Apparatus and methods for tar removal from syngas

• US 8,894,885 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jupeng Bio (HK) Limited
• Original Assignee: INEOS Bio SA
• Inventors: Bell, Peter S., Ko, Ching-Whan, Descales, Bernard, Eyraud, Julien, Golab, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayes, Melvin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): VADEN, KENNETH I
• Application Number:
  US13/427,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 252/373
• US Class Current: 252/373
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0877 by direct injection of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0894 Generation of steam
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/142 At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/143 Three or more reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2200/09 Mechanical details of gasifiers not otherwise provided for, e.g. sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2200/15 Details of feeding means
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0956 Air or oxygen enriched air
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0959 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1606 Combustion processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1846 Partial oxidation, i.e. injection of air or oxygen only
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1884 with one stream being synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/72 Other features
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/721 Multistage gasification, e.g. plural parallel or serial gasification stages
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/723 Controlling or regulating the gasification process
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/726 Start-up
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/84 with means for removing dust or tar from the gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/86 combined with waste-heat boilers
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/02 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/04 by cooling to condense non-gaseous materials C10K1/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 3/003 Reducing the tar content
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 3/005 : by partial oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 3/008 : by cracking
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/1838 : the hot gas being under a high pressure, e.g. in chemical installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/18 : Integrated gasification combined cycle [IGCC], e.g. combined with carbon capture and storage [CCS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A process and apparatus are provided for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas. The process includes contacting the tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture. The gas mixture is passed through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900° C. to about 2000° C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds. In this aspect, at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas.

Claims

1. A process for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas, said process comprising:

contacting said tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture; and

passing said gas mixture through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature between about 900°

C. to about 2000°

C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds wherein at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas;

wherein the gas mixture from the first reaction zone changes direction of flow by impingement on a surface.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said heat treatment zone is maintained at a temperature between about 1000°

C. to 1500°

C.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said heat treatment zone is maintained at a temperature between about 1200°

C. to 1250°

C. range.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein a linear velocity of a flow of said tar containing syngas oxygen mixture at an exit of said first reaction zone is greater than about 5 meters per second.

5. The process of claim 1 further comprising introducing at least a portion of hot syngas into the first reaction zone.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein a ratio of linear velocity (meters/second) to height of the heat treatment zone (meters) is about 0.3:

12.5 to about 2.0;

2.5.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the heat treatment zone comprises:

(a) a first heat treatment zone effective for thermal treatment of tar contained in the gas mixture to produce a less tar containing gas mixture; and

(b) a second heat treatment zone effective for thermal treatment of tar contained in said less tar containing gas mixture to produce hot syngas.

8. A process for producing hot syngas comprising:

treating a carbonaceous material with a molecular oxygen containing gas and optionally with one or more of steam and carbon dioxide in a gasification zone to produce a tar containing syngas;

passing said tar containing syngas and a molecular oxygen containing gas through a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture, wherein a linear velocity of a flow of said tar containing syngas oxygen mixture at an exit of said first reaction zone is greater than about 5 meters per second; and

passing said gas mixture through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature of about 900°

C. to about 2000°

C. for a contact time of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds range wherein at least a portion of the tar undergoes one or more of partial oxidation and cracking to produce a hot syngas;

wherein the gas mixture from first reaction zone changes direction of flow by impingement on a surface,

wherein a ratio of linear velocity (meters/second) to height (meters) of the heat treatment zone is about 0.3;

12.5 to about 2.0;

2.5.

9. A process for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas comprising:

contacting said tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture, wherein a linear velocity of a flow of said tar containing syngas oxygen mixture at an exit of said first reaction zone is greater than about 5 meters per second; and

passing said gas mixture through a heat treatment zone at a temperature and for a time effective for reducing tar content of the syngas by at least about 10%;

wherein the gas mixture from the first reaction zone changes direction of flow by impingement on a surface,

wherein a ratio of linear velocity (meters/second) to height (meters) of the heat treatment zone is about 0.3;

12.5 to about 2.0;

2.5.

10. A process for reducing content of tar in a tar containing syngas, said process comprising:

contacting said tar containing syngas with a molecular oxygen containing gas in a first reaction zone to produce a gas mixture, wherein a linear velocity of a flow of said tar containing syngas oxygen mixture at an exit of said first reaction zone is greater than about 5 meters per second; and

passing said gas mixture through a heat treatment zone maintained at a temperature (T) between about 900°

C. to about 2000°

C. for a contact time (Ct) of about 0.5 to about 5 seconds wherein at least a portion of the tar undergoes at least partial oxidation and/or cracking to produce a hot syngas;

wherein the tar concentration equivalent content of the hot syngas is maintained at less than 10 ppm,

wherein a ratio of linear velocity (meters/second) to height (meters) of the heat treatment zone is about 0.3;

12.5 to about 2.0;

2.5.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the tar concentration equivalent content of the hot syngas is maintained at less than 10 ppm through control of the temperature (T) and/or the contact time (Ct).