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US 8,771,388 B2Granted
Method to produce methane rich fuel gas from carbonaceous feedstocks using a steam hydrogasification reactor and a water gas shift reactor
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJoseph M. Norbeck, Chan Seung Park, Arun S K Raju
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing high levels of methane based on a combination of steam hydrogasification and a shift reactor is provided. Hydrogen produced by the shift reactor can be recycled back into the steam hydrogasifier.
Claims13
A process for converting carbonaceous material into methane-rich fuel gas, comprising:
- simultaneously heating in a steam hydrogasification reactor the carbonaceous material in the presence of both hydrogen and steam, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a stream of methane and carbon monoxide rich product gas;
- subjecting the methane and carbon monoxide rich produce gas in a shift reactor to a shift reaction to thereby form a shifted methane rich produce gas, wherein steam for the shift reaction is provided by the unreacted steam from the steam hydrogasification reactor;
- wherein the carbon monoxide in the product reacts in the shift reactor with steam to produce hydrogen, and wherein the steam used to react with the carbon monoxide in the shift reactor is obtained only from the steam hydrogasification reactor;
- and
- separating the hydrogen from the shifted methane rich product gas, and recycling at least part of the separated hydrogen to the steam hydrogasification reactor.
2 more elements
A process for converting a slurry of carbonaceous material in water into methane-rich fuel gas, comprising:
- simultaneously heating in a hydrogasification reactor the carbonaceous material in the presence of both hydrogen and steam, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a stream of methane and carbon monoxide rich product gas,
- wherein all of the steam required for the hydrogasification is formed from the water in the slurry, and
- feeding the product gas to a shift reactor, wherein the carbon monoxide of the product gas reacts with unreacted steam from the steam hydrogasification reactor at a temperature of between 200 to 450° C. to produce hydrogen, and wherein the methane is insert at the temperature in the shift reactor to thereby form a methane rich shifted product gas.
A process for converting a slurry of carbonaceous material in water into methane-rich fuel gas, comprising:
- simultaneously heating in a steam hydrogasification reactor the carbonaceous material in the presence of both hydrogen and steam, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a stream of methane and carbon monoxide rich product gas that further contains unreacted steam:
- wherein all of the steam required for the hydrogasification is formed from the water in the slurry;
- removing sulfurous contaminants from the product gas in the presence of the unreacted steam;
- subjecting the carbon monoxide in the produce gas in a shift reactor to a shift reaction at a temperature at which methane is inert to thereby form a shifted methane rich produce gas, wherein steam for the shift for shift reaction is provided by the unreacted steam;
- and
- separating hydrogen from the shifted methane rich product gas, and recycling at least part of the separated hydrogen to the steam hydrogasification reactor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.