Heat integration using intermediate fluids in gasification.

Abstract

Disclosed are gasification processes utilizing carbonaceous feeds, and preferably biomass, that can effectively integrate heat between at least two unit operations through the use of an intermediate fluid. This advantageously improves operational flexibility in terms of satisfying a range of potentially incompatible boundary conditions, including flow rates, temperatures, and pressures, associated with the unit operations to which heat is transferred or from which heat is transferred. Different interface requirements are thereby addressed, and the use of a non-toxic intermediate fluid for heat exchange ensures environmental safety in the event of a leak of such a fluid. In exemplary embodiments, configurations in which heat is added to or released from an intermediate fluid can further support interface requirements between any two or more operations, for example, when the fluid circulates in an open or closed loop.

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