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US 2026/0200729 A1Published application
Systems and methods for single column reactor with fixed bed and fluidized bed configurations
OwnerLiang-Shih Fan, Danwyn J. Aranhainventors
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Abstract
Exemplary systems and methods process carbonaceous materials with single column reactor systems. Broadly, exemplary methods include operating a single reactor system in a fixed bed configuration and in a fluidized bed configuration.
Claims20
A method for operating a reactor, the method comprising:
- in a fixed bed operational configuration:
- providing a fuel stream to the reactor,
- the fuel stream comprising methane (CH4),
- the reactor comprising oxygen carrier particles arranged as a fixed bed,
- where the fuel stream is provided such that the fuel stream contacts the oxygen carrier particles, thereby reducing the oxygen carrier particles;
- collecting a first fixed bed configuration output comprising carbon dioxide (CO2) and steam (H2O);
- monitoring a target species purity in the first fixed bed configuration output;
- and
- when the target species purity drops below a first threshold value of 85% purity, switching to a fluidized bed operational configuration;
- after operating in the fixed bed operational configuration, in the fluidized bed operational configuration:
- providing a fluidizing stream to the reactor, the fluidizing stream comprising air,
- the fluidizing stream being provided such that the oxygen carrier particles form a fluidized bed in the reactor, whereupon the oxygen carrier particles are oxidized by the fluidizing stream;
- collecting a fluidized bed configuration output comprising oxygen-depleted air;
- monitoring oxygen (O2) content in the fluidized bed configuration output;
- and
- when the oxygen (O2) content is above a second threshold value of 75%, switching to the fixed bed operational configuration.
13 more elements
A reactor system, comprising:
- a reactor having a fixed bed operational configuration and a fluidized bed operational configuration, the reactor comprising:
- particles that are oxygen carrier particles or inert particles arranged as a fixed bed during the fixed bed operational configuration;
- wherein the fixed bed occupies between 40 volume percent (vol %) and 60 vol % of an inner volume of the reactor;
- a fuel stream inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel stream input source;
- a first outlet configured to provide a first output stream during the fixed bed operational configuration;
- a fluidizing stream inlet configured to receive a fluidizing stream from a fluidizing stream input source;
- and
- a second outlet configured to provide a second output stream during the fluidized bed operational configuration.
5 more elements
A method for operating a reactor, the method comprising:
- in a fixed bed operational configuration:
- providing a fuel stream to the reactor,
- the fuel stream comprising methane (CH4) and/or a solid carbonaceous fuel,
- the reactor comprising inert particles;
- collecting a first fixed bed configuration output comprising hydrogen (H2) and/or carbonaceous volatiles;
- monitoring a target species purity in the first fixed bed configuration output;
- and
- when the target species purity drops below a first threshold value of 85% purity, switching to a fluidized bed operational configuration;
- after the fixed bed operational configuration, in the fluidized bed operational configuration:
- providing a fluidizing stream to the reactor, such that the fluidizing stream fluidizes the inert particles and carbonaceous material on the inert particles is oxidized;
- the fluidizing stream comprising air, and
- collecting a fluidized bed configuration output comprising air, oxygen-depleted air, carbon dioxide (CO2), and/or char;
- monitoring a second target species content in the fluidized bed configuration output;
- and
- when the second target species content deviates from a second threshold value, switching to the fixed bed operational configuration.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.