Organic Fuel and Waste Reformer
AssigneePioneer Astronautics
InventorsRobert Zubrin, Mark Berggren, Stacy Lorraine Carrera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention pertains to the non-catalytic oxygenated steam reforming of organic matter to produce a gas mixture rich in hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The reforming gas is used for production of methane, methanol, dimethyl ether, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other compounds via downstream processing catalytic gas-phase processes and electrolysis. The reforming gas may also be combusted directly for electricity generation.
Claims29
A process for oxygenated steam reforming of organic matter to a gas product of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water comprising:
- a. Injection of oxygen and steam preheated by process waste into a reaction zone along with said organic matter;
- b. Operating the process at temperatures above 400 C and up to 1,500 C in the reformer section;
- c. Operating the process at pressures near atmospheric pressure to 200 bar in the absence of a catalyst;
- and,
- d. Partially combusting said organic matter with oxygen to generate heat that is used to reform the remainder of the organic matter in the presence of steam to form said product gas.
A process for production of high quality methane in a methanation reactor system by reacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a methanation reactor system comprising:
- a. Efficient thermal management via internal and external heat exchangers
- b. Product gas separation via membranes;
- and,
- c. Gas recycling via gas compressors.
A device for oxygenated steam reforming of organic matter to produce a gas containing predominately hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water where product gas may be used as feed for electricity generation, methanation reactions, methanol and dimethyl ether synthesis, and other organic chemical conversion reactions comprising:
- a. A feeding system to deliver organic matter to a reaction zone containing an injector arrangement for oxygen and steam preheated by waste heat for controlled addition of oxygen and steam in the absence of catalyst,
- b. A grid to support reacted residue and to allow reformer gases to pass to the exhaust gas line,
- c. A residue removal system,
- d. A heat exchanger to transfer waste heat from reformer exhaust gas to the oxygen and steam feeds,
- e. A trap to capture contaminants contained in the organic matter feed, and
- f. A condenser system to remove water from reformer gases.
A device to perform methanation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases with hydrogen comprising:
- a. an integrated internal indirect heat exchanger
- b. a recycle gas compressor, and
- c. a gas separation membrane for recycle of unreacted hydrogen and carbon oxides to the catalytic reactor zone
A device to remove organic matter such as tar and dissolved organic matter from steam reforming condensate comprising:
- a. Oxidation in aqueous phase, or
- b. Oxidation in gaseous phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.