Method of producing a cooled syngas of improved quality
AssigneeThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
InventorsRavi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
Claims25
A method of producing a cooled syngas of improved quality, comprising:
- (a) steam reforming biomass to generate unconditioned syngas comprising at least hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons;
- (b) hydrocarbon reforming the unconditioned syngas in a hydrocarbon reformer in the presence of an oxidant, to generate additional hydrogen and additional carbon monoxide from the hydrocarbons, and thereby produce a syngas of improved quality which is at least partially depleted of said hydrocarbons;
- and
- (c) indirectly removing heat from the syngas of improved quality to generate steam by using a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to thereby produce said cooled syngas of improved quality, the heat being indirectly removed by:
- (c1) providing a steam drum containing water therein;
- (c2) transferring the water from the steam drum to the HRSG;
- (c3) indirectly transferring heat from the syngas of improved quality to the water within the HRSG to generate the steam and produce the cooled syngas of improved quality;
- (c4) transferring the steam from the HRSG back to the steam drum;
- (c5) maintaining a predetermined pressure within the steam drum, by measuring a pressure within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of steam discharged from the steam drum and through a pressure control valve to maintain the predetermined pressure within the steam drum;
- (c6) maintaining a predetermined level of the water within the steam drum, by measuring a level of the water within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of additional water that passes through a level control valve, and into the steam drum, to maintain the predetermined level within the steam drum.
A method of producing a cooled syngas of improved quality, comprising:
- (a) steam reforming biomass at a pressure ranging from between 15 pounds per square inch to 50 pounds per square inch to generate unconditioned syngas comprising at least hydrogen, carbon monoxide and at least one hydrocarbon, wherein the hydrocarbon within the unconditioned syngas includes methane;
- (b) hydrocarbon reforming the unconditioned syngas in a hydrocarbon reformer in the presence of an oxidant to generate additional hydrogen and additional carbon monoxide from the hydrocarbons, and thereby produce a syngas of improved quality which is at least partially depleted of said hydrocarbons;
- and
- (c) indirectly removing heat from the syngas of improved quality to generate steam by using a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to thereby produce said cooled syngas of improved quality, the heat being indirectly removed by:
- (c1) providing a steam drum containing water therein;
- (c2) transferring the water from the steam drum to the HRSG;
- (c3) indirectly transferring heat from the syngas of improved quality to the water within the HRSG to generate the steam and produce the cooled syngas of improved quality;
- (c4) transferring the steam from the HRSG back to the steam drum;
- (c5) maintaining a predetermined pressure within the steam drum, by measuring a pressure within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of steam discharged from the steam drum and through a pressure control valve to maintain the predetermined pressure within the steam drum;
- (c6) maintaining a predetermined level of the water within the steam drum, by measuring a level of the water within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of additional water that passes through a level control valve, and into the steam drum, to maintain the predetermined level within the steam drum;
- and
- (c7) outputting a purge flow of water from the steam drum to regulate a concentration of suspended and total dissolved solids within the steam drum.
A method of producing a cooled syngas of improved quality, comprising:
- (a) steam reforming biomass to generate unconditioned syngas comprising at least hydrogen, carbon monoxide and at least one hydrocarbon, wherein the hydrocarbon within the unconditioned syngas includes methane;
- (b) hydrocarbon reforming the unconditioned syngas in a catalytic hydrocarbon reformer in the presence of an oxidant to generate additional hydrogen and additional carbon monoxide from the hydrocarbons, and thereby produce a syngas of improved quality which is at least partially depleted of said hydrocarbons;
- and
- (c) indirectly removing heat from the syngas of improved quality to generate steam by using a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to thereby produce said cooled syngas of improved quality, the heat being indirectly removed by:
- (c1) providing a steam drum containing water therein;
- (c2) transferring the water from the steam drum to the HRSG;
- (c3) indirectly transferring heat from the syngas of improved quality to the water within the HRSG to generate the steam and produce the cooled syngas of improved quality;
- (c4) transferring the steam from the HRSG back to the steam drum;
- (c5) maintaining a predetermined pressure within the steam drum, by measuring a pressure within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of steam discharged from the steam drum and through a pressure control valve to maintain the predetermined pressure within the steam drum;
- (c6) maintaining a predetermined level of the water within the steam drum, by measuring a level of the water within the steam drum, and adjusting a flow of additional water that passes through a level control valve, and into the steam drum, to maintain the predetermined level within the steam drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.