Process for biomass conversion to synthesis gas
AssigneeCool Planet Biofuels, Inc.
InventorsMichael Cheiky, Rajashekharam Malyala, Ronald A. Sills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Biomass is processed through a biomass fractioning system that creates, through the application of selective temperature ramps and pressure shocks, a series of useful volatile components and BMF char, wherein the BMF char is reacted sacrificially with any one stream of methane, carbon dioxide, steam or oxygen to create highly pure synthesis gas with a controllable range of compositions. The resulting synthesis gas may be used in any desired manner, including conversion to oxygenates such as methanol and dimethyl ether, and to hydrocarbons.
Claims20
A method for producing synthesis gas from biomass, comprising:
- grinding a biomass feedstock to produce ground biomass particles;
- dispensing the ground biomass particles into thin sheets;
- subjecting the thin sheets of ground biomass to a treatment including sequential ramps of temperature followed by pressure shocks or pressure shocks concurrent with ramps of temperature;
- and
- recovering a residual non-volatile biomass component from the treatment and reacting the component with at least one of methane, oxygen, steam, and carbon dioxide, at high temperatures.
A method for adjusting the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in synthesis gas, comprising:
- grinding a biomass feedstock to produce ground biomass particles having diameters in the range of 0.001 inch to 1 inch;
- dispensing ground biomass into thin sheets having a thickness that is a multiple of the ground biomass particle diameter;
- subjecting the thin sheets of ground biomass to a treatment including sequential ramps of temperature followed by pressure shocks or pressure shocks concurrent with ramps of temperature;
- selectively collecting various groups of volatile compounds as they are released from the biomass;
- collecting a remaining non-volatile component of the thin sheets;
- reacting the non-volatile component with one of oxygen, methane, steam, and carbon dioxide;
- and
- adjusting a ratio of reacted oxygen, methane, steam, or carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas having a hydrogen/carbon ratio in a range of 0 to 100.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.