# US 10,370,606 B2 · Non-equilibrium plasma-assisted method and system for reformulating and/or reducing tar concentration in gasification derived gas product

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- Number: US 10,370,606 B2
- Document ID: US10370606B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/028,261
- Filed: 2013-12-06
- Published: 2016-08-25
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-10
- Assignees: Plasco Conversion Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
- Inventors: Islam Gomaa; Thomas Nunnally; Andreas Tsangaris; Graeme Hay; Zhiyuan Shen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370606B2

## CPC

- C10K 3/005: {by partial oxidation}
- C10K 3/006: {by steam reforming}
- H05H 1/2406: {using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes}
- H05H 1/28: Cooling arrangements
- H05H 1/44: using more than one torch
- C10J 2300/1618: Modification of synthesis gas composition, e.g. to meet some criteria
- H05H 1/461: {Microwave discharges}
- H05H 1/47: {using corona discharges}
- H05H 2240/20: Non-thermal plasma
- H05H 2245/15: Ambient air; Ozonisers
- Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
- C10K: PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE
- H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for reformulating raw gas and/or reducing and/or converting the tar in a raw gas from a gasification reaction. More specifically, a gas reformulating system having a gas reformulating chamber, one or more sources of or means for generating non-equilibrium plasma, and optionally one or more oxygen source(s) inputs and control system is provided. Methods of reformulation and/or reducing the tar concentration in a raw gas from a gasification reaction that uses non-equilibrium plasma are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for reformulating a raw gas from a gasification reaction comprising the steps of:
a. removing particulates from the raw gas to obtain a particulate-free raw gas;
b. delivering the particulate-free raw gas to a mixing chamber;
c. injecting air pre-heated to a temperature of between 300-400° C. into the mixing chamber to obtain a mixture;
d. maintaining the mixture in the mixing chamber for a residence time sufficient to raise the temperature of the mixture to about 650-950° C. by partial thermal oxidation to obtain a pre-heated mixture;
e. contacting the pre-heated mixture with an electrical discharge such that a non-equilibrium plasma is formed, thereby producing a reformulated gas; and
f. removing the reformulated gas from the chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the non-equilibrium plasma is formed by at least one of dielectric barrier discharge, gliding arc, direct-current and pulsed coronas, corona discharge, microwave plasma, electron-beam, micro-discharge and Radio Frequency (RF)-driven discharge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 comprising an addition of one or more process additives.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more process additives are added concurrently with formation of the non-equilibrium plasma within the mixture.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising exposing one or more of the particulate-free raw gas, the mixture, or the reformulated gas to a catalyst.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting an air to the particulate-free raw gas ratio to obtain the mixture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 comprising adjusting the air to the particulate-free raw gas ratio to between about 0.2 to about 0.6.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 comprising adjusting the air to the particulate-free raw gas ratio to between about 0.3 to about 0.5.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein air to the particulate-free raw gas ratio is adjusted based on reformulated gas quality.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein air to the particulate-free raw gas ratio is adjusted to maintain a lower heating value (LHV) of the reformulated gas within a specific range.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the specific range is between 1.2 MJ/Nm3 and 3.9 MJ/Nm3.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the specific range is between 3.4 MJ/Nm3 and 3.7 MJ/Nm3.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the specific range is between 1.2 MJ/Nm3 and 3.9 MJ/Nm3.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the LHV is about 3 MJ/Nm3.

### Claim 15

A method for reformulating a raw gas from a gasification reaction comprising the steps of:
a. mixing the raw gas with air pre-heated to a temperature of between 300-400° C. to obtain a mixture;
b. maintaining the mixture in a mixing chamber for a residence time sufficient to raise the temperature of the mixture to about 650-950° C. by partial thermal oxidation to obtain a pre-heated mixture; and
c. directly contacting the pre-heated mixture with a gliding arc discharge, thereby producing a reformulated gas.