Systems and Methods Using an Unmixed Fuel Processor

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and method for using unmixed fuel processors. In one embodiment, a system for using an unmixed fuel processor comprises: an unmixed fuel processor and a power generating unit. The unmixed fuel processor comprises: a gasification reactor, an oxidation reactor and a regeneration reactor. The gasification reactor comprises a CO2 sorbent material. The oxidation reactor comprises an oxygen transfer material. The regeneration reactor is configured to receive spent CO2 sorbent material from the gasification reactor and to return regenerated CO2 sorbent material to the gasification reactor, and configured to receive oxidized oxygen transfer material from the oxidation reactor and to return reduced oxygen transfer material to the oxidation reactor. The power generating unit configured to receive an oxygen depleted stream from the oxidation reactor and to produce electricity.

Description

[0001]This invention was made with Government support under contract number DOE NETL DE-FC26-05NT40974 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Government may have certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND[0002]This application relates generally to unmixed fuel processors, and more particularly, to systems and methods for producing electricity and / or hydrogen using unmixed fuel processors.[0003]With its abundant domestic supply, coal is one of the most secure, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for the U.S. today, gasification of coal to produce electricity is being commercially introduced as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants. However, one of the major problems in modern industrial society is the air pollution by conventional combustion systems based on fossil fuels. The oldest recognized air pollution problem is the emission of smoke. In modern boilers and furnaces, smoke emissions could be eliminated or at least greatly reduced by the use of Ov...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Hence, there continues to be a need for more efficient,

Problems solved by technology

However, one of the major problems in modern industrial society is the air pollution by conventional combustion systems based on fossil fuels.

The oldest recognized air pollution problem is the emission of smoke.

More recently, the problem of global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions of CO2 from power plants and other combustion systems has become a matter of serious environmental concern.

Another major technological problem concerns the use of coal as a fuel for powering gas turbines.

This limitation significantly decreases the overall process efficiency and lowers the competitiveness of coal as a gas turbine fuel.

In turn, the air oxidizes the catalyst and becomes depleted of oxygen.

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