Gasification apparatus and method

• US 20050268556A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Power Reclamation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Power Reclamation, Inc.
• Inventors: Rogers, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US11/196,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 48/197.FM
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/14 by absorption
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2200/158 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0956 Air or oxygen enriched air
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0973 Water
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1807 Recycle loops, e.g. gas, solids, heating medium, water
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/26 downwardly
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/30 Fuel charging devices
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/32 Devices for distributing fuel evenly over the bed or for stirring up the fuel bed
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/34 Grates; Mechanical ash-removing devices
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/42 Rotary grates
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/723 Controlling or regulating the gasification process
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/024 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/08 by washing with liquids; Reviving the used wash liquors gas washers B01D
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/101 with water only
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/34 by catalytic conversion of impurities to more readily removable materials

Abstract

A gasification system is disclosed having a combustor, a scrubber, a finisher, and optionally a recycler. A carbonaceous fuel is partially combusted in the combustor to generate a combustible gas. An improved ash support and removal system reduces clogging and other problems in the combustor. The combustible gas passes through the scrubber to remove matter such as tar and oil and to undergo preliminary catalytic chemical reactions. The scrubbed gas passes through a hybrid blower to the finisher. Final catalytic chemical reactions occur in the finisher, and wood chips or other filters may also be used in the finisher to provide a relatively clean, dry, combustible gas. Wastewater and other waste products from the scrubber and finisher are captured in the recycler and returned to the combustor.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(1) at least partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel to produce a combustible gas;

(2) passing said combustible gas through one or more first filters to produce a scrubbed gas;

(3) passing said scrubbed gas through one or more second filters to produce a finished gas; and

(4) after step (3), combusting said scrubbed and finished gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises:

at least partially combusting said carbonaceous fuel to produce said combustible gas, said carbonaceous fuel comprising chicken litter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises:

at least partially combusting said carbonaceous fuel to produce said combustible gas, said carbonaceous fuel comprising wood pulp sludge.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (1) comprises at least partially combusting said carbonaceous fuel in a combustor to produce said combustible gas; and

step (2) comprises passing said combustible gas through said one or more first filters in a scrubber to produce said scrubbed gas; and

further comprising

passing wastewater from said scrubber to said combustor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (1) comprises at least partially combusting said carbonaceous fuel in a combustor to produce said combustible gas; and

step (3) comprises passing said scrubbed gas through said one or more second filters in a finisher; and

further comprising

passing wastewater from said finisher to said combustor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (3) comprises passing said scrubbed gas through said one or more second filters in a finisher; and

further comprising;

passing wastewater from said finisher to said combustor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (1) comprises at least partially combusting said carbonaceous fuel in a combustor to produce said combustible gas;

step (2) comprises passing said combustible gas through said one or more first filters in a scrubber to produce said scrubbed gas; and

step (3) comprises passing said scrubbed gas through said one or more second filters in a finisher; and

further comprising;

passing wastewater from said scrubber to a recycler;

passing wastewater from said finisher to said recycler; and

passing said wastewater from said scrubber and said wastewater from said finisher from said recycler to said combustor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first filters comprise one or more catalysts.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first filters comprise one or more liquids.

10. A method, comprising:

(1) at least partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel in a combustor to produce a combustible gas;

(2) passing said combustible gas to a scrubber;

(3) passing said combustible gas through one or more filters within said scrubber; and

(4) passing a first portion of the one or more filters from said scrubber to said combustor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (3) comprises:

passing said combustible gas through said one or more filters within said scrubber, said one or more filters comprising water.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein step (3) comprises:

passing said combustible gas through the one or more filters within said scrubber to remove matter from said combustible gas, said matter comprising tar and oil; and

further comprising;

passing said tar and oil from said scrubber to said combustor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

passing said combustible gas from said scrubber to a finisher; and

passing a waste liquid from said finisher to said combustor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein step (4) comprises:

passing said first portion of said liquid from said scrubber to a recycler; and

passing said first portion of said liquid from said recycler to said combustor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (3) comprises:

passing said combustible gas through the one or more filters within said scrubber to remove matter from said combustible gas, said matter comprising tar and oil; and

further comprising;

passing said tar and oil from said scrubber to said recycler; and

passing said tar and oil from said recycler to said combustor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

passing said combustible gas from said scrubber to a finisher;

passing waste liquid from said finisher to said recycler; and

passing said waste liquid from said recycler to said combustor.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more filters comprise one or more catalysts.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more filters comprise one or more liquids.

19. A combination, comprising:

a combustor having an upper outer wall portion and a lower base portion;

an inner wall disposed within said combustor, an upper portion of said inner wall being connected to said combustor to form an inner chamber and an outer chamber, a lower portion of said inner wall defining a first opening within said combustor;

an ash support member disposed within said combustor below said first opening, said ash support member being affixed within said combustor so that ash may spill from said ash support member over at least approximately 80 percent of an outer periphery of said ash support member.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said ash support member is affixed within said combustor so that ash may spill from said ash support member over at least approximately 90 percent of said outer periphery of said ash support member.

21. The combination of claim 19, further comprising:

a first agitating member disposed within said combustor above said opening; and

a second agitating member disposed within said combustor below said opening.

22. The combination of claim 21, further comprising a third agitating member disposed within said combustor above said opening.

23. The combination of claim 19, further comprising:

a scrubber, said scrubber being operably connected to said combustor to provide a flow path from said outer chamber of said combustor to said scrubber;

a finisher, said finisher being operably connected to said scrubber; and

one or more filters disposed in said finisher.

24. The combination of claim 19, further comprising:

a blower disposed downstream from said combustor and operably connected to said combustor for withdrawing a combustible gas from said combustor, said blower comprising;

an impeller housing;

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing; and

a seal between portions of said impeller housing.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein said blower further comprises:

a shaft affixed to said impeller; and

at least two sets of bearings operably connected to said shaft.