Inductively coupled plasma/partial oxidation reformation of carbonaceous compounds to produce fuel for energy production

A method for producing a net surplus of electrical power from a carbonaceous feedstock, by reforming the carbonaceous feedstock into a fuel gas suitable for use in an electrical generator that produces electrical power, such that substantially more electrical power is produced than is consumed, comprising the steps of:

• (a) using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to reform the carbonaceous feedstock into a fuel gas suitable for use in an electrical generator to produce electrical power, the carbonaceous feedstock having been selected such that substantially more electrical power can be produced by the fuel gas than is consumed by generating the ICP wherein the plasma gas used to generate the ICP is non-combustible;
• (b) introducing the fuel gas into a first electrical generator, the first electrical generator using the fuel gas to produce a first quantity of electrical power and an exhaust gas stream that includes combustible gases;
• (c) compressing the exhaust gas stream;
• and
• (d) introducing the exhaust gas stream into a second electrical generator, the second electrical generator combusting the exhaust gas stream to produce a second quantity of electrical power, the first and second quantity of electrical power in combination exceeding the electrical power consumed to generate the ICP.

A method for producing a net surplus of electrical power from coal using an electrical generator that cannot use coal directly as a fuel source, such that substantially more electrical power is generated than is consumed, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a system configured to reform the call into a fuel gas and to use that fuel gas to generate electrical power, the system comprising an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch, and an electrical generator;
• (b) using the ICP torch to reform the coal into the fuel gas, the quality of the coal having been selected such that substantially more electrical power can be produced by the fuel gas than is consumed by operating the system wherein the plasma gas used to generate the ICP is not a fuel gas;
• (c) introducing the fuel gas into the electrical generator;
• (d) using the fuel gas to produce a first quantity of electrical power that is utilized to operate the system, and a second quantity of electrical power that corresponds to the net surplus of electrical power, such that the second quantity of electrical power is substantially as large as or larger than the first quantity of electrical power;
• and
• (e) distributing the second quantity of electrical power to be used for purposes other than operating the system.