Integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system
AssigneeFuture Energy Resources Corporation
InventorMark A. Paisley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system wherein the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell is effected by providing the reactant gases from a gasifier. Fuel gas from the gasifier is directed to the anode of the fuel cell and at least a portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is directed to the combustor. The portion of the exhaust gas from the anode is then combusted to recover residual energy to increase the overall efficiency of integrated biomass gasification and fuel cell system. Also, the oxidant gas from the combustor may be directed to the cathode of the fuel cell.
Claims20
A system for producing energy from a biomass feedstock, said system comprising:
- a fluidized bed gasifier for heating a biomass feedstock to produce a fuel gas comprising at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide, said fluidized bed gasifier also producing carbonaceous char;
- a combustor, for receiving said carbonaceous char from said fluidized bed gasifier and burning said carbonaceaous char to produce heat and oxidant gas comprising at least carbon dioxide and oxygen;
- and
- a fuel cell for producing electric power, said fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, said fuel gas from said gasifier directed to said anode of said fuel cell, and at least a portion of exhaust gas from said anode directed to said combustor, wherein said portion of said exhaust gas from said anode is combusted to recover residual energy to increase the efficiency of said system.
A method of operating an integrated gasification and fuel cell system, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing inlet gas to fluidize a high average density bed in a first space region;
- introducing carbonaceous material into said first space region with said dense fluidized bed;
- circulating inert material to form a product gas;
- forming a lower average density entrained space region contiguous to and above said dense fluidized bed, said lower average density entrained space region containing an entrained mixture of inert solid particles, char, carbonaceous material and said product gas;
- providing said gas product generated by said gasifier to a fuel cell to use as an anode gas;
- and
- at least a portion of exhaust gas from said anode directed to said combustor, wherein said portion of said exhaust gas from said anode is combusted to recover residual energy to increase the efficiency of said system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.