"Set of vertical iron combustion reactors for application in the production of decarbonized energy"

Abstract

The invention comprises a set of vertical reactors (1) arranged in a battery and sharing the heat recovery unit and the particle filtration system (3) in order to minimize the height of the combustion system. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: "Set of vertical iron combustion reactors for application to the production of decarbonized energy" FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for producing thermal energy by combustion of metals for application to the production of decarbonized energy in stationary applications or for mobility. It also relates to a method for producing thermal energy implemented in this system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Most current heating systems (natural gas, propane, butane, or fuel oil boilers) use fuels that emit CO2. Furthermore, the rising cost of energy and the risk of shortages due to the energy dependencies of many countries worldwide are driving the search for green alternative energy sources for residential and commercial heating. The use of wood for heating also presents a significant risk of deforestation if responsible and sustainable forest management practices are not adopted.

[0003] In this context, the combustion of metallic particles, as detailed in the article "Direct combustion of recyclable metal fuels for zero-carbon heat and power," Applied Energy, 2015 by JF Bergthorson, is a proposed solution for producing CO2-free combustion for all types of energy production applications. Metallic fuels (magnesium, aluminum, iron) have the advantage of generating only solid metal oxides during combustion, which are easily recovered in a combustion system. These oxides can then be recycled using renewable energy via an inert anode electrolysis process or a zero-CO2 thermochemical reduction process using solar energy.

[0004] The combustion of metallic particles is historically known in aerospace propulsion applications and also in documents US8100095B2 for internal and external combustion automotive applications. A major problem with iron combustion is the time required to burn all the particles. Companies are developing vertical iron combustion systems with lengths exceeding ten meters in height for only a few MW. However, a reactor of this type is compatible with very few industrial installations or vehicles due to its great height. It is therefore important to modify the design of this system to make it compatible with a large majority of industrial installations. The advantage of having several small reactors The advantage of using multiple reactors, equivalent to a single large reactor, is to reduce the length required for each reactor to allow the particles time to burn. Since, at lower power outputs and with a diameter equivalent to a single reactor, the flow velocity is lower (reduced air requirements with decreased power), the particles need less distance to burn. Another benefit of using multiple reactors instead of increasing the diameter of a single reactor (to decrease the flow velocity and shorten the reactor) is that the heat exchange surface area will be larger, thus maximizing the compactness of the heat exchanger. Integrating heat exchangers into the enlarged combustion chamber (to use the option of an enlarged single reactor) is not feasible due to the significant fouling associated with the heavily particle-laden flow.

[0005] The main object of the invention is to propose an assembly of vertical iron combustion reactors, thereby reducing the height of the system compared to a single reactor of equal power, allowing the integration of iron combustion systems into a wide variety of industrial applications. Description of the invention

[0006] The invention comprises a set of vertical reactors arranged in a battery and sharing the heat recovery block and the particle filtration system in order to minimize the height of the combustion system. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the figures in which

[0008] [Fig.1] is a schematic representation of the combustion system composed of a set of vertical reactors.

[0009] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the combustion system composed of a set of vertical reactors surrounded by a hexagonal casing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] SI is an assembly of vertical reactors 1 composed of iron particle burners followed by their combustion chamber and surrounded (or within the chamber) by a circuit containing a heat transfer fluid. All of these reactors feed into a filtration system 3, either sedimentation or cyclone type. A block 4 can supplement the filtration of 3 by adding a cyclone and bag or HEPA filters. Having a filter at the outlet of each reactor would be possible, but sharing a single filter into which all the reactors feed seems simpler. The heat exchanger system 2 can include several types of heat transfer fluids depending on the needs of the intended application. This system can be used for stationary applications (boiler rooms, steam generators, power plants) or mobile applications (boats, airships, etc.)

[0011] S2 is an assembly of vertical reactors, the external casing of which has a hexagonal shape to facilitate the addition of other reactor assemblies around its periphery to form a honeycomb thermal power plant. The advantage of this configuration would be the ability to scale the power plant's capacity as the application's needs evolve.

Claims

Demands

0.

Images