Pyrolysis process for producing fuel gas
AssigneeAdvanced Fuel Research, Inc.
InventorsMichael Serio, Erik Kroo, Marek Wojtowicz, Eric Suuberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Solid waste resource recovery in space is effected by pyrolysis processing, to produce light gases as the main products (CH4, H2, CO2, CO, H2O, NH3) and a reactive carbon-rich char as the main byproduct. Significant amounts of liquid products are formed under less severe pyrolysis conditions, and are cracked almost completely to gases as the temperature is raised. A primary pyrolysis model for the composite mixture is based on an existing model for whole biomass materials, and an artificial neural network models the changes in gas composition with the severity of pyrolysis conditions.
Claims26
A process for producing fuel gases from at least one non-gaseous hydrocarbonaceous material, using a two-stage reaction apparatus, comprising the following steps, at least steps (b), (c). (d), and (e) being carried out cyclically:
- (a) introducing a non-gaseous hydrocarbonaceous material into a pyrolysis chamber, comprising a first stage of the apparatus;
- (b) pyrolyzing said hydrocarbonaceous material in said first stage pyrolysis chamber so as to produce a primary fuel gas mixture, a pyrolysis liquid, and a first carbonaceous residue;
- (c) introducing said primary fuel gas mixture and pyrolysis liquid into a second chamber, comprising a second stage of the apparatus and containing a catalyst, and heating said liquid therein, in a substantially non-oxidizing atmosphere, to a temperature of 900° to 1100° C. and substantially above the temperature at which pyrolysis is effected in step (b), so as to produce additional fuel gases and additional solid carbonaceous residue, without substantially altering the composition of said primary fuel gas mixture;
- (d) withdrawing said primary fuel gas mixture and said additional fuel gas from said second chamber;
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- (e) introducing air, oxygen, carbon dioxide or steam into each of said chambers to effect reaction with, and at least partial removal of, said carbonaceous residue therein.
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A batch process for producing fuel gases from at least one non-gaseous hydrocarbonaceous material, using a two-stage reaction apparatus, comprising the following steps, at least steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) being carried out cyclically:
- (a) introducing a non-gaseous hydrocarbonaceous material into a pyrolysis chamber, comprising a first stage of the apparatus:
- (b) pyrolyzing said hydrocarbonaceous material in said first stage pyrolysis chamber so as to produce a primary fuel gas mixture, a pyrolysis liquid, and a first carbonaceous residue;
- (c) introducing said primary fuel gas mixture and pyrolysis liquid into a second chamber, comprising a second stage of the apparatus and containing a non-consumable catalyst, and heating said liquid therein, in a substantially non-oxidizing atmosphere, to a temperature of 900° to 1100° C. and substantially above the temperature at which pyrolysis is effected in step (b), so as to produce additional fuel gases and additional solid carbonaceous residue, without substantially altering the composition of said primary fuel gas mixture;
- (d) withdrawing said primary fuel gas mixture and said additional fuel gas from said second chamber;
- and
- (e) introducing air, oxygen, carbon dioxide or steam into each of said chambers to effect reaction with, and at least partial removal of, said carbonaceous residue in said chambers, said steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) being controlled by electronic data processing means programmed to monitor the formation of at least one gas phase product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.