Patent number: 6997965
    Abstract: A method of the gasification of coal using oxygen and steam is provided wherein the coal is gasified at a temperature of from 1000 to 2500° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 100 kg/cm2 using oxygen generated by electrolyzing water and steam having a temperature of from 300 to 600° C. attained by heat exchange heat with a high temperature gas generated by the coal gasification. In the method, a remarkably higher efficiency and low carbon dioxide emission is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignees: Toyo Engineering Corporation, The Institute of Applied Energy
    Inventor: Yukuo Katayama
  • Patent number: 6960234
    Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed combining a fixed bed gasification section where coarse fuel is gasified and an entrained flow gasification section where fine fuel is gasified. The fixed bed section includes upper and lower sections. Coarse fuel is devolatilized in the upper fixed bed section and subjected to elevated temperatures sufficient to crack and destroy tars and oils in the effluent gases. The entrained flow gasification section is disposed in a lower plenum adjacent the lower fixed bed section. A plurality of injection ports are configured to introduce oxygen, steam, or air into different sections of the gasifier to control temperature and operating conditions. Activated carbon may be formed in the upper fixed bed section and in the entrained flow section. The activated carbon may be used as a sorbent to remove pollutants from the effluent gases. The gasifier may be used with various coarse and fine fuel feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Emery Energy Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott E. Hassett
  • Patent number: 6955695
    Abstract: This invention discloses improvements on previous inventions for catalytic conversion of coal and steam to methane. The disclosed improvements permit conversion of petroleum residua or heavy crude petroleum to methane and carbon dioxide such that nearly all of the heating value of the converted hydrocarbons is recovered as heating value of the product methane. The liquid feed is distributed over a fluidized solid particulate catalyst containing alkali metal and carbon as petroleum coke at elevated temperature and pressure from the lower stage and transported to the upper stage of a two-stage reactor. Particulate solids containing carbon and alkali metal are circulated between the two stages. Superheated steam and recycled hydrogen and carbon monoxide are fed to the lower stage, fluidizing the particulate solids and gasifying some of the carbon. The gas phase from the lower stage passes through the upper stage, completing the reaction of the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Petro 2020, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 6911058
    Abstract: A method for producing clean energy from coal by feeding the coal in a reactor which is sealed to the atmosphere and moving the coal in the reactor while injecting oxygen to combust a portion of the coal in a substoichiometric mode to devolatilize the coal and yield a pressurized hydrogen rich raw gas which contains coal-derived cancer causing distillates and hydrocarbons together with a hot char. The distillates and the hydrocarbons are cracked to result in a cracked gas of essentially 2H2 and 1CO which after desulfurization becomes an ideal synthesis gas that can be synthesized to a liquid fuel for heating and transportation as an alternate to petroleum. The hot char is gasified in an air blown gasifier to produce a fuel gas and a molten slag which are jointly directed out of the gasifier through a common port which is maintained open for the free flow of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Calderon Syngas Company
    Inventors: Albert Calderon, Terry James Laubis
  • Patent number: 6911057
    Abstract: An apparatus for burning coal to produce substantially pure hydrogen for use in fuel cells, together with “sequestration ready” carbon dioxide and a stream of oxygen depleted air for powering gas turbines. The apparatus includes two fluidized bed reactors and a third transfer line reactor. The first reactor is supplied with coal particles or “char” and fluidized with high temperature steam. The second reactor is fluidized with high temperature steam and the third reactor is fluidized by compressed air. Solids circulated among these three reactors include a mixture of materials containing coal, calcium compounds (present as CaO, CaCO3 and mixtures thereof) and iron compounds (present as FeO, Fe2O3 and mixtures thereof).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard K. Lyon
  • Publication number: 20040237404
    Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Michael S. McCartney
  • Publication number: 20040231243
    Abstract: An ash melting system of the present invention includes a slagging combustion furnace (10) for melting ash into molten slag; and a slag separating apparatus (50) for bringing the molten slag (121) discharged from the slagging combustion furnace into contact with slag cooling water (152) to produce water-quenched slag (122), and separating the water-quenched slag from the slag cooling water. The ash melting system further includes a gas blowing means for blowing air or inert gas (132) between a slag discharge port (14) of the slagging combustion furnace and the surface of the slag cooling water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Chikao Goke, Nobuya Azuma, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Kazuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6790383
    Abstract: A method of gasifying organic materials (carbonaceous compounds) such as coal, shredded waste tire or waste oil into gaseous fuel, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and an apparatus therefore are provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying initial fuel gas and oxygen into a gasification reactor to produce water and carbon dioxide, supplying the organic materials into the reactor and reacting them with the water and carbon dioxide to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, discharging the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas from the reactor, recycling a part of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas discharged from the reactor into the reactor, and reacting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas supplied into the reactor with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide. The method facilitates the control of temperature in the gasification reactor as well as produces fuel gas of high quality by increasing the concentration of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Hyun Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20040060236
    Abstract: The present invention provides a relatively small scale apparatus for gasifying solid fuel in which pyrolysis gas produced in a pyrolyzer by thermal-decomposition reaction of the solid fuel can be reformed to crude fuel gas. The apparatus comprises a solid fuel pyrolyzer 1 and a steam reformer 5, and thermally decomposes the solid fuel with a combustion reaction of a low oxygen density to produce the pyrolysis gas, and reforms the pyrolysis gas to produce the crude fuel gas. The pyrolyzer has an air inlet 18 positioned at a bottom part thereof and upwardly blowing combustion air into the pyrolyzer; a bed of pyrolyzer 30 located above the air inlet; and a pyrolysis gas exit positioned at an upper part of a body of the pyrolyzer and conducting the pyrolysis gas out of the pyrolyzer. The bed is made by a layered stack of many spherical heat-resistant materials 32 which form a number of narrow gaps for draft of the combustion air over the whole bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Kunio Yoshikawa, Narumi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20040055216
    Abstract: According to a method for gasifying solid materials (waste materials, biomass (wood), coal containing sulphur) in a fluidized bed (5), water vapour and oxygen are blown into the fluidized bed as gasifying agents. Small energy losses are achieved by strongly superheating the water vapour with hot reaction gases, the superheater functioning with a low differential pressure load. The reaction gases that leave the fluidized bed (5) are post-gasified in the open area (9) above the fluidized bed (5) in the reactor (1), with a supply of additional oxygen. A molar ratio of water vapour supplied and carbon contained in the material to be gasified of at least 2.1 is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Bruno Berger, Ernst Rudelstorfer
  • Publication number: 20040006917
    Abstract: A fuel preparation apparatus in which coal or coal and other carbon containing material is converted to an environmentally acceptable fuel gas by the reaction with air and steam at a pressure of from 20 to 90 pounds per square inch absolute suitable for providing fuel to a gas turbine, or a stoker type or other boiler having a coal delivery system, a coal crusher, coal storage bins, lock hoppers, a gasifier vessel of two stages, liquid and solid separator vessels, heat and steam recovery vessels, equipment to control the flow of steam and air to the gasifier so as to maintain fuel quality, and a gas clean up plant that will remove environmentally unacceptable components of the gas such as hydrogen sulphide and other sulphur containing compounds and tars and light oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: David W. Wakefield, Robert Glover Jackson
  • Patent number: 6676716
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating wastes by gasification recovers useful resources including energy, valuables such as metals, and gases for use as synthesis gas for chemical industries or fuel. The wastes are gasified in a fluidized-bed reactor at a relatively low temperature. Gaseous material and char produced in the fluidized-bed reactor are introduced into a high-temperature combustor, and low calorific gas or medium calorific gas is produced in the high-temperature combustor at a relatively high temperature. The fluidized-bed reactor preferably is a revolving flow-type fluidized-bed reactor. The high-temperature combustor preferably is a swirling-type high-temperature combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujimura, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Takahiro Oshita, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano
  • Publication number: 20030140559
    Abstract: A method serves for the pyrolysis and gasification of substance mixtures containing organic constituents. The organic substances (4) or the substance mixture containing the organic constituents are brought into contact with a heat transfer medium, for preference the ash (5) from a combustion reactor (2) in a pyrolysis reactor (1), for preference a shaft reactor and pyrolysed. The pyrolysis coke (10) derived from the pyrolysis is combusted in a combustion reactor (2), for preference a fluidised bed reactor, under the admission of air (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krumm, Gunter Funk, Stefan Hamel, Christian Mertens
  • Publication number: 20020095867
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for the gasification of coal wherein a slurry of coal and water is supplied to a gasification reactor, characterized in that at least apart of the water is supplied in a form of steam to the gasification reactor. This method solves all of the aforesaid problems in the conventional method for supplying a coal/water slurry to a gasification reactor and attains a remarkably high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Yukuo Katayama
  • Publication number: 20020095866
    Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed combining a fixed bed gasification section where coarse fuel is gasified and an entrained flow gasification section where fine fuel is gasified. The fixed bed section includes upper and lower sections. Coarse fuel is devolatilized in the upper fixed bed section and subjected to elevated temperatures sufficient to crack and destroy tars and oils in the effluent gases. The entrained flow gasification section is disposed in a lower plenum adjacent the lower fixed bed section. A plurality of injection ports are configured to introduce oxygen, steam, or air into different sections of the gasifier to control temperature and operating conditions. Activated carbon may be formed in the upper fixed bed section and in the entrained flow section. The activated carbon may be used as a sorbent to remove pollutants from the effluent gases. The gasifier may be used with various coarse and fine fuel feedstocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Scott E. Hassett
  • Publication number: 20010054256
    Abstract: A method of the gasification of coal using oxygen and steam is provided wherein the coal is gasified at a temperature of from 1000 to 2500° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 100 kg/cm2 using oxygen generated by electrolyzing water and steam having a temperature of from 300 to 600° C. attained by heat exchange heat with a high temperature gas generated by the coal gasification. In the method, a remarkably higher efficiency and low carbon dioxide emission is attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Yukuo Katayama
  • Patent number: 6312482
    Abstract: A combined, integral steam generator coal gasifier includes a vertically elongated, all welded, gas tight enclosure with a burner zone having a double pitch sloping furnace floor and a slag tap extending therethrough. Successive zones located above the burner zone are provided with appropriate tube materials for conveying synthesis gas produced by the coal gasification process. A multi-pass convection pass zone having upflow and downflow passes is located at an upper portion of the enclosure and contains a plurality of superheater (primary and secondary) as well as economizer heating surfaces which extract heat from the synthesis gas to produce steam. An ash remover is connected to the outlet of the convection pass zone to remove ash from the synthesis gas exiting from the convection pass zone. The slag tap located at the bottom of the burner zone communicates with a slag tank or a drag chain deasher for receiving and removing slag from the burner zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: David E. James, Paul S. Larsen, Mark C. Godden, Ted V. Mull, Jr., Paul S. Weitzel
  • Patent number: 6200430
    Abstract: A method, and its associated equipment, for producing synthetic gas by means of an electric arc-activated, non-catalytic burner which utilizes up to three streams of product inputs. A primary spray is heated by an electric arc formed between two electrodes. A second spray is then injected and mixed with the heated primary fluid. The resulting high-temperature, high pressure mixture is combined with a tertiary spray, an oxidant. The end product thereby produced is a synthetic gas, which becomes immediately available for combustion in furnaces, reactors, and other processes in the chemical, petroleum, and metals fabrication industries. The invention overcomes the deficiencies of existing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Edgar J. Robert
  • Patent number: 6086722
    Abstract: A process for minimizing evaporator scaling during the recovery of liquids and solids from the aqueous effluent discharged during a partial oxidation gasification, wherein the aqueous effluent contains ammonium chloride (NH.sub.4 Cl). The aqueous effluent is evaporated to produce a distillate water and a brine having an NH.sub.4 Cl concentration of about 10 to 60 weight percent. The brine can be further concentrated and ammonium chloride crystals are recovered. The distillate water is recycled to the gasification reaction. No effluent discharges to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: George Henry Webster, Jr., Byron Von Klock, Dinh-Cuong Vuong, John Saunders Stevenson, Steven Robert Johnson
  • Patent number: 6033447
    Abstract: Coal gasifiers using technology developed by Texaco Development Corporation, use coal slurry and oxygen as feed stocks. During start-ups, the raw gas produced in the gasifier must be flared until the downstream clean-up and recovery plants can be started. In order to reduce emissions through the flare during start-up, a technique was developed to start the gasifiers and downstream plants on a sulfur free, liquid, organic fuel. Once downstream plants are on-line, the fuel feed is switched to coal slurry on the same burner. The switch is accomplished while maintaining pressure and without interrupting to the fuel feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Nathan West Moock, William Lewis Trapp
  • Patent number: 5993761
    Abstract: Method for conversion of hydrocarbons assisted by gliding electric arcs in the presence of water vapor and/or carbon dioxide.The objective of the process and the plasma assistance device to steam reforming, to the reforming with CO2 or to simultaneous reforming with an H2O/CO2 mixture of hydrocarbons is the production of gases rich in CO and H2, containing also high ratios of C2H2, C2H4 and C3H6, without formation of soot or coke. The process makes it also possible to upgrade the CO2 by converting it into CO in the presence of hydrocarbons.This mixture of valuable products is obtained in a reactor /1/ with electric gliding arcs /4/ which strike directly into an endothermic reaction medium consisting of hydrocarbons mixed with H2O and/or CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Laxarco Holding, Ltd.
    Inventors: Piotr Czernichowski, Albin Czernichowski
  • Patent number: 5955039
    Abstract: A system and method generates electricity and co-produces a hydrogen flow from coal. The electricity is generated by a turbine with a topping combustor and a solid oxide fuel cell ("SOFC") reacting syngas. The syngas is produced in a coal gasifier with a portion of the compressed air from the turbine, coal, and steam. Prior to the syngas being delivered to the topping combustor and the SOFC, it is cleaned and a portion of the hydrogen in the syngas is removed to form the hydrogen flow. Additionally, a vitiated air flow from the SOFC is directed to the topping combustor and another portion of the compressed air from the turbine directed to the SOFC after it is heated with the turbine exhaust. An aspect of the invention varies the amount of electricity generated and the volume of hydrogen co-produced based upon the demand of electricity and/or the demand of said hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Elwood Dowdy
  • Patent number: 5855631
    Abstract: A catalytic gasification process and system for producing medium grade BTU gas including a gasification reactor having an inner air gasification zone, an outer steam gasification zone, a synthetic coal reaction zone, and an upper lime treating zone. The process and system of the present invention further includes a synthetic coal heating vessel which provides superheated recycled synthetic coal to the gasification reactor and a limestone treating vessel which provides superheated air and CO.sub.2 to the gasification reactor. The novel process and system of the present invention provides for the production of a medium grade BTU gas and several commercially valuable by-products with virtually no solid or liquid waste products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Arnold M. Leas
  • Patent number: 5849050
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for generating burnable gas by gasifying water- and ballast-containing organic materials, be it coal or garbage. The drying, low temperature carbonization and gasification steps are carried out separately. The heat taken form cooled gasified gas is supplied to the endothermic drying low temperature in low temperature carbonation stages. The low temperature carbonization gas is burned in a melting chamber furnace with air and/or oxygen or oxygen-rich flue gas and the liquid slag is evacuated, whereas the low temperature carbonization coke is blown into the hot combustion gases that leave the melting reactions which take place and give carbon monoxide and hydrogen reduce the carbon is removed from the gasified gas, supplied to the melting chamber furnace and completely burned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: CRG Kohlenstoffrecycling Ges.mbH
    Inventor: Bodo Wolf
  • Patent number: 5772708
    Abstract: A system for feeding a coal-water paste material coaxially upwardly through a feed nozzle assembly into a pressurized fluidized bed reactor having a lower portion and a larger diameter upper portion. The feed nozzle assembly includes a nozzle unit for atomizing the coal paste feed material, and a concentric outer shroud tube enclosing the nozzle unit. The feed nozzle assembly is inserted upwardly through an opening in the bottom portion of the pressurized fluidized bed reactor into a coaxial orientation with the bed, so as to provide substantially complete combustion and/or carbonization of the coal paste material fed into the reactor to produce a combustible gas product. If desired, a sorbent material nay be fed into the fluidized bed together with the coal paste feed, so as to absorb sulfur from the coal and produce a clean fuel gas. During reactor operations at 130-200 psig pressure and 1,600.degree.-1,800.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Development Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Edward Froehlich
  • Patent number: 5656042
    Abstract: A pumpable slurry of shredded scrap solid carbonaceous plastic-containing material that contains associated inorganic matter in admixture with a comminuted aluminosilicate-containing material having noncombustible constituents is reacted by partial oxidation to produce synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas. The noncombustible constituents in the aluminosilicate-containing material captures the inorganic matter in the scrap solid carbonaceous plastic-containing material while in the reducing atmosphere of the gasifier to produce nontoxic, nonleachable slag. The slurrying medium is water, liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel, or mixtures thereof. Scrap plastics may be disposed of by the subject process without polluting the nation's environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Motasimur Rashid Khan, Christine Cornelia Albert, John Saunders Stevenson, George Neal Richter, David Charles Crikelair
  • Patent number: 5645616
    Abstract: A system and method for producing product gas using residual waste liquor is described with a gasifier reactor having a fluidized bed located therein. The gasifier reactor is heated to a predetermined temperature range with either an external heater or a second fluidized bed located at a position below the first fluidized bed. A heat exchanger may be positioned in the first fluidized bed and/or the second fluidized bed for indirectly heating the respective fluidized beds. Condensing heat exchanger means recovers heat from the product gas and condenses an acid gas therefrom for recycling the chemicals. A reagent is sprayed in the condensing heat exchanger means to clean the product gas. Pressurization allows the cleaned product gas to be directly fired in a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Robert A. McIlroy, Robert A. Kuchner, John E. Monacelli, Dennis W. Johnson