Synthetic fuel manufacturing facility

Abstract

The present invention provides a synthetic fuel manufacturing apparatus that can perform multiple processes in a single unit when manufacturing synthetic fuel by mixing oil and water. [Solution] To continuously perform the process of mixing and reacting water and oil, which have different specific gravities, and then separating the two liquids, the system is equipped with reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4, which consist of an inner reaction tank T3 and an outer separation tank T4. The inner reaction tank T3 reacts the mixed liquid, which is introduced by a stirring pump, while stirring it. The mixed liquid is taken from the bottom of the reaction tank T3 and discharged into the outer separation tank T4 via a separation pipe 3 that is sent to the top of the separation tank T4. The discharged mixed liquid is separated into two types based on the difference in specific gravity and discharged from the oil outlet 4a at the top of the separation tank T4 and the water outlet 4c at the bottom of the separation tank T4. The separation pipe 3 has a double-pipe structure in which two pipes can move relative to each other, and the outlet height to the separation tank T4 can be adjusted according to the reaction time in the reaction tank T3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a production apparatus for producing a hydrocarbon-based synthetic fuel equivalent to the original oil by adding water to a hydrocarbon-based fuel feedstock.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, attempts have been made to increase the amount of oil by mixing water with fossil fuels, reduce the emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), and reduce the environmental load.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a process for generating activated water by irradiating water with ultrasonic waves, a stirring and mixing process of adding a hydrocarbon fuel feedstock to the activated water and stirring and mixing it under a reactive environment, a fusion process of fusing the fuel feedstock and the activated water under a reactive environment through the stirring and mixing process, and a primary-produced hydrocarbon-based fuel oil collection process of collecting the fuel oil obtained from the mixed liquid after the fusion process as a primary-produced hydrocarbon-based fuel oil. The primary-produced hydrocarbon-based fuel is used as a secondary fuel feedstock, and the stirring and mixing process, the fusion process, and the fuel oil collection process are repeated to obtain a secondary-produced hydrocarbon-based fuel oil. Subsequently, the obtained hydrocarbon-based fuel oil is sequentially used as a fuel feedstock to repeat the above process a plurality of times, thereby generating a plurality of times-produced hydrocarbon-based fuel oil with a volume larger than the initial fuel feedstock. In the reactive environment in the stirring and mixing process, a technique of stirring water while irradiating ultrasonic waves to water added with a catalase is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, Patent Document 1 described above merely produces an emulsion fuel oil by adding catalase as a reaction accelerator to a mixture of fuel oil and water, and does not produce a synthetic fuel in which fuel oil and water are organically bonded.

[0006] Furthermore, this method requires a large-scale manufacturing setup that connects various components, such as a reaction tank for stirring and mixing fuel oil and water and fusing them, a standing tank for temporarily storing the purified liquid after the fusing process, and a reaction accelerator injection unit for supplying a reaction accelerator (catalase). This setup also presents the drawback of requiring a large manufacturing facility space.

[0007] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a synthetic fuel manufacturing apparatus that can simultaneously stir and react oil and water, and separate and discharge the mixture of oil and water to produce synthetic fuel, that is, hydrocarbons by artificially combining hydrogen (H2) and carbon (C), thereby enabling multiple processes to be carried out with a single unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, an embodiment of the present invention provides a synthetic fuel production apparatus for continuously performing the steps of mixing and reacting water and oil having different specific gravities, and then separating the two liquids, comprising a reaction / separation tank having at least an inner reaction tank and an outer separation tank, wherein the inner reaction tank reacts the mixture of water and oil, which is mixed and sent in by a stirring pump, while stirring, and a separation pipe is provided to take the reacted mixture from the bottom of the reaction tank and send it to the top of the outer separation tank, the outer separation tank separates the mixture discharged from the inner reaction tank into oil and water due to the difference in specific gravities, and the separation pipe is characterized in that the two pipes have a double-pipe structure in which they can move relative to each other, and the outlet height to the separation tank can be adjusted.

[0009] In the above configuration, a reaction / separation tank having an inner reaction tank and an outer separation tank is used, and the reaction process in the inner reaction tank involves a reaction step in which a mixture of two liquids, water and oil, is reacted while being stirred by a stirring pump, the mixture reacted in the reaction step is taken from the bottom of the reaction tank and sent to the top of the separation tank by a separation pipe, the mixture is discharged to the outer separation tank, and the mixture discharged from the reaction tank is separated into oil and water due to the difference in specific gravity, an oil discharge step in which the oil separated in the separation step is discharged from the top of the separation tank, and a water discharge step in which the water separated in the separation step is discharged from the bottom of the separation tank can be carried out continuously in a single reaction / separation tank.

[0010] In a two-liquid reaction process involving water and oil, the reaction time is influenced by the volume of the mixture and the time it takes to discharge it from the reaction vessel. If the outlet height of the separation tube is too low, the mixture will be discharged before the reaction is complete, resulting in an unsuccessful yield. Conversely, if the outlet height of the separation tube is too high, the residence time in the reaction vessel will be too long, causing a reverse reaction and resulting in an unsuccessful yield. Therefore, the outlet height of the separation tube was adjusted to ensure an appropriate reaction time for the mixture and to achieve the target yield.

[0011] In this case, the separation pipe includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe fitted inside the outer pipe, and both pipes are movable relative to each other in the direction of the pipe length, so that the outlet height to the separation tank can be adjusted. With this configuration, the outlet height of the separation pipe can be adjusted with a simple double-pipe structure consisting of an outer pipe and an inner pipe.

[0012] Furthermore, the reaction and separation tank may include a water tank located outside the outer separation tank to store and separate the water discharged from the bottom of the separation tank. This allows the reaction process, separation process, oil discharge process, and water discharge process to be carried out continuously in a single reaction and separation tank.

[0013] In other words, a method for producing synthetic fuel, which involves mixing water and oil with different specific gravities and reacting them, and then separating the two liquids, is used in a reaction / separation tank having an inner reaction tank and an outer separation tank. The method includes a reaction step in which the mixture of water and fuel oil, which are mixed by a stirring pump in the inner reaction tank, is reacted while being stirred; a separation step in which the mixture reacted in the reaction step is taken from the bottom of the reaction tank and sent to the top of the separation tank by a separation pipe, and the mixture discharged from the reaction tank is separated into oil and water due to the difference in specific gravity; an oil discharge step in which the oil separated in the separation step is discharged from the top of the separation tank; and a water discharge step in which the water separated in the separation step is discharged from the bottom of the separation tank. The reaction step, separation step, oil discharge step and water discharge step are carried out simultaneously and continuously in a single reaction / separation tank. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] In the manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the stirring, reaction, separation, and discharge processes were carried out in separate tanks. However, in the present invention, the four processes are carried out simultaneously in a reaction and separation tank, which has the excellent effect of completely separating oil and water. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is an overall configuration diagram of a synthetic fuel production apparatus, which is a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is also a schematic perspective view of the reaction and separation tanks of a synthetic fuel production plant. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the reaction tank among the reaction and separation tanks. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the separation tank among the reaction and separation tanks. [Figure 5] This is an overall configuration diagram of a synthetic fuel production apparatus, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the synthetic fuel production apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the synthetic fuel production apparatus 1 comprises an aeration tank T1, a photocatalyst device S1, a stirring tank T2, reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4, a water tank T5, a sedimentation tank T6, an oil storage tank T7, and a filter F1, which are connected by piping.

[0017] In other words, the synthetic fuel production apparatus 1 includes an aeration tank T1 that mixes air into water to dissolve oxygen and carbon dioxide, a photocatalyst device S1 that irradiates water sent from the aeration tank T1 by a pump P1 with sunlight or UV light to bring the water into contact with a photocatalyst and activate the water, a stirring tank T2 that stores the functional water and oil (kerosene, light oil, heavy oil, etc.) sent from the photocatalyst device S1 and stirs the functional water and oil, a reaction tank T3 that continuously sucks in the oil and water stored in the stirring tank T2 by pump P2 and thoroughly stirs the oil and water to cause a chemical reaction, a separation tank T4 that automatically separates the oil and water sent from the reaction tank T3, a water tank T5 that stores the water separated in the separation tank T4, a sedimentation tank T6 to which the oil separated in the separation tank T4 is sent and allowed to settle, an oil storage tank T7 that stores the oil discharged from the sedimentation tank T6, and a filter F1 that further filters the oil that has entered the oil storage tank T7.

[0018] The aeration tank 1 is used to mix air into water to dissolve oxygen (O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), and is an open tank at the top to allow air to enter. Tap water is used, but well water, groundwater, river water, lake water, swamp water, or seawater may also be used.

[0019] The photocatalytic device S1 irradiates water sent from the aeration tank T1 by the pump P1 with sunlight or ultraviolet rays (UV) to bring the water into contact with the photocatalyst contained therein to activate the water. As the photocatalyst, for example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 5082034, the porous composite functional photocatalyst developed by the inventors can be used. That is, as the composite functional photocatalyst, a composite functional photocatalyst dispersion liquid composed of titanium oxide, titanium oxide sol, oxidation catalyst, ceramic powder and aqueous binder is impregnated into an inorganic porous body such as zeolite and supported on the inorganic porous body, and these are filled into a transparent column for use. While passing the water through the transparent column, sunlight or ultraviolet rays (UV) are irradiated onto the porous composite functional photocatalyst in the column to activate the water to obtain functional water.

[0020] The stirring tank T2 stores oil (kerosene, light oil, heavy oil, etc.) and mixes and stirs it with the functional water sent from the photocatalytic device S1. It is desirable to store the oil in the stirring tank T2 in advance and send the functional water there. Here, the stirring action is performed by the water supply pressure of the functional water or the pump pressure of the stirring pump P2 described later. In addition to this, stirring blades may be provided in the stirring tank T2 and the mixed liquid may be stirred by driving their rotation.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the reaction tank T3 among the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4, and FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the separation tank T4 among the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4. As shown in the figure, the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4 include an inner reaction tank T3 and an outer separation tank T4. The inner reaction tank T3 stirs and reacts the mixed liquid of two liquids of water and oil sent from the stirring tank T2 by the stirring pump P2, and has a plurality of separation pipes 3 that discharge the reacted mixed liquid from the lower part of the reaction tank T3 to the separation tank T4 side.

[0022] This separation tube 3 is an L-shaped tube that protrudes from the bottom of the reaction vessel T3 in the left-right direction, extends upward from a certain point, and has an outlet 3c at its tip. This L-shaped separation tube 3 comprises an outer tube 3a and an inner tube 3b fitted inside the outer tube 3a, and both tubes 3a and 3b are movable relative to each other in the direction of the tube length, so that the height of the outlet 3c to the separation vessel T4 can be adjusted. In this embodiment, the outer tube 3a is formed in an L shape and its base end is connected to the bottom of the reaction vessel T3, and a straight inner tube 3b is connected to the upper end opening so that it can move up and down. Alternatively, the inner tube 3b may be formed in an L shape and connected to the bottom of the reaction vessel T3, and the straight outer tube 3a may be placed at the upper end of the inner tube 3b. By adjusting the height of the outlet 3c of the separation tube with this double-tube structure of the outer tube 3a and inner tube 3b, the reaction time of the mixed liquid in the reaction vessel T3 can be adjusted. The height of the separation pipe 3 can be adjusted by manually moving both pipes 3a and 3b up and down (for example, by screwing the two pipes 3a and 3b together and adjusting the length based on the degree of engagement), by using a combination of a rack and pinion and a motor, or by using a physical drive means such as a fluid pressure cylinder.

[0023] The outer separation tank T4 separates the mixed liquid discharged from the inner reaction tank T3 into two types of liquids (oil and water) based on their specific gravity differences. The separation tank T4 has an oil outlet 4a at the top and a water outlet 4b at the bottom. The water outlet 4b is located at the bottom of the separation tank T4 and can be opened and closed by a drain valve 4c.

[0024] The reaction and separation tanks T3 and T4 include a water tank T5 located outside the outer separation tank T4, which stores and separates the water discharged from the bottom of the separation tank T4. This allows the reaction process, separation process, oil discharge process, and water discharge process to be carried out continuously in a single tank T3, T4, and T5.

[0025] The sedimentation tank T6 is divided into multiple sedimentation chambers 6b by multiple partition walls 6a, each having a connecting channel at one end, so that the oil flowing through the tank meanders vertically. Multiple drainage holes 6c are formed at the bottom of the sedimentation tank T6, corresponding to the sedimentation chambers 6b.

[0026] The oil storage tank T7 temporarily stores the oil discharged from the sedimentation tank T6, and refined oil with almost all impurities removed can be obtained here. Further refined oil can then be supplied from this oil storage tank T7 via filter F1.

[0027] An example of the manufacturing process for the synthetic fuel production apparatus 1 with the above configuration is shown. Water (e.g., tap water) is added to the aeration tank T1 at a rate of 15 liters / minute. Aeration is performed on the water (1 m 3 Air is introduced at a rate of 15 liters / minute to dissolve oxygen and carbon dioxide into the water. This water from the aeration tank T1 is then sent to the photocatalyst device S1 at a rate of 15 liters / minute by pump P1. At this time, oxygen is dissolved into the water at a rate of 25 ml / minute to 35 ml / minute.

[0028] Meanwhile, oil (kerosene, light oil, or heavy oil A) is supplied to the agitation tank T2 at a rate of 25 liters / min to 35 liters / min, and 60 liters are stored in the agitation tank T2. Functional water is then added to the agitation tank T2 where the oil is stored at a rate of 10 liters / min to 20 liters / min from the photocatalyst device S1. This process is carried out continuously.

[0029] The oil and water stored in the stirring tank T2 are continuously drawn into the reaction tank T3 by the pump P2. The oil and water introduced into the reaction tank T3 are thoroughly stirred to initiate a chemical reaction. All of the reacted oil and water are sent to the separation tank T4. In the separation tank T4, the oil and water are automatically separated due to their difference in specific gravity. The oil separated to the upper side is sent to the sedimentation tank T6, and the water separated to the lower side is sent to the water tank T5.

[0030] The oil sent to the sedimentation tank T6 meanders vertically, further separating the water and sending only the oil to the storage tank T7. The oil in the storage tank T7 is further filtered by a precision filter F1 to complete the refining process. Meanwhile, the water in the water tank T5 is filtered and recycled. According to the inventors' experiments, simply mixing catalytic water with oil and stirring resulted in a reduction of sulfur oxides (SOx) to 0 ppm and a decrease in NOx from 1200-1400 ppm to 400 ppm.

[0031] Thus, by using reaction and separation tanks T3 and T4, which have an inner reaction tank T3 and an outer separation tank T4, the reaction process in the inner reaction tank T3 involves mixing two liquids, water and oil, with a stirring pump P2 and reacting the mixture while stirring it; discharging the chemically reacted mixture from the reaction process into the outer separation tank T4 and separating the mixture discharged from the reaction tank T3 into two types of liquids based on the difference in specific gravity; discharging the oil separated in the separation process from the top of the separation tank T4; and discharging the water separated in the separation process from the bottom of the separation tank T4. All of these processes can be carried out continuously in a single reaction and separation tank T3 and T4.

[0032] In this configuration, a separation pipe 3 is provided to take the mixed liquid reacted in the reaction process from the bottom of the reaction tank T3 and send it to the top of the separation tank T4. The height of the outlet 3c of this separation pipe 3 affects the reaction process of the two liquids, water and oil, in the reaction tank T3. In other words, if the outlet 3c height of the separation pipe 3 is too low, the mixed liquid will be discharged from the reaction tank T3 before the reaction is completed, and the target yield will not be obtained. Conversely, if the outlet height of the separation pipe 3 is too high, the mixed liquid will undergo a reverse reaction as a secondary reaction in the reaction tank T3, and the target yield will not be obtained. Therefore, the outlet 3c height of the separation pipe 3 is an important factor. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the outlet 3c height of the separation pipe 3 is adjusted according to the amount of mixed liquid and reaction time in the reaction tank T3 to ensure an appropriate reaction time for the mixed liquid and to ensure the target yield.

[0033] Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a synthetic fuel production apparatus according to the second embodiment. This synthetic fuel production apparatus 1 differs from the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 in the following respects: a cooling tower K1 is interposed between the aeration tank T1 and the photocatalyst device S1; oil from the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4 is sent to the oil storage tank T7 by a pump P5 without providing a water tank T5 and a sedimentation tank T6 outside the reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4; and water from the separation tank T4 is returned to the aeration tank T1 by a pump P6.

[0034] The reaction vessel T3 is equipped with a separation pipe 3 at its lower part, and a discharge valve 3d is provided at the bottom of the vessel so as to be openable and closable. When the discharge valve 3d is opened, the mixed liquid from the reaction vessel T3 is discharged into the separation vessel T4. A drain valve 4c is provided at the bottom of the separation vessel T4 so as to be openable and closable. When the drain valve is opened, water is returned to the aeration tank T1 via the pump P6 and filter F2. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, so their description is omitted here.

[0035] An example of the manufacturing process for the synthetic fuel production apparatus 1 with the above configuration is shown. 100 liters of tap water are stored in the aeration tank T1 (20 liters / minute). The tap water stored in the aeration tank T1 is sent by pump P1 at 20 liters / minute to a cooling tower K1 for 100 liters, and the water is cooled to a temperature lowered by, for example, 5 degrees.

[0036] Water cooled in cooling tower K1 is passed through photocatalyst device S1 by pump P3 (20 liters / minute). The water that has passed through (activated water, catalyst water) is put into stirring tank T2 (50 liters).

[0037] Before introducing activated water and catalyst water from the photocatalyst device K2 into the stirring tank T2, a suitable amount of oil is preemptively added at a rate of 30 liters / minute using pump P4, and a certain amount (30 liters) is stored in the tank. As soon as the water discharged from the photocatalyst device K2 enters the stirring tank T2, it is simultaneously drawn in by plunger pump P3 (50 liters / minute) and sent to reaction / separation tanks T3 and T4. At this time, the water and oil are mixed and stirred in a ratio of 2:3.

[0038] The mixture of water and oil sent to reaction and separation tanks T3 and T4 is then transferred to the inner reaction tank (15 liters). At this time, the mixture is sent up from the bottom of the tank to the outlet 3c near the oil-water level via the separation pipe 3 and is discharged into separation tank T4.

[0039] The discharged mixture separates into water and oil in the separation tank T4, with the water falling to the bottom and the oil floating on the surface. The oil floating on the top of the tank is removed from the outlet 4a and returned to the oil storage tank T7 through pump P5 and filter F1. The water that falls in the separation tank T4 is removed from the drain outlet 4c at the bottom and returned to the aeration tank T1 through filter F2. This series of operations is repeated to produce an increased volume of synthetic fuel.

[0040] As is clear from the above description, the above embodiment is a method for producing synthetic fuel, in which water and oil with different specific gravities are mixed and reacted, and then these two types of liquids are separated in a series of steps, using reaction and separation tanks T3 and T4 having an inner reaction tank and an outer separation tank, and includes a reaction step in which the two liquids of water and oil are mixed by a stirring pump and the mixture sent into the inner reaction tank T3 is reacted while being stirred, a separation step in which the mixture reacted in the reaction step is taken out from the bottom of the reaction tank T3 and discharged to the outer separation tank T4 by a separation pipe 3 sent to the top of the separation tank, and the discharged mixture is separated into two types according to the difference in specific gravities, an oil discharge step in which the oil separated in the separation step is discharged from the top of the separation tank, and a water discharge step in which the water separated in the separation step is discharged from the bottom of the separation tank, and the series of operations of the reaction step, separation step, oil discharge step and water discharge step are carried out continuously in a single reaction and separation tank.

[0041] Therefore, not only is the installation space required for synthetic fuel production equipment reduced, but the amount of synthetic fuel produced can also be significantly increased. Furthermore, producing new fuel oil using carbon dioxide from the air as a raw material contributes to decarbonization and enables the achievement of carbon-free products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Synthetic fuel production equipment 3 Separation tube 3a outer tube 3b Inner tube 3c exit T1 Aeration Tank T2 Agitation Tank T3 Reaction Vessel T4 separation tank T5 Aquarium T6 sedimentation tank T7 oil storage tank S1 Photocatalyst device F1 filter P1~P6 Pumps

Claims

1. A synthetic fuel manufacturing apparatus that continuously performs the process of mixing water and oil with different specific gravities, reacting them, and then separating the two liquids, The system comprises an aeration tank that mixes air into water to dissolve oxygen and carbon dioxide, a photocatalyst device that irradiates the water discharged from the aeration tank with sunlight or UV light to bring the water into contact with a photocatalyst and activate the water, a stirring tank that mixes and agitates the functional water discharged from the photocatalyst device with oil, a reaction tank that chemically reacts the mixture introduced from the stirring tank, a separation tank that separates the mixture reacted in the reaction tank into two types of liquids based on the difference in specific gravity, and an oil storage tank that stores the oil discharged from the separation tank. A synthetic fuel production apparatus characterized in that a separation tank is provided outside the reaction tank, a separation pipe is provided inside the separation tank to discharge the mixed liquid reacted in the reaction tank from the bottom of the reaction tank to the separation tank, the separation pipe has a double-pipe structure in which two pipes can move relative to each other, and the outlet height of the separation pipe is adjustable.

2. The synthetic fuel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a water tank outside the separation tank for storing water discharged from the bottom of the separation tank, a sedimentation tank for further separating water by causing the oil discharged from the top of the separation tank to flow in a meandering vertical direction, and an oil storage tank for storing the oil discharged from the sedimentation tank.

3. The synthetic fuel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water discharged from the lower part of the separation tank is returned to the aeration tank by a pump, and the oil discharged from the upper part of the separation tank is sent to the oil storage tank through a filter by a pump.

4. The synthetic fuel production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separation pipe includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe fitted inside the outer pipe, and both pipes are movable relative to each other in the direction of the length of the pipe.

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