543results about "Retorts" patented technology

A low-temperature gasification system comprising a horizontally oriented gasifier is provided that optimizes the extraction of gaseous molecules from carbonaceous feedstock while minimizing waste heat. The system comprises a plurality of integrated subsystems that work together to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity. The subsystems comprised by the low-temperature gasification system are: a Municipal Solid Waste Handling System; a Plastics Handling System; a Horizontally Oriented Gasifier with Lateral Transfer Units System; a Gas Reformulating System; a Heat Recycling System; a Gas Conditioning System; a Residue Conditioning System; a Gas Homogenization System and a Control System.

Production of synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuel from carbon containing moieties such as biomass, coal, methane, naphtha as a carbon source and hydrogen from a carbon-free energy source is disclosed. The biomass can be fed to a gasifier along with hydrogen, oxygen, steam and recycled carbon dioxide. The synthesis gas from the gasifier exhaust is sent to a liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor to form liquid hydrocarbon molecules. Unreacted CO & H₂ can be recycled to the gasifier along with CO₂ from the liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor system. Hydrogen can be obtained from electrolysis of water, thermo-chemical cycles or directly by using energy from carbon-free energy sources.

Disclosed is a scaleable pyrolysis system for batch processing of waste vehicle tires and other waste to provide pyrolysis products. The core pyrolysis system includes one or more batch reactors, heating units, solids processing units, gas/liquid processing units and control units. In operation, the temperature gradients internal to the reactor are controlled by preferential channeling of heat to provide pyrolysis products that are of high quality, and hence commercially advantageous, while facilitating high throughput.

Disclosed are a method and a corresponding apparatus for converting a biomass reactant into synthesis gas. The method includes the steps of (1) heating biomass in a first molten liquid bath at a first temperature, wherein the first temperature is at least about 100° C., but less than the decomposition temperature of the biomass, wherein gas comprising water is evaporated and air is pressed from the biomass, thereby yielding dried biomass with minimal air content. (2) Recapturing the moisture evaporated from the biomass in step 1 for use in the process gas. (3) Heating the dried biomass in a second molten liquid bath at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is sufficiently high to cause flash pyrolysis of the dried biomass, thereby yielding product gases, tar, and char. (4) Inserting recaptured steam into the process gas, which may optionally include external natural gas or hydrogen gas or recycled syngas for mixing and reforming with tar and non-condensable gases. (5) Further reacting the product gases, tar, and char with the process gas within a third molten liquid bath at a third temperature which is equal to or greater than the second temperature within the second molten liquid bath, thereby yielding high quality and relatively clean synthesis gas after a relatively long residence time needed for char gasification. A portion of the synthesis gas so formed is combusted to heat the first, second, and third molten liquid baths, unless external natural or hydrogen gas is available for this use.

An integrated gasification combined cycle system. In one embodiment (FIG. 2) a system (200) includes an ion transport membrane air separation unit (210) for producing oxygen-enriched gas (209) and oxygen-depleted air (227), a gasification system (5) for generating syngas with the oxygen-enriched gas (209), a gas combustor (234) for reacting the syngas (224), and a subsystem configured to provide a first stream of air to the combustor (234) at a first pressure and to provide a second stream of air to the air separation unit (210) at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The subsystem includes a compressor (230) having multi-pressure outlets (203, 204).

A gas-generating apparatus includes a reaction chamber having a first reactant, a reservoir having an optional second reactant, and a self-regulated flow control device. The self-regulated flow control device stops the flow of reactant from the reservoir to the reaction chamber when the pressure of the reaction chamber reaches a predetermined level. Methods of operating the gas-generated apparatus and the self-regulated flow control device, including the cycling of a shut-off valve of the gas-generated apparatus and the cycling of the self-regulated flow control device are also described.

The present invention provides a vertically oriented gasifier comprising vertically successive processing regions for conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into gas. The gasifier comprises of: one or more processing chambers with two or more vertically successive processing regions being distributed within said one or more processing chambers, within each one of which a respective process selected from the group consisting of drying, volatilization and carbon conversion is at least partially favoured, The processing regions are identified by temperature ranges respectively enabling each said respective process. One or more additive input elements are associated with the processing regions for inputting additives to promote each said at least partially favoured process therein. In addition, the gasifier comprises one or more material displacement control modules adapted to control a vertical movement of the feedstock through said processing regions to enhance each said at least partially favoured process, one or more feedstock inputs located near a first of said processing regions and one or more gas outputs and one or more residue outputs.

The present invention provides an autothermal torrefaction device, which can be either stationary of mobile. Embodiments of the present invention include a torrefaction chamber having a chamber inlet for receiving biomass and at least one chamber outlet. The torrefaction chamber can be substantially surrounded by an exterior housing defining an outer jacket and having a jacket inlet and a jacket outlet. The outer jacket and torrefaction chamber define a space therebetween such that a burner unit including an inlet operatively connected to the chamber outlet and an outlet operatively connected to the jacket inlet allows vapors produced or released from within the torrefaction chamber to travel into the burner unit for combustion of at least a portion of the vapors and subsequently travel through the space between the jacket and the torrefaction chamber to provide heat necessary for autothermal torrefaction of biomass.

Tire pyrolysis systems and processes are provided which include feeding tire shreds to a pyrolysis reactor, pyrolyzing the shreds in a pyrolysis reactor to produce a hydrocarbon-containing gas stream and carbon-containing solid, removing the carbon-containing solid from the reactor, directing the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream into a separator, contacting the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream with an oil spray in the separator thereby washing particulate from the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream and condensing a portion of the gas stream to oil, removing and cooling the oil from the separator, directing non-condensed gas from the gas stream away from the separator, and directing a portion of the cooled oil removed from the separator to an inlet of the separator for use as the separator oil spray. A process is also provided in which solids from the pyrolysis reactor are directed to an auger having a pressure which is greater than the pressure in the pyrolysis reactor, and in which non-condensed gas from the gas stream after condensing a portion of the gas is directed to at least one burner in heat exchange relation with the pyrolysis reactor, and burned to heat the reactor and generate an effluent flue gas, a portion of which effluent flue gas is cooled and injected into the auger which is a trough auger in one embodiment.

A distillation system is provided for batch thermolytic distillation of lump carbonaceous material, such as lump wood and shredded rubber tires. The system preferably includes multiple distillation units mounted side-by-side. Each unit includes a reactor bath for holding molten tin at approximately 455° C., a two-compartment reservoir for storing molten tin, and a porous basket pivotally mounted within the reactor bath for tipping motion. A process for batch thermolytic distillation of lump carbonaceous material includes rotating the porous basket into a reactor bath by rotating the basket about an axis passing through the reactor bath; putting a charge of wood into the basket; closing a retractable lid onto the reactor bath; filling the reactor bath with molten material to produce gas and char by thermolytic conversion of the charge, draining the reactor bath of molten material while the lid is closed; quenching the char in the reactor bath with steam; opening the lid; and tipping the char from the basket.

This invention is directed to a process for increasing production of product that is formed in a reactor having a combustion section in which fuel is burned to produce heat to drive an endothermic reaction occurring within a reaction section. Production is increased by adding supplemental oxygen to air or other oxygen containing gas used to support combustion in the combustion section, thereby to generate more heat to support an increase in the endothermic reaction. Additionally, supplemental oxygen can be introduced into the reaction section to partially oxidize a reactant to generate heat and to allow an increase in the production of the product. Supplemental oxygen may be added directly to the steam-methane mixture, or to the combustion air.

The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products that contain bone material to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, and municipal sewage sludge, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process heats the feedstock in order to breakdown proteins and separate organic material from bone material, applies further heat and pressure to the resulting liquid mixture, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a process of converting waste products into useful materials, and an oil product that arises from the process.

Methods and systems for substantially continuously treating comminuted material containing carbon and hydrogen, for example, used tires, are provided. The methods include the steps of introducing the tire material to an elongated chamber, transferring the tire material through the elongated chamber, heating the tire material to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the material to produce a gaseous stream; discharging the gaseous stream from the chamber, and cooling at least some of the gaseous stream to liquefy components of the stream. The transfer may be effected by a flexible, center-less screw conveyor to minimize material buildup in the vessel. The cooling of the gaseous stream may be practiced by reverse condensation. One or more re-usable fuel streams are provided by aspects of the invention.

An improved quench ring in combination with a reactor vessel having a refractory lined reaction chamber with a bottom outlet and a floor to support the refractory lined reaction chamber, wherein the quench ring is protected by a protective barrier comprising dense refractory brick, dense refractory ramming mix, refractory ceramic fiber, and a metal apron support. The protective barrier is removably attached to a portion of the quench ring hotface and protects the quench ring from the high temperature of the effluent exiting the reaction chamber.

The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system comprising (a) at least one coke drum having an orifice therein; (b) a de-header valve removably coupled to the coke drum designed to de-head the coke drum; and (c) an exchange system, including an upper and lower bonnet and other elements and members adapted to integrate the de-heading system, and particularly the de-header valve, into the manufacturing system. The de-header valve itself comprises (1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with and couple to, in a concentric relationship, the orifice of the coke drum; (2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to the main body and comprising a dynamic, live loaded seat, a live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to the main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of the dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to the dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from the live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to the dynamic, live loaded seat; (3) a static seat positioned opposite from and counteracting or counterbalancing the dynamic, live loaded seat; and (4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a linear, bi-directional manner within the de-header valve and between the dynamic, live loaded seat and the static seat, such that upon actuation of the blind from a closed position to an open position, the coke drum is de-headed.