Production of syngas from a biomass

Abstract

This is a method to furnish synthesis gas obtained from a biomass. A description of a synthesis gas production method is presented by providing a supply of biomass, air and steam to a vessel. A heat exchanger is provided for heating ambient air to provide a supply of heated air to the vessel and a dryer is provided to remove moisture from a biomass to provide a supply of substantially moisture free biomass to the vessel. Subsequently reacting with the substantially moisture free biomass in the vessel with the heated air forms incandescent carbon and a flue gas. A bed of solids for storage of thermal sensible heat from the flue gas is provided. Upon turning off the heated air, a supply of steam, created from water provided to the heated bed of solids, is employed to purge the remaining flue gas and form a blanket of steam above the incandescent carbon. When the carbon is incandescent, and the heated air is turned off, steam is added to the steam blanketed incandescent carbon to create a water gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The procedure is then repeated. The water gas is modified by reaction with steam to produce additional hydrogen to form an adjusted syngas with a mole ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of about 2. Combustion residue from the biomass is separated from the carbon for disposition or disposal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.