# US 8,783,215 B2 · Tar scrubber for energy recovery from gasification operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,215 B2 - Document ID: US8783215B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/400,905 - Filed: 2012-02-21 - Published: 2012-09-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-09 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Applicants: Patrick M. Scott; Benjamin P. Tongue - Inventors: Patrick M. Scott; Benjamin P. Tongue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783215B2 ## CPC - C10K 1/10: with aqueous liquids {(alkaline reacting aqueous liquids C10K1/12)} - C10K 1/046: {Reducing the tar content} - C10K 1/101: {with water only} - C10K 1/18: hydrocarbon oils {(C10K1/165 takes precedence)} - B01D 53/1487: {Removing organic compounds} - C10J 2300/1238: by plasma - C10J 2300/165: integrated with a gas turbine or gas motor - C10J 2300/1671: with the production of electricity - C10J 2300/169: with water treatments - Y02P 20/50: Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals - C10K: PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method and apparatus for generating electrical energy from combustion of biomass is provided. The present invention provides both liquid-phase and gas-phase fuel to an internal combustion engine that is designed to run on both types of fuel. Scrubbing syngas generated in an updraft gasifier with a first petrochemical-based liquid fuel reduces the concentration of tars in the syngas stream and also enables absorption of tars from the syngas into the first liquid fuel. After absorption, the tars form a second liquid fuel that is suitable for direct use in the internal combustion engine. As a result, the syngas provided to the engine is substantially free of tars and the volume of liquid fuel available to the engine is increased. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: (1) a scrubber, the scrubber including; (a) a first port that is fluidically coupled with a source of the first gas, the first gas comprising syngas and tars, wherein the tars have a first concentration in the first gas; (b) a second port that is fluidically coupled with an internal-combustion engine such that the second port provides a second gas to the internal-combustion engine, the second gas including syngas and having a second concentration of tars that is lower than the first concentration; and (c) a third port that is fluidically coupled with the internal-combustion engine such that the third port provides a first liquid fuel to the internal-combustion engine, the first liquid fuel comprising tars dissolved in the first liquid; and (2) the internal-combustion engine, the internal-combustion engine being physically adapted to operate with the second gas and the first liquid fuel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising (3) a gasifier that is physically adapted to gasify a biomass and produce the first gas, the gasifier being fluidically coupled with the first port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the gasifier is an updraft gasifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the gasifier is a downdraft gasifier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the gasifier is a gasifier selected from the group consisting of fixed-bed gasifiers, moving-bed gasifiers, fluidized bed gasifiers, plasma gasifiers, entrained-flow gasifiers, and rotary kiln gasifiers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising (3) a reactor for enabling a liquid-liquid transfer of the first liquid fuel from the first liquid to a second liquid fuel, wherein the first liquid comprises water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first liquid comprises diesel fuel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first liquid comprises bunker fuel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first liquid comprises jet fuel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first liquid comprises heating oil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first liquid comprises boiler fuel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the engine is further dimensioned and arranged to operate with the second liquid fuel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (3) a reactor that is fluidically coupled with the source of the first gas, the reactor being operative for inducing a plasma that includes the first gas and has a vortex shape; and (4) a catalyst that is operatively coupled with the reactor, the catalyst being physically adapted to induce decomposition of tar molecules into a third gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbon molecules. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: a gasifier, the gasifier being an updraft gasifier that is physically adapted to generate a first gas from a biomass, wherein the first gas comprises syngas and tars; a first reactor comprising a scrubber that is operative for scrubbing the first gas with a first liquid comprising a first petrochemical such that absorption of tars in the first liquid gives rise to a second liquid comprising a second petrochemical; and an engine, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine that is physically adapted for operation with syngas, the first petrochemical, and the second petrochemical, and wherein the engine is fluidically coupled with the first reactor to enable receipt of the second gas, the first liquid, and the second liquid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the petrochemical is selected from the group consisting of diesel fuel, bunker fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and boiler fuel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: a second reactor that is fluidically coupled with the gasifier, the second reactor being dimensioned and arranged to induce a plasma having a vortex shape, wherein the plasma is suitable for decomposing at least a first portion of the first gas into a third gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons; and a catalyst bed that is fluidically coupled with the second reactor to receive the third gas and a fourth gas comprising a second portion of the first gas, the catalyst bed including a catalyst suitable for inducing decomposition of tar molecules into a fifth gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, wherein the catalyst is shaped to define a channel suitable to convey the third gas and the fourth gas through the catalyst bed such that the third gas and fourth gas substantially bypass the catalyst. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: providing a first gas that includes syngas and a first concentration of tars; mixing the first gas with a first liquid, wherein the first liquid absorbs tars from the first gas to provide a second gas having a second concentration of tars that is less than the first concentration of tars; converting the absorbed tars into a first liquid fuel; and providing the second gas and the first liquid fuel to an engine that is operable with syngas and the first liquid fuel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: providing the first liquid as water; enabling a liquid-liquid transfer of the first liquid fuel from the first liquid to a second liquid fuel; and providing the second liquid fuel to an engine that is operable with syngas, the first liquid fuel, and the second liquid fuel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising providing the first liquid as a liquid fuel selected from the group consisting of diesel fuel, bunker fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and boiler fuel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: forming a plasma comprising the first gas, the plasma having a vortex shape, wherein the plasma decomposes a first portion of the first gas into a third gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons; channeling the third gas through a catalyst bed comprising a catalyst suitable for inducing decomposition of tar molecules into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons; and exposing a second portion of the second gas to the catalyst, wherein the second portion of the second gas comprises tars. ### Claim 21 An apparatus comprising: a reactor that dimensioned and arranged to receive a first gas that includes syngas and tars, the reactor being physically adapted to induce a vortex-shaped plasma comprising the first gas, wherein the plasma is suitable for decomposing a first portion of the first gas into a second gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons; and a catalyst bed that is fluidically coupled with the second reactor to receive the second gas and a second portion of the first gas, the catalyst bed including a catalyst suitable for inducing decomposition of tar molecules into a third gas comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, wherein the catalyst is shaped to define a channel suitable to convey the second gas through the catalyst bed such that it substantially bypasses the catalyst.