Methods of activating charcoal resulting from biomass gasification

• US 8,999,885 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Majmudar, Jinmesh Pranav, Mall, Omprakash
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDRICKSON, STUART L
• Application Number:
  US13/737,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 502/421, 502/430
• US Class Current: 502/437
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3078 Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/324 from waste materials, e.g. tyres or spent sulfite pulp liquor
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/336 characterised by gaseous activating agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

Methods for activating charcoal resulting from biomass gasification are provided. Exemplary methods include gasifying biomass in a gasification reactor of an integrated biomass gasification system to produce charcoal; and activating charcoal using heat generated from an integral heat source of the integrated biomass gasification system. The methods include activation of charcoal resulting from biomass gasification in a more efficient, economical manner, thereby increasing the value of biomass gasification with minimal investment in the process.

Claims

1. A method of activating charcoal resulting from gasification, said method comprising:

gasifying dried biomass material in a gasification reactor of a biomass gasification system to produce unactivated charcoal; and

activating the unactivated charcoal to facilitate increasing an iodine value of the unactivated charcoal using heat generated from an integral heat source of the biomass gasification system,

wherein the biomass gasification system also includes a combustor and a turbine in flow communication with the gasification reactor, said method further comprises contacting the biomass material with at least one of turbine exhaust and combustor exhaust.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising drying the biomass material using a dryer.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising sun-drying the biomass material.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal to a temperature of from about 400°

C. to about 1100°

C.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the biomass gasification system further includes a combustor and a turbine in flow communication with the gasification reactor, said method further comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with at least one of turbine exhaust and combustor exhaust.

6. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the biomass gasification system further includes a hot screw conveyor coupled to the gasification reactor, said method further comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with outer walls of the hot screw conveyor.

7. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the biomass gasification system further includes a combustor in flow communication with the gasification reactor and a heat exchanger in flow communication with the combustor, said method further comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with steam generated by the heat exchanger.

8. A method of activating charcoal resulting from gasification, said method comprising:

gasifying dried biomass material in a gasification reactor of a biomass gasification system to produce a stream of unactivated charcoal and producer gas;

separating the unactivated charcoal from the producer gas of the stream using a hot screw conveyor; and

activating the unactivated charcoal to facilitate increasing an iodine value of the unactivated charcoal using heat generated from an integral heat source of the biomass gasification system,

wherein the biomass gasification system further includes a turbine in flow communication with a combustor, said method further comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with turbine exhaust.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal to a temperature of from about 400°

C. to about 1100°

C.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with the producer gas at a temperature of about 500°

C., wherein activating occurs subsequent to separating the unactivated charcoal from the producer gas.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising combusting the producer gas in the combustor to generate combustor exhaust, wherein the unactivated charcoal is activated by heating the unactivated charcoal with the combustor exhaust.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the biomass gasification system further includes a combustor in flow communication with the gasification reactor and a heat exchanger in flow communication with the combustor, said method further comprises heating the unactivated charcoal with steam generated by the heat exchanger.

13. A method of activating charcoal resulting from gasification, said method comprising:

gasifying dried biomass material in a gasification reactor of a biomass gasification system to produce a stream of unactivated charcoal and producer gas;

separating the unactivated charcoal from the producer gas of the stream using a hot screw conveyor;

combusting the producer gas using a combustor to generate hot exhaust gases wherein combusting the producer gas comprises generating combustor exhaust and turbine exhaust, wherein the combustor exhaust and the turbine exhaust are combined to generate the hot exhaust gases; and

activating the unactivated charcoal to facilitate increasing an iodine value of the unactivated charcoal using heat from the hot exhaust gases.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal to a temperature of at least about 400°

C.

16. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal to a temperature of from about 400°

C. to about 1100°

C.

17. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein activating the unactivated charcoal comprises heating the unactivated charcoal without the use of an external heat source.

14. The method in accordance with 13 further comprising sun-drying the biomass material.