Process of producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels from biomass
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents
InventorJames L. Kuester
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous thermochemical indirect liquefaction process to convert various biomass materials into diesel-type transportation fuels which fuels are compatible with current engine designs and distribution systems comprising feeding said biomass into a circulating solid fluidized bed gasification system to produce a synthesis gas containing olefins, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and thereafter introducing the synthesis gas into a catalytic liquefaction system to convert the synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbon fuel consisting essentially of C.sub.7 -C.sub.17 paraffinic hydrocarbons having cetane indices of 50+.
Claims23
A process for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels consisting essentially of C.sub.7 -C.sub.17 paraffinic hydrocarbons free of oxygenated compounds from an oxygen-containing biomass comprising:
- feeding comminuted biomass into a pyrolyzer heated to a temperature of from about 1,200.degree. to 2,000.degree. F. to produce an intermediate synthesis gas containing in mole percent from 10 to 53 percent hydrogen, from about 6 to 60 percent carbon monoxide, from 5 to 39 percent olefins, from 6 to 33 percent paraffins, and from 4 to 26 percent carbon dioxide;
- thereafter directing said unseparated intermediate synthesis gas into a catalytic reactor operating at about 500.degree. F. 140 psig, and containing a catalyst consisting of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and iron disposed upn a compatible support structure selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, kiesulguhr and diatomaceous earths to form a water/alcohol binary and said liquid hydrocarbon fuel;
- and separating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel from said water/alcohol binary.
A process for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels free of oxygenated compounds from an oxygen-containing biomass comprising:
- comminuting said biomass;
- feeding said comminuted biomass into gasification system heated to a temperature of from 1,200.degree. F. to about 2,000.degree. F. to thermally decompose said biomass into an intermediate synthesis gas containing olefins, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- removing particulate solids and condensible liquids from said synthesis gas to clean said gas;
- compressing said clean gas to up to 500 psig;
- and directing the compressed gas into a catalytic reactor for liquefaction in the presence of a catalyst consisting of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, nickel and iron disposed upon a compatible support structure selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, kiesulguhr, and diatomaceous earths to form a water/alcohol binary and a condensible C.sub.7 -C.sub.17 paraffinic hydrocarbon fuel;
- and separating said fuel from said binary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.