Two-Stage Plasma Process For Converting Waste Into Fuel Gas And Apparatus Therefor
First Claim
1. A two-stage plasma process for converting waste having organic and inorganic components into fuel gas, which comprises:
- (a) in the first stage, vitrifying or melting the inorganic components of the waste and partially gasifying the organic components; and
(b) in the second stage, completing the gasification of the organic components so that gas from the first stage of the process entering the secondary gasifier is exposed to a high temperature such as to transform essentially all soot present in the gas to CO and to convert essentially all complex organic molecules to simpler molecules CO, CO2 and H2.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-step gasification process and apparatus for the conversion of solid or liquid organic waste into clean fuel, suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner, is described. The waste is fed initially into a primary gasifier, which is a graphite arc furnace. Within the primary gasifier, the organic components of the waste are mixed with a predetermined amount of air, oxygen or steam, and converted into volatiles and soot. The volatiles consist mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and may include a variety of other hydrocarbons and some fly ash. The gas exiting the primary gasifier first passes through a hot cyclone, where some of the soot and most of the fly ash is collected and returned to the primary gasifier. The remaining soot along with the volatile organic compounds is further treated in a secondary gasifier where the soot and the volatile compounds mix with a high temperature plasma jet and a metered amount of air, oxygen or steam, and are converted into a synthesis gas consisting primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then quenched and cleaned to form a clean fuel gas suitable for use in a gas engine or a gas burner. This offers higher thermal efficiency than conventional technology and produces a cleaner fuel than other known alternatives.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A two-stage plasma process for converting waste having organic and inorganic components into fuel gas, which comprises:
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(a) in the first stage, vitrifying or melting the inorganic components of the waste and partially gasifying the organic components; and
(b) in the second stage, completing the gasification of the organic components so that gas from the first stage of the process entering the secondary gasifier is exposed to a high temperature such as to transform essentially all soot present in the gas to CO and to convert essentially all complex organic molecules to simpler molecules CO, CO2 and H2. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for converting waste having organic and inorganic components into fuel gas, which includes:
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(a) a primary gasifier comprising a refractory lined, enclosed plasma arc furnace provided with at least one graphite electrode;
at least one inlet for feeding waste into the furnace;
means for feeding air, oxygen and/or steam in metered amounts into the furnace; and
a gas take off port for primary synthesis gas produced in said primary gasifier;
said primary gasifier being adapted to maintain layers of molten metal and molten slag at the bottom of the furnace and on top of the molten slag a layer of partially treated waste on top of which fresh waste is fed; and
said at least one graphite electrode being adapted to generate a plasma arc to the molten slag present in the furnace during the operation; and
(b) a secondary gasifier to which the primary synthesis gas is fed, said secondary gasifier being equipped with a plasma-torch fired eductor adapted to expose the primary synthesis gas entering from the primary gasifier to a high temperature such as to transform essentially any soot present in said primary gas into CO and to convert essentially any complex organic molecule to simpler molecules CO, CO2 and H2;
means for supplying metered amounts of air, oxygen and/or steam into the eductor;
said eductor leading to an insulated chamber; and
an outlet being provided in said chamber for the fuel gas resulting from the operation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification