Coal Patents (Class 48/77)
  • Patent number: 8372166
    Abstract: A controlled zone gasification reactor for a plasma assisted gasification reaction system is disclosed for converting fuel, such as, but not limited to, biomass, to syngas to replace petroleum based fuels used in power generation. The system may be a modular system housed within a frame facilitating relatively easy transportation. The system may include a reactor vessel with distinct reaction zones that facilitate greater control and a more efficient system. The system may include a syngas heater channeling syngas collected downstream of the carbon layer support and to the pyrolysis reaction zone. The system may also include a syngas separation chamber configured to produce clean syngas, thereby requiring less filtering. The system may further include an agitator drive assembly that prevents formation of burn channels with in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: AdaptiveARC, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian H. A. Juvan
  • Patent number: 8303695
    Abstract: Systems are provided for gasification operations. The systems may use carbonous gas as part of plant operations. The systems may include a first compressor configured to compress a carbonous gas and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first compressor to transition from compressing a first carbonous gas to compressing a second carbonous gas during startup of a gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Sunil Ramabhilakh Mishra, Rupinder Singh Benipal
  • Publication number: 20120266538
    Abstract: The present invention provides a top-feeding double-swirl type gasifier: a feed line through which pulverized coal is supplied by nitrogen; a distributor for dividing the pulverized coal supplied; a plurality of burner nozzles for supplying the pulverized coal, divided in the distributor, and an oxidizer; a pressure reactor in which the pulverized coal and the oxidizer react with each other to produce a flow of synthesis gas; and a swirl generator for imparting a swirling force to the oxidizer which is fed into the pressure reactor, the gasifier further comprising a slag cooling and storing container placed beneath the pressure reactor. Each of the burner nozzles consists of a triple tube having a circular cross section. The pulverized coal and carrier gas are supplied to the most central region of the burner nozzle, and an oxidizer is supplied to an annular region 34 surrounding the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Jin Wook Lee, Seok Woo Chung, Young Don Yoo, Yongseung Yun, Sam Ryong Park, Gyoo Tae Kim, Yong Il Lee
  • Patent number: 8252072
    Abstract: A downdraft-updraft gasifier (1) and method for the gasification of biomass and waste to produce combustible effluent, the gasifier comprising: a fuel valve (22) for loading solid fuel (11) into a first oxidation zone (8); a first throat (2) defining the lower edge of the first oxidation zone (8); a second throat (4) defining the lower edge of a second oxidation zone (14); a reduction zone (5) linking the first oxidation zone (8) to the second oxidation zone (14) and a vortex discharge pipe (18) for the combustible effluent. The method includes steps of: partially oxidising a biomass fuel in the first oxidation zone (8) to produce char; reducing the char in the reduction zone (5) to form ash; further oxidising any char residue in the ash in the second oxidation zone (14); and extracting the combustible effluent produced in the above steps, by the discharge pipe (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: ITI Energy Limited
    Inventors: Murat Dogru, Galip Akay
  • Patent number: 8236072
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company
    Inventor: Raymond Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8236071
    Abstract: A quench ring for use with a gasifier system. The quench ring including an annular manifold having a radius, an annular channel coupled in flow communication with said manifold, and at least one inlet coupled in flow communication with said manifold, said at least one inlet having a center line aligned substantially tangentially to said annular manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Helen Brannon Corry, Yulianto Salahuddin Mohsin
  • Patent number: 8211191
    Abstract: A generally upright reactor system for gasifying a feedstock. The reactor system generally includes a main body, at least two inlet projections extending outwardly from the main body, and at least one inlet positioned on each of the inlet projections. Each of the inlets is operable to discharge the feedstock into the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Steven L. Douglas, Ronald W. Herbanek, David L. Breton, Steven E. Chichester
  • Patent number: 8211192
    Abstract: An energy contained waste to energy process and system includes a waste treatment unit having a treatment chamber and including a pressurizing presser movably supported in the treatment chamber for pressing the energy contained waste in the treatment chamber until the air within the energy contained waste is squeezed out. A waste to energy conversion unit includes a conversion housing having a reaction chamber for receiving the energy contained waste from the treatment chamber, and a pyrolysis processor for pyrolysis processing the energy contained waste in the reaction chamber to decompose the energy contained waste into a fuel gas and powdered residue. An energy collection unit is communicated with the waste to energy conversion unit to collect the fuel gas and the powdered residue as an energy source for recycling use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Ernest Lee
  • Patent number: 8192514
    Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Jacobus Andreas Stadler, Eric Graham Van De Venter, Paul Smit Baumann
  • Patent number: 8187349
    Abstract: A gasification reactor vessel comprising a combustion chamber in the upper half of the vessel, provided with a product gas outlet at the bottom end of the combustion chamber, at least two burner openings are present in the wall of the combustion chamber, which burner openings are located at the same horizontal level and are positioned diametrical relative to each other and wherein in each burner opening a burner is present, wherein between the wall of the combustion chamber and the wall of vessel an annular space is provided, wherein the wall of the combustion chamber comprises an arrangement of interconnected tubes (vertical arranged or helical coiled), wherein the product gas outlet at the bottom end of the combustion chamber is fluidly connected to a dip-tube, which partly is submerged in a water bath located at the lower end of the reactor vessel, and wherein at the upper end of the dip-tube means are present to add a quenching medium to the, in use, downwardly flowing mixture of hydrogen and carbon monox
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Steffen Jancker, Thomas Paul Von Kossak-Glowczewski, Joachim Wolff
  • Publication number: 20120085027
    Abstract: A gasification apparatus includes a pressure wave pulverizer and a gasifier. The pressure wave pulverizer includes a first gas flow generator and a passage with a pulverizer inlet, a pulverizer outlet, and a gas inlet. The pulverizer inlet is supplied with the solid feedstock. The passage includes a gas acceleration section. The gas flow generator is configured to draw high speed gas through the gas inlet so as to induce pressure waves in the gas acceleration section thereby drying the solid feedstock and disintegrating the solid feedstock into particles. The gasifier is in flow communication with the pulverizer outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Aaron Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8152875
    Abstract: A method for producing methane (69) from a carbonaceous (22) material includes conveying pulverized carbonaceous material (28) entrained in an inert carrier fluid, such as carbon dioxide (36), into a reactor (34). The reactor (34) includes a vortex region (72) for receiving hydrogen gas (38) and imparting a swirling motion to the hydrogen gas (38). The pulverized carbonaceous material (28) is exposed to the swirling stream of hydrogen gas (38) in a first reaction zone (114) within the reactor (34) to form an exit gas (40) that includes methane (69). Remaining unreacted carbonaceous material (28) is further exposed to the hydrogen gas (38) in a second, low velocity, reaction zone (120). The methane rich exit gas (40) is subsequently extracted from the reactor (34) for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company
    Inventor: Raymond S Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8128716
    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). In order to improve such a method, the raw gas (6) generated by the pyrolysis is purified in a crack reactor (3), for preference by a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Herhof Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Krumm, Günter Funk, Stefan Hamel, Christian Mertens
  • Publication number: 20120031000
    Abstract: A gasification system including a first feed line, a second feed line, a stabilization fuel line, and a fuel feed system controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to enable the stabilization fuel line to inject a stabilization fuel into a gasifier to initiate a stabilizer flame inside the gasifier, enable the first feed line to inject a dry fuel into the gasifier at a start-up dry fuel flow rate, increase the flow rate of the dry fuel from the start-up dry fuel flow rate to a normal operating condition (NOC) dry fuel flow rate, decrease a flow rate of the stabilization fuel as the flow rate of the dry fuel increases to the NOC dry fuel flow rate, and prevent the stabilization fuel line from injecting the stabilization fuel into the gasifier once the flow rate of the dry fuel is at the NOC dry fuel flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Ali Ergut, Jamal Abdul Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8110012
    Abstract: In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: John H. Chiu, Herbert E. Andrus, Gregory N. Liljedahl, Paul R. Thibeault
  • Publication number: 20110308155
    Abstract: A system for gasifying solid matter uses multiple stages to produce low-tar combustible gas includes a first reactor having a fluidized bed to produce hydrogen containing gas, pyrolysis vapors, tars, and char particles at temperature less than the exit of the second reactor and a higher temperature partial oxidation combustor zones. A second reactor includes a higher temperature partial oxidation zone to activate hydrogen and cause cracking of aromatic ring compounds, a co-flow moving granular bed with a char gasification stage to catalyze tar reduction, and control char residence time, and a media screen comprising a parallel wire screen substantially vertically oriented supporting granular media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Paskach, John P. Reardon, Paul Evans, Jerod Smeenk
  • Publication number: 20110277385
    Abstract: Systems are provided for gasification operations. The systems may use carbonous gas as part of plant operations. The systems may include a gasifier and a solid fuel feeder. The solid fuel feeder is capable of feeding solid fuel in a carbonous carrier gas to the gasifier during a startup period and also during a steady state period of the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Sunil Ramabhilakh Mishra, Rupinder Singh Benipal
  • Patent number: 8025705
    Abstract: A method for gasification of fuel in an entrained flow of a gasification reactor. The method includes jointly gasifying a mixture of at least two different fuels having different degrees of coalification, including those of differing coal qualities such as brown coals and stone coals. The method also includes pulverizing the coals forming the mixture in specific grain bands and drying the coals forming the mixture to a specific residual water content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Holle, Volker Kirchhübel, Joachim Lamp, Manfred Schingnitz, Günter Tietze
  • Publication number: 20110203177
    Abstract: The invention relates to the art of coal processing and is useful in power engineering and chemical industry for manufacturing coal adsorbents, metallurgical semicoke, and a generator or process gas. A method is proposed for coal processing, this method comprising firing of coal inside an air-tight chamber, measuring temperature inside the chamber along the height thereof, removing gas at the top of the chamber, and supplying a gasifying agent from the bottom upward. The coal processing is carried out while maintaining optimized values of the temperature difference between the burning coal bed and the gas at the outlet thereof from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Valentin Meerovich Stroyakovsky, Alexei Sergeevich Gumilevsky, Alexei Borisovich Morozov
  • Patent number: 7988752
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
  • Patent number: 7976593
    Abstract: A gasifier and gasifier system based on the gasifier, which contains as a major component, a novel feed system for feeding organic materials into the burn pile of the gasifier. The gasifier feed system is a horizontal auger driven feed system that feeds directly through a ceramic elbow into the furnace without having to auger the feed through significant vertical elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Heat Transfer International, LLC
    Inventor: Robert G. Graham
  • Publication number: 20110162277
    Abstract: A system for heating and drying a quantity of coal feedstock being channeled to a gasifier includes a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the gasifier for transferring heat from an input stream to an output stream of heat transfer fluid, and a second heat exchanger positioned downstream from the first heat exchanger for receiving the output stream of heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger transfers heat from the output stream of heat transfer fluid to a stream of heating gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Judeth Brannon Corry
  • Publication number: 20110146153
    Abstract: A coal feed system to feed pulverized low rank coals containing up to 25 wt % moisture to gasifiers operating up to 1000 psig pressure is described. The system includes gas distributor and collector gas permeable pipes imbedded in the lock vessel. Different methods of operation of the feed system are disclosed to minimize feed problems associated with bridging and packing of the pulverized coal. The method of maintaining the feed system and feeder device exit pressures using gas addition or extraction with the pressure control device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Pannalal Vimalchand, Wan Wang Peng, Guohai Liu
  • Publication number: 20110099903
    Abstract: A method and equipment for producing synthesis gas (S) from solid carbon particles (C), the carbon particles (C) being obtained by pyrolysis, gasification of the carbon particles (C) occurs by indirect heating of the carbon particles (C) in the presence of a process gas (P) in the same space where the carbon particles (C) are present, and the synthesis gas (S) generated during the gasification is discharged from the space. The method is characterised in that the carbon particles (C) and the process gas (P) are located in a reactor (1), and the indirect heating occurs by way of radiant heat from burners (Br1-Brn) located in the reactor (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CORTUS AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ljunggren
  • Patent number: 7896956
    Abstract: A filter regeneration apparatus of a coal gasification system having a filter for capturing char (unburned matter) present in exhaust gas at an exhaust gas passage communicating with exhaust gas source including a coal gasification furnace, fills the filter container with inactive gas having oxygen concentration of less than 5 vol. % and heat the filter to a target temperature of 400 to 450° C. and feed ashing gas having oxygen concentration of 5 to 15 vol. %, thereby ashing char in the filter. This method and apparatus achieve ashing of char in a safe manner and shortens the time of regenerating the filter by controlling the oxygen concentration in the ashing gas and the filter temperature constantly to reach preset target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Soken Takase, Yoshinori Koyama, Osamu Shinada, Yuichiro Kitagawa, Ryouji Takahira, Kazunari Imagama
  • Patent number: 7862632
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-burner gasification reactor for gasification of slurry or pulverized hydrocarbon feed materials and industry applications thereof. Burners are disposed on the periphery or top of a gasification reactor vessel, wherein the side burners are at a small downward angle relative to the horizontal plane, which can prolong the life of refractory bricks. The operating pressure of the gasification reactor is 0.1˜12 MPa, and the operating temperature thereof is 1350° C.˜1700° C. The gasification reactor is applicable to a hot-wall lining as well as a cold-wall lining. The notable advantages of the gasification reactor are carbon conversion is high and can reach 99%, and the effective gas content is high; specific coal consumption and specific oxygen consumption are low; and it is applicable to a large coal gasification plant that processes above 3000 tons of coal per day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Zunhong Yu, Guangsuo Yu, Xin Gong, Fuchen Wang, Haifeng Liu, Zhenghua Dai, Yifei Wang, Weifeng Li, Qinfeng Liang, Xiaolei Guo, Xingjun Wang, Xueli Chen, Zhijie Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100278702
    Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a gaseous stream includes (a) a reaction bed for receiving the gaseous stream and for reacting sulfur dioxide and at least some of the hydrogen sulfide of the gaseous stream into elemental sulfur to provide an elemental sulfur stream and a first product stream; and (b) a circulating fluidized bed comprising (i) a first region for receiving the first product stream and using a sulfur adsorption material to adsorb and remove any remaining hydrogen sulfide from the first product stream to generate saturated sulfur adsorption material and a second product stream substantially free of sulfur; and (ii) a second region for receiving a regeneration stream and for using the regeneration stream to regenerate the saturated sulfur adsorption material and to generate the sulfur dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Ke Liu, Wei Wei, Rizeq George Rizeq
  • Patent number: 7811340
    Abstract: Facility for producing synthesis gas from a solid feedstock including organic matter, said facility including means for circulating a heat-carrying solid providing the heat necessary for such production, and several stages including gasification means (Z1, Z3), intermediate separation means (Z2, Z4) for separating the effluents coming from each stage, and combustion means (Z5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Institute Francais du Petrole, Commissariat al'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jérôme Bayle, Eric Marty
  • Publication number: 20100251614
    Abstract: A dry feed two stage gasification system and process is disclosed for gasifying feedstock such as carbonaceous materials with improved energy efficiency, along with reductions in feedstock consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The feedstock is first dried and pretreated with the hot syngas in the upper section of the gasifier to generate a dry char that is low in volatile-matter content. This dry char is sent to the first stage of a two stage gasifier where it reacts with oxygen in the presence of steam to produce a hot syngas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventor: Shuncheng JI
  • Publication number: 20100242361
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus where at least a portion of the apparatus comprises a membrane wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: TIMOTHY E. VAIL
  • Patent number: 7803216
    Abstract: A compact pressurized high-temperature gas cooler having superior heat exchange performance and excellent economical efficiency is provided. A return-flow structure is formed in which a flue through which high-temperature gas flows is formed in a pressure container, a heat exchanger is disposed in the flue, and a partition dividing the internal cross-sectional area of the flue is provided so that the high-temperature gas supplied from a bottom or a top portion of the pressure container flows back in a return direction. The cross-sectional-area division ratio dividing the internal cross-section of the flue is set so that the flow rate of the high-temperature gas flowing in one direction matches that flowing in the direction opposite thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Koyama, Katsuhiko Yokohama, Osamu Shinada, Hiromi Ishii, Yuichiro Kitagawa, Kosei Manabe
  • Patent number: 7794514
    Abstract: A two-stage gasification apparatus coupled with heat recovery and washing includes a columnar shell (7), an entrained flow gasification chamber (1), a fixed bed gasification chamber (18), a waste heat boiler (19) and a gas cooling-washing chamber (14) set coaxially from top to bottom inside the columnar shell (7). Process nozzle chambers (3) are set at a sidewall and/or a top of the entrained flow gasification chamber (1), and process nozzles (2) are set in a nozzle chambers (3). A feed-in lock hopper (25) is set and a fixed bed gasification chamber (18). An eccentric grate (10) is set in the middle of a lower part of the fixed bed gasification chamber (18), and the grate is connected with an ash-pan (11), which is conjoined with a motor (36) via transmission mechanism. An inverse cone (22) is erected at an upper part of a cooling-washing chamber (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: East China University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Zunhong Yu, Yifei Wang, Guangsuo Yu, Fuchen Wang, Xueli Chen, Zhenghua Dai, Xiaolei Guo, Qinfeng Liang, Weifeng Li, Xin Gong, Haifeng Liu
  • Patent number: 7780749
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Zhe Cui
  • Publication number: 20100180503
    Abstract: In a coal gasification furnace adapted to feed pulverized coal thereinto by the use of inert carrier gas and gasify the same, any startup burner can be unnecessitated thereby eliminating any startup combustion chamber. Further, even in the use of a startup burner, it is smaller and lighter in weight than conventional startup burners, allowing the startup combustion chamber to be compact and limiting the height of the entirety of the gasification furnace. As a characteristic feature, a pulverized coal fuel supply passageway (23) to a combustor burner (9) is provided at its midstream portion with a startup gas supply passageway (29) for supply of a startup combustible gas (NG1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yokohama, Hiromi Ishii, Yuichiro Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7740672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently forming a gaseous material from a solid starting material. The produced gaseous material includes a CGE HHV having a high percentage of an original HHV of the starting material. The gaseous product may be used to form a plurality of materials for various purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Publication number: 20100146856
    Abstract: A gasifier is provided gasify multiple fuels. The gasifier is configured to include a first gasification zone for gasifying a high-calorific-value feedstock with an oxidant. The gasifier is configured to substantially consume the oxidant within the first gasification zone. The gasifier further includes a second gasification zone for gasifying a low-calorific-value, high-oxygen-content feedstock. The high-calorific-value fuel may be coal and the low-calorific-value fuel may be biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vladimir Zamansky, Vitali Lissianski, Boris Nikolaevich Eiteneer, Wei Wei, Ravichandra Srinivasa Jupudi, Ramanathan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 7730616
    Abstract: A method of cooling syngas in a gasifier is provided. The method includes channeling cooling fluid through at least one tube-bundle that includes at least three tubes coupled together within a radiant syngas cooler and extends through a reaction zone of the gasifier, and circulating reactant fluid around the at least one tube-bundle to facilitate transferring heat from the reactant fluid to the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Daniel Anthony Nowak
  • Publication number: 20100126067
    Abstract: In a burner for highly caking coal in which a solid fuel channel and a gasifying agent channel are provided in a double pipe structure, the temperature increase of the particles of a highly caking solid fuel and the resulting fusion and expansion of the particles are prevented or suppressed, thereby enabling a stable operation of the gasifier. In a burner for highly caking coal in which a solid fuel channel that is attached for gasifying a highly caking solid fuel that has been pulverized into particles and that supplies the solid fuel into the gasifier, and a gasifying agent channel that supplies a gasifying agent into the gasifier are provided in a double pipe structure, the burner has a triple pipe structure including a cooling water channel that circulates cooling water between the solid fuel channel and the gasifying agent channel, and the cooling water is recovered after use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Koyama, Takeshi Aruga, Hiromi Ishii, Kazuyuki Myoyo
  • Publication number: 20100104901
    Abstract: Gasification equipment with a gasification furnace which maintains a high cold gas efficiency, and suppresses a temperature rise of the gasification gas to minimize ash deposition is disclosed. A part of a CO2 gas separated from an exhaust of a power generation plant is compressed by a recovered CO2 compressor 25. The compressed CO2 gas is used for transport of coal (pulverized coal). The CO2 gas is supplied, together with the pulverized coal, into a gasification furnace to accelerate the formation of CO by an endothermic reaction between C and CO2 and suppress a temperature raise within a coal gasification furnace 15, thereby producing a gasification gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: CENTRAL RESEARCH INST. OF ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
    Inventors: Hiroaki Watanabe, Toshio Abe
  • Patent number: 7682597
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting hydrogen from a gas containing methane, especially natural gas. Hydrocarbons contained in the gas are catalytically broken down in a reformer (4) by steam in order to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Catalytic conversion of the obtained carbon monoxide with steam occurs in a downstream conversion step in order to form carbon monoxide and water. Carbon dioxide is removed from the converted gas flow (8) by gas washing (7), and the washed hydrogen-rich gas flow (10) is subsequently divided in a pressure-swing adsorption system (11) into a product gas flow (12) made of hydrogen and a waste gas flow (13). The waste gas flow (13) is introduced with hydrogen (14), which is separated from the gas flow (10) after gas washing, into a reformer (4) which is essentially a carbon-free combustible gas, and is combusted there. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Blumenfeld, Vincent Liu, Bernd Mielke, Marcus Michel
  • Publication number: 20100050515
    Abstract: An apparatus for the gasification of coal or other carbonaceous material is provided for operation at an elevated pressure of at least 30 psia, preferably, between 30 psia and 150 psia. Coal or other carbonaceous material passes downwards through two interconnected sections of a gasifier. In the upper section the coal is dried and partially devolatalized and so converted into a char before it passes into the lower section where it is converted, by reaction with steam and air, into ash and a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, hydrogen sulphide, carbonyl sulphide and small amounts of ammonia and phenols. The coal, ultimately converted to ash, exits the gasifier through a flanged semi-spherical containment section that has an integrated rotating grate, which collects and disposes of the ash and through which pass the air and steam used as reactants in the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Econo-Power International Corp.
    Inventors: David W. Wakefield, Robert G. Jackson, Chen Lei
  • Patent number: 7670574
    Abstract: A method of cooling syngas in a gasifier is provided. The method includes channeling cooling fluid through at least one tube-bundle that includes at least three tubes coupled together within a radiant syngas cooler and extends through a reaction zone of the gasifier, and circulating reactant fluid around the at least one tube-bundle to facilitate transferring heat from the reactant fluid to the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Albert Goller, Daniel Anthony Nowak
  • Publication number: 20100018117
    Abstract: A dry coal powder gasification furnace comprises a furnace body. The furnace body consists of a gasification furnace body for hot and dirty coal gas (1) and a hot and dirty gas reforming and cleaning furnace body (2). There is a gasification chamber (3) in the upper part of the gasification furnace body (1) and a settling chamber (4) in the lower part of the gasification furnace body (1). There are multiple coal powder nozzles (9) at the upper part of the gasification furnace body (1). One ends of the multiple coal powder nozzles (9) are connected to the gasification chamber and another ones are connected to a coal-spraying pipe (8). The coal-spraying pipe (8) is connected to a screw feeder (7). The screw feeder (7) is mounted below a loading lock hopper (6). Multiple gas nozzles (10) connected to the gasification chamber (3) are mounted at the upper part of the gasification furnace body (1) and below the coal powder nozzles (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Jiule Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100018115
    Abstract: A method of producing substitute natural gas (SNG) includes providing a gasification reactor having a cavity defined at least partially by a first wall. The reactor also includes a first passage defined at least partially by at least a portion of the first wall and a second wall, wherein the first passage is in heat transfer communication with the first wall. The reactor further includes a second passage defined at least partially by at least a portion of the second wall and a third wall. The method also includes coupling the cavity in flow communication with the first and second passages. The method further includes producing a first synthetic gas (syngas) stream within the cavity. The method also includes channeling at least a portion of the first syngas stream to the first and second passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, Arnaldo Frydman
  • Publication number: 20100018116
    Abstract: A system for converting a solid fuel into a fuel including a pyrolytic unit for producing a pyro gas comprising hydrocarbons, a synthesis gas production unit for converting the pyro gas into a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and a gas-to-liquid unit for converting the synthesis gas into a fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Latif Mahjoob
  • Publication number: 20090300986
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling hot ash particles discharged from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor, comprises a vessel, a solids inlet, a plurality of cooling pipes housed inside the vessel, and a solids outlet, wherein the cooling pipes are connected to a header located outside the vessel and are arranged such that the solids can flow through the cooling pipes under gravity without being blocked by the header, and wherein cooling liquid flows from the header via a flow path through the pipes, and exchanges heat with the hot ash particles through walls of the cooling pipes. The apparatus may further comprises a computerized evaporative cooling device comprising water nozzles and a thermocouple that measures the temperature inside the vessel. Also provided is a fluidized bed reactor comprising the cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Guohai Liu
  • Patent number: 7621972
    Abstract: A method and device for evacuating ash and slag from reactors for pressure gasification of fuels, said fuels including coals of various ranks, cokes or ash-containing liquids or liquid-solid suspensions, at pressures between ambient pressure and 80 bar at gasification temperatures ranging between 800 and 1,800° C. There is a water circuit for loosening the deposited slag between a gasification chamber downstream of which there is mounted a quench chamber to which there is connected a slag lock hopper. Circuit water is supplied to the upper and lower part of the quench chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedemann Mehlhose, Manfred Schingnitz
  • Patent number: 7575613
    Abstract: A method for producing methane (69) from a carbonaceous (22) material includes conveying pulverized carbonaceous material (28) entrained in an inert carrier fluid, such as carbon dioxide (36), into a reactor (34). The reactor (34) includes a vortex region (72) for receiving hydrogen gas (38) and imparting a swirling motion to the hydrogen gas (38). The pulverized carbonaceous material (28) is exposed to the swirling stream of hydrogen gas (38) in a first reaction zone (114) within the reactor (34) to form an exit gas (40) that includes methane (69). Remaining unreacted carbonaceous material (28) is further exposed to the hydrogen gas (38) in a second, low velocity, reaction zone (120). The methane rich exit gas (40) is subsequently extracted from the reactor (34) for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company
    Inventor: Raymond S. Hobbs
  • Publication number: 20090178336
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to provide a particulate solid carbonaceous material to a pressurised gasification reactor comprising following steps, (a) transporting the solid material from a first lower pressure zone to a higher pressure zone using a bulk materials pump comprising a housing having a flow path for the solid material between an inlet fluidly connected to the first lower pressure zone and an outlet fluidly connected to the higher pressure zone, wherein said flow path in said housing is further defined by a space between two rotatable drive disks spaced from each other and wherein a materials scraper is present between said drive disks at the outlet to route a cake of solid material that is being transported between said drive disks to a transport conduit, which transport conduit fluidly connects the outlet of said housing and a burner as present in the gasification reactor, and (b) injecting a gaseous stream into the cake of solid material where the cake of solid material is discharged
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Govert Gerardus Pieter VAN DER PLOEG
  • Patent number: 7556659
    Abstract: A method of gasifying organic materials (carbonaceous compounds) such as coal and fossil fuel and their mixtures including gasifying wastes into syngas, and an apparatus thereof. The apparatus is suitable to gasify carbonaceous wastes without secondary pollutants formed from oxidation. Further, the apparatus can be used in a system to drive a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Hyun Yong Kim