Plasma pyrolysis, gasification and vitrification of organic material
AssigneeSolena Group, Inc.
InventorsRobert T. Do, Gary L. Leatherman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Blocks of organic material (58) are fed from a plurality of directions into a reactor (10) having three zones (16, 18, 19). The material forms a bed (70) atop a bed of consumable carbon catalyst (60). These beds are heated by a series of plasma arc torches (42) mounted in inlets (37) about the reactor. Gas is supplied via inlets (39, 41) from wind drums (38, 40). The superheated gas from the reaction is vented through an outlet (30) and is used to produce electrical energy.
Claims12
An apparatus for plasma pyrolysis, gasification and vitrification of material comprising:
- a generally funnel-shaped reactor having an upper section and a lower section, said lower section comprising a first, wider portion connected by a frustoconical transition to a second, narrower portion, and being suitable to receive a carbon catalyst bed, and said upper section having at least one gas exhaust port and being constructed to receive said material from a plurality of directions with respect to said lower section;
- a gas inlet system disposed around said lower section to provide gas into said lower section through one or more intake ports in said lower section;
- and
- a plurality of plasma arc torches mounted in said lower section to heat said carbon catalyst bed and said material.
A method for the conversion of material comprising waste, biomass or other carbonaceous material by plasma pyrolysis, gasification and vitrification, said method comprising:
- providing a carbon catalyst bed in a lower section of a reactor;
- providing one or more successive quantities of said material from a plurality of directions into an upper section of a reactor, said upper section having at least one gas exhaust port connected to a fan, said material forming a bed atop said carbon catalyst bed;
- heating said carbon catalyst bed and said material bed using a plurality of plasma arc torches mounted in said lower section;
- and
- introducing into said lower section a predetermined amount of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.