Multi-ring Plasma Pyrolysis Chamber

Abstract

A pyrolysis chamber for the extraction of combustible gasses from biomass waste such as wood chips has a gravity fed chamber, where fuel passes, in succession, through a pre-heating zone, an oxidation and reduction zone, a gas outlet zone and a solids offloading zone. The pre-heating zone has plasma torches which direct an air plasma into the chamber, thereby pre-heating the fuel to a temperature of 1200-1500° C., after which the fuel enters the oxidation and reduction zone, where it is exposed to a steam plasma of 1500° C. which travels through plasma torches to an annular ring distributor surrounding the chamber and having apertures directing the steam plasma into the chamber, thereby providing enhanced generation of combustible gasses of CO and H₂. The combustible gasses are removed in the gas outlet zone, which has a half annular ring collector removing combustible gasses out of the chamber and half annular ring distributor injecting an air plasma into the chamber for gasification of the ash residual carbon. A solids offloading part has a rotating grate for the removal of ash and slag for delivery to a water trough.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The current invention is drawn to the field of Pyrolysis chambers and processes. More specifically, the invention relates to a top-loading Pyrolysis chamber for organic fuel such as wood chips, the chamber having a plurality of air plasma torches for pre-heating, steam plasma torches coupled to an enclosed annular ring distributor for uniform steam plasma application during oxidation and reduction, air plasma torches coupled to an enclosed half annular ring distributor for introduction of air plasma into outlet zone for removing ash and slag and a half annular ring collector for collection and offloading of combustible gasses.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Pyrolysis is commonly defined as the thermal decomposition of an organic fuel in an environment of less-than-stoichiometric oxygen, and devices utilizing this process are known as partial oxidation reactors. Devices utilizing organic combustion include coal-based gasification projects, which use direc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]a second step of exposing pre-heated fuel to a steam plasma generated by a steam plasma torch coupling the steam plasma into an annular ring distributor in the chamber and surrounding the pre-heated fuel, coupling the steam plasma in the annular ring distributor to the pre-heated fuel using a plurality of apertures, thereby oxidizing and reducing the pre-heated fuel and generating combustible gasses and waste products of ash and slag; a third step of gasification of the ash residual carbon by injecting an air plasma into the oxidized and reduced fuel with a half annular ring distributor having a plurality of apertures directing the air plasma into the outlet zone;

Problems solved by technology

The pryrolysis apparatus and method operates at maximum efficiency for fuel generation and waste volume reduction at increased temperatures, and as described above, these elevated temperatures may be reached using oxygen enhanced combustion air, but the use of oxygen represents an additional operational expense.

Images