Biomass processing device

Abstract

To provide a biomass treatment device capable of reducing energy required for tar treatment.SOLUTION: A biomass treatment device 1 comprises: a gas generation part 11 that plasma-treats biomass 20 to generate a gas; a catalyst layer 12 that is disposed above the gas generation part 11 for purifying tar contained in the gas; and a gas reforming part 13 that is disposed above the catalyst layer 12 for reforming the gas passing through the catalyst layer 12 by plasma-treatment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a biomass processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for obtaining tar-free synthesis gas by treating biomass at a temperature of 500°C to 800°C and then treating the tar of the synthesis gas at a temperature of 1200°C to 1600°C.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, a high-temperature heating furnace is required to treat tar at a maximum temperature of 1600°C. Therefore, there is a problem that a large amount of energy is required to treat tar.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a biomass processing apparatus capable of reducing the energy required for tar treatment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The biomass processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a gas generation unit that generates gas by subjecting biomass to plasma treatment, a catalyst layer that is disposed above the gas generation unit and purifies tar contained in the gas, a gas reforming unit that is disposed above the catalyst layer and reforms the gas that has passed through the catalyst layer by plasma treatment, and includes.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a biomass processing apparatus capable of reducing the energy required for tar treatment can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are essential as means for solving the problems.

[0010] Hereinafter, the biomass processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the biomass processing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1. The biomass processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that plasma-treats biomass (for example, food waste) to generate gas and then plasma-treats the tar contained in the gas.

[0011] The biomass processing apparatus 1 includes a vacuum chamber 10 for performing plasma treatment. In order to perform plasma treatment under low vacuum conditions, the inside of the vacuum chamber 10 is depressurized. The biomass processing apparatus 1 also includes a vacuum pump (not shown) for depressurizing the vacuum chamber 10 and a high-voltage power source for plasma (not shown).

[0012] The vacuum chamber 10 includes a gas generation unit 11, a catalyst layer 12, a gas reforming unit 13, and an exhaust port 14. The vacuum chamber 10 includes three rooms: a lower room, a middle room, and an upper room, and the three rooms are respectively referred to as a gas generation unit 11, a catalyst layer 12, and a gas reforming unit 13.

[0013] The gas generation unit 11 generates gas by subjecting biomass to plasma treatment. The gas generation unit 11 includes an upper electrode 111, a lower electrode 112, and a wall 113. The upper electrode 111 may have a through-hole for allowing gas to pass therethrough toward a catalyst layer 12 described later. Thereby, the gas can be moved to the catalyst layer 12 more efficiently.

[0014] The upper electrode 111 is disposed above the biomass 20. The biomass 20 is placed on the lower electrode 112. The lower electrode 112 may be configured to be detachable from the vacuum chamber 10. Thereby, the biomass 20 can be supplied into the vacuum chamber 10 using the lower electrode 112 as a dish.

[0015] The gas generation unit 11 applies a voltage between the upper electrode 111 and the lower electrode 112 under reduced pressure conditions. Thereby, plasma 31 (also referred to as gas generation plasma) is generated between the upper electrode 111 and the lower electrode 112. The biomass 20 is thermally decomposed by the heat of the plasma 31, and gas is generated. The gas contains tar. The gas moves in the direction indicated by the white arrow. That is, the gas rises toward the catalyst layer 12 described later.

[0016] Note that the gas generation unit 11 and a gas reforming unit 13 described later generate plasma using nitrogen remaining in the vacuum chamber 10, hydrogen generated from the biomass 20, and the like. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply a reactive gas into the vacuum chamber 10.

[0017] The catalyst layer 12 includes a catalyst 121 and a wall 122, and is disposed above the gas generation unit 11. The catalyst layer 12 purifies the tar contained in the gas generated by the gas generation unit 11. The gas that has passed through the catalyst layer 12 moves in the direction indicated by the white arrow. That is, the gas rises toward the gas reforming unit 13 described later.

[0018] The catalyst 121 is heated by the plasma 31 and the plasma 32 described later. As a result, the catalyst 121 can remove the tar of the gas more efficiently. That is, the biomass processing apparatus 1 can reduce the required energy as compared with the case where the catalyst 121 is separately heated.

[0019] The catalyst layer 12 may be disposed between the upper electrode 111 of the gas generation unit 11 and the lower electrode 132 of the gas reforming unit 13 described later. Thereby, the catalyst 121 is heated more efficiently via the upper electrode 111 and the lower electrode 132.

[0020] The gas reforming unit 13 is disposed above the catalyst layer 12. The gas reforming unit 13 reforms the gas that has passed through the catalyst layer 12 by plasma treatment. The gas reforming unit 13 includes an upper electrode 131, a lower electrode 132, and a wall 133. The lower electrode 132 may have a through hole through which the gas from the catalyst layer 12 passes. Thereby, the gas can be moved more efficiently between the upper electrode 131 and the lower electrode 132.

[0021] The gas reforming unit 13 applies a voltage between the upper electrode 131 and the lower electrode 132 under reduced pressure conditions. As a result, plasma 32 (also referred to as gas reforming plasma) is generated between the upper electrode 131 and the lower electrode 132. Due to the heat of the plasma 32, the gas is thermally decomposed and tar treatment is performed. Thereby, the gas reforming unit 13 generates a gas from which tar has been removed.

[0022] The exhaust port 14 discharges the gas that has been subjected to tar treatment by the gas reforming unit 13. Since the tar treatment is performed, the discharged gas can be used in a generator or the like.

[0023] The biomass processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 plasma-treats biomass to generate gas, and then plasma-reforms the gas. By disposing a catalyst layer at a position heated by plasma, tar treatment can be performed with less energy.

[0024] The biomass processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 performs plasma processing when generating gas from biomass and uses plasma reforming for tar processing. Therefore, it can be compactly configured using a single vacuum chamber.

[0025] Also, when using low-pressure and low-temperature steam for gas reforming, it is necessary to heat pipes and furnaces to maintain the gaseous state when supplying the steam into the chamber. However, in Embodiment 1 where plasma reforming is performed, there is no need to heat pipes and the like. Further, when using the technology described in Patent Document 1, a high-temperature heating furnace and a coke recovery and supply device are required. However, in Embodiment 1 where plasma reforming is performed, a high-temperature heating furnace and a coke recovery and supply device are not necessary.

[0026] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0027] 1 Biomass processing apparatus 10 Vacuum chamber 11 Gas generation unit 111 Upper electrode 112 Lower electrode 113 Wall 12 Catalyst layer 121 Catalyst 122 Wall 13 Gas reforming unit 131 Upper electrode 132 Lower electrode 133 Wall 14 Exhaust port 20 Biomass 31, 32 Plasma

Claims

1. A gas generation unit that plasma-treats biomass to generate gas, A catalyst layer disposed above the gas generation unit and that purifies tar contained in the gas, A gas reforming unit disposed above the catalyst layer and that reforms the gas that has passed through the catalyst layer by plasma treatment, comprising: The gas reforming unit removes the tar contained in the gas that has passed through the catalyst layer by the heat of the plasma biomass treatment apparatus.

2. Each of the gas generation unit and the gas reforming unit includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, The catalyst layer is disposed sandwiched between the upper electrode of the gas generation unit and the lower electrode of the gas reforming unit, The biomass treatment apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The upper electrode of the gas generation unit and the lower electrode of the gas reforming unit have through holes for passing the gas therethrough, The biomass treatment apparatus according to Claim 2.

4. The biomass is placed on the lower electrode of the gas generation unit, The lower electrode of the gas generation unit is configured to be detachable from the vacuum chamber, The biomass treatment apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

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