Reactor for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor (1) for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass, having a working chamber (2) which is laterally delimited by a working chamber wall (3), an inlet (4) through which the biomass can be introduced into the working chamber (2), and an outlet (5) through which coal and synthesis gas can be discharged from the working chamber (2), wherein biomass can be moved on a transport path along a transport direction (7) through the working chamber (2) from the inlet (4) to the outlet (5). According to the invention, an electrically conductive element is provided in the working chamber (2) and / or in the working chamber wall (3), wherein the electrically conductive element can be heated electrically, preferably inductively, in particular by an induction coil (8), in order to convert biomass located in the working chamber (2) into synthesis gas and coal. The invention also relates to a method for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass.

Description

[0001] Reactor for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass

[0002] The invention relates to a reactor for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass, comprising a working chamber laterally delimited by a working chamber wall, an inlet through which the biomass can be introduced into the working chamber, and an outlet through which coal and synthesis gas can be discharged from the working chamber, wherein biomass can be moved along a transport path from the inlet to the outlet through the working chamber.

[0003] The invention further relates to a process for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass.

[0004] Reactors of the type mentioned above are already known from the state of the art for producing coal and syngas from biomass. In state-of-the-art devices and processes, biomass is generally burned substoichiometrically to produce charcoal and syngas.

[0005] In addition, devices have become known in which biomass is heated using solar energy to reach a temperature required for a chemical reaction.

[0006] The disadvantage of such processes is that only a low yield is achieved, especially since part of the biomass has to be burned to reach the required temperature or the heating power depends on solar radiation and is therefore not available in a stable manner.

[0007] This is where the invention comes in. The object of the invention is to provide a reactor and a process of the type mentioned above, with which the conversion of biomass into coal and synthesis gas is possible with a particularly high yield.

[0008] The first object is achieved according to the invention with a reactor of the type mentioned at the outset, in which an electrically conductive element is provided in the working chamber and / or in the working chamber wall, wherein the electrically conductive element can be heated electrically, preferably inductively, in particular by an induction coil, in order to effect a conversion of biomass located in the working chamber into synthesis gas and coal.

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, it was recognized that electrical energy can also be used particularly efficiently to convert biomass into coal and synthesis gas if the biomass is heated electrically, particularly inductively, in the working chamber. Thus, by controlling the power of a power source or an induction coil, with which the electrically conductive element can be heated, for example, it is possible to react particularly quickly to changing conditions in the working chamber, which may arise, for example, due to a different composition of the biomass.Furthermore, the process implemented with the reactor according to the invention makes it possible to utilize electrical energy, which is particularly inexpensive when solar radiation or wind speeds are high, to convert biomass, which is difficult to transport due to its large volume, into more easily transportable energy sources such as coal and synthesis gas. Thus, the process is suitable for converting electrical energy and energy stored in biomass into coal and synthesis gas. The electrically conductive element can be arranged both in the working chamber and in the working chamber wall to heat the biomass located in the working chamber.

[0010] The coal produced with a reactor according to the invention and a process according to the invention naturally contains ash in addition to combustible material. Depending on the degree of gasification, the ash content of the coal can increase to, for example, 90% or more, so that the carbon content is very low. Thus, in the context of this application, coal is understood not only to mean combustible material, but also the ash content contained in the solid.

[0011] The electrically conductive element can be designed, for example, as a thin heating wire, which can act both as a heating resistor of a resistance heater and as an element that is inductively heated by an additional induction coil. However, the element can also be designed, for example, as a plate- or cylindrical element made of graphite or the like. In the process that can be implemented with the reactor according to the invention, coal and synthesis gas are thus typically moved together at the outlet from the working chamber, which is why the reactor functions as an inductively operated allothermal cocurrent gasifier.

[0012] Preferably, the reactor also includes an induction coil, which can heat the electrically conductive element. The induction coil can be arranged on the outside of the working chamber wall or within the working chamber, in particular on a mandrel arranged within the working chamber.

[0013] It has proven effective for the working chamber wall to have openings through which a gasification medium, in particular steam, can be introduced into the working chamber. The openings are arranged in the working chamber in such a way that the outflow direction of the gasification medium is approximately parallel to the transport direction. This enables a particularly uniform distribution of the gasification medium in the working chamber and in the biomass.

[0014] It is advantageous if a mandrel having openings is arranged in the working chamber, preferably approximately centrally, through which mandrel a gasification medium, in particular water vapor or carbon dioxide, can be introduced into the working chamber. In this way, a proportion of the biomass leaving the reactor in the form of coal or in the form of synthesis gas can be variably adjusted in a particularly simple manner by changing a volume flow of the gasification medium and adjusting a temperature in the working chamber. For example, depending on market prices and / or transport capacities, the operation of the reactor can be controlled via the temperature in the working chamber and / or the mass flow of the gasification medium via the mandrel in such a way that 100% synthesis gas, 100% coal, or a combination product of synthesis gas and coal with any proportions of synthesis gas and coal is obtained.

[0015] It is preferably provided that the mandrel is oriented parallel to the transport path, in particular along a direct connection from inlet to outlet. The working chamber is usually arranged approximately rotationally symmetrically to a central axis, in particular approximately cylindrical or conical, along which central axis the mandrel is preferably arranged in order to enable the most uniform penetration of gasification medium into the working chamber. The mandrel is usually elongated, preferably in the form of a tube closed at one end with a diameter of, for example, less than 10 cm, and has a plurality of openings in order, on the one hand, to avoid hindering the movement of the biomass in the working chamber as much as possible and, at the same time, to enable the most uniform distribution of the gasification medium in the working chamber and in the biomass.

[0016] Of course, multiple mandrels with openings can also be provided, for example, four mandrels, which are supplied with the same or different gasification media. Furthermore, the volume flows across the individual mandrels can be the same or different. If multiple mandrels are provided, they can be distributed longitudinally within the working chamber, circumferentially, and / or radially throughout the working chamber to control chemical processes in the working chamber with particular precision and, for example, to supply different gasification media and / or gasification media with different volume flows to different positions within the working chamber.

[0017] It can be provided that the working chamber is designed with a cross-section that increases at least in some areas from the inlet to the outlet, in particular, for example, conical. This ensures that only minimal energy is required to move the biomass in the working chamber from the inlet to the outlet, and blockage of the working chamber is avoided. For this purpose, the working chamber can be designed, for example, by cylindrical sections with increasing cross-sections, resulting in one or more diameter jumps, or with a continuously increasing cross-section, for example, in the shape of a truncated cone.

[0018] It is advantageous if the mandrel is approximately cylindrical. This allows for a uniform introduction of gasification medium into the working chamber, particularly via openings distributed radially and axially along the mandrel. A longitudinal axis of the mandrel or a cylinder axis is preferably coaxial with an axis of the working chamber, which can be cylindrical or conical.

[0019] It has proven effective for the mandrel to be made of or comprise an electrically conductive material. The induction coil, which is typically arranged so as to enclose the working chamber and with a central axis corresponding to the central axis of the working chamber, thus also heats the mandrel, allowing the mandrel to be used both to discharge a gasification medium and to heat the biomass.

[0020] Preferably, the working chamber has a substantially rotationally symmetrical cross-section. The working chamber wall is typically designed as a cylindrical or conical surface. A rotational axis of the working chamber is typically coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the mandrel to ensure a very uniform distribution of the gasification medium in the working chamber. Particularly preferably, the rotational axis is also coaxial with a coil axis of the induction coil.

[0021] It has proven useful for the working chamber wall to be made of an electrically non-conductive material, particularly glass or ceramic. The material of the working chamber wall then allows an electromagnetic field generated by the induction coil, which is usually arranged on the outside around the working chamber wall, to act through the working chamber wall into the working chamber, in which one or more electrically conductive elements are arranged. These elements are heated by the induction coil in order to bring the biomass to a temperature at which the chemical reaction for conversion into coal and synthesis gas is initiated. At the same time, glass and ceramic are also suitable for permanently withstanding correspondingly high temperatures, making these materials particularly well suited for forming the working chamber wall. The reactor is usually operated at a temperature of around 1100 degrees Celsius in the working chamber.

[0022] However, the work chamber wall can also be partially or completely made of an electrically conductive material such as a metal, especially steel. Typically, the work chamber wall is made of a high-temperature-resistant material, especially glass, ceramic, or steel. If the work chamber wall is made of an electrically conductive material, the work chamber wall itself can serve as a heating element. It can thus be provided that the work chamber wall is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material and thus acts as a heating element.

[0023] It has proven effective to install electrically conductive elements and / or an electrically conductive coating on the inside of the work chamber wall. This allows for particularly uniform heating of the work chamber. The electrically conductive elements can be made of graphite, which can withstand high temperatures well.

[0024] The work chamber wall may be provided with electrically conductive heating elements on the outside, preferably made of graphite. This allows high temperatures in the work chamber to be achieved in a particularly favorable manner.

[0025] Preferably, insulation is provided that surrounds the work chamber wall at least in part. This insulation ensures that heating caused by the induction coil in the electrically conductive elements essentially leads to heating of the biomass in the work chamber, and that the thermal energy is not released into the environment, or at least only to a small extent. It is advantageous if the insulation is arranged directly on heating elements arranged on the outside of the work chamber wall.

[0026] Preferably, the insulation is at least partially made of an electrically non-conductive material. This ensures that the insulation itself is not heated by an electromagnetic field generated by the induction coil.

[0027] Advantageously, the insulation is formed at least partially by a gas. Alternatively, the insulation can also be formed by a vacuum, so that the heating elements arranged on the outside of the work chamber wall are separated from the surroundings by a gas or a vacuum, thereby significantly inhibiting heat transfer from the heating elements to the surroundings.

[0028] It has proven effective for the insulation to have a heat-reflecting layer that is not itself heated by induction. This prevents or minimizes the radiation of heat energy to the outside. It is advantageous to apply a chemically resistant coating, particularly an ash and slag-repellent protective layer, to the inside of the work chamber wall. This prevents, in particular, caking on the inside of the work chamber wall, which leads to increased resistance to the movement of biomass from the inlet to the outlet. It can also be provided that a base material for the work chamber wall is particularly chemically resistant.

[0029] It is advantageous if a conveying mechanism is provided by which biomass can be conveyed from the inlet through the working chamber to the outlet.

[0030] The conveying mechanism can be designed in a variety of ways, for example, as a conveyor screw. In this context, it has proven effective for the conveying mechanism to have a movable piston, by means of which the biomass located in the working chamber can be moved along the transport path, with the piston being movable, in particular, parallel to the transport direction.

[0031] In order to implement biomass feeding in a robust yet structurally simple manner, it has proven effective to provide a biomass feed through which biomass can be fed into a region upstream of the inlet, in particular along a feed direction that is transverse to the transport direction, in particular perpendicular to the transport direction. The upstream region can, in particular, be a region through which the piston moves during one stroke, so that biomass introduced into this upstream region transverse to the transport direction is pressed into the working chamber by the piston during one stroke.

[0032] To discharge biomass from the working chamber in a controlled manner, a discharge device, in particular a conveyor screw or a piston, is preferably provided at the outlet, by means of which coal can be conveyed from the working chamber into a coal container connected to the outlet. The conveyor screw can have a plate with openings at its end, whereby the biomass can penetrate through the openings into the conveyor screw. At the same time, the plate creates sufficient resistance to maintain a desired pressure in the biomass in the working chamber, which pressure is advantageous for achieving the chemical processes for the formation of coal and synthesis gas.

[0033] It is advantageous if a conveying mechanism, which in particular has a piston, and a discharge device, which in particular has a conveyor screw with an end plate, are provided, which are movable parallel to the transport direction, wherein a control is provided by means of which the conveying mechanism and the discharge device can be moved in parallel. The conveying mechanism and the discharge device thus perform parallel, i.e. simultaneous and usually co-directional lifting movements in or against the transport direction, thereby enabling a continuous feeding of biomass into the working chamber and discharge of coal from the working chamber with the most uniform pressure possible in the working chamber.

[0034] Preferably, the discharge device comprises a bearing for a mandrel arranged in the working chamber, wherein the mandrel is preferably not mounted in the working chamber between the inlet and outlet. This bearing can be formed, for example, by a roller or plain bearing arranged centrally in the end plate of the conveyor screw, in which the mandrel, formed by, for example, a tube, is mounted. It has been shown that additional bearing of the mandrel in the working chamber entails a risk of biomass becoming caught on supports of such a bearing point and blocking transport within the working chamber. This risk is avoided by exclusively bearing the mandrel at the end.

[0035] Preferably, a gas outlet is provided connected to the working chamber, through which synthesis gas generated in the working chamber can be extracted. The synthesis gas can, for example, be fed into a pipeline or filled into containers for subsequent use.

[0036] It has proven effective to provide electrically conductive additives that can be conveyed through the working chamber with the biomass and heated by the induction device. These can be, for example, graphite spheres or similar, which are heated in the working chamber to heat the biomass as evenly as possible. These additives leave the working chamber together with the coal and can be easily separated from the coal and reused.

[0037] It is advantageous if at least two induction coils are provided in order to be able to heat different areas of the work space to different degrees.

[0038] The induction coil can be provided with different pitches along an axial extension of the working chamber. These different pitches can result in different power densities at the same current intensity, which are introduced into the working chamber by the induction coil, allowing different areas within the working chamber to be heated to different degrees.

[0039] Of course, several induction coils can also be provided, which have different gradients in order to be able to control the energy input into individual areas of the work space with particular precision.

[0040] It is advantageous if one or more temperature sensors are provided in the work chamber, with a control system provided to achieve a predefined temperature in the work chamber using the induction coil. The various temperature sensors can be arranged along an axial extent of the work chamber and / or distributed over a circumference of the work chamber in order to be able to control the chemical processes in the work chamber particularly well. For example, it can be provided that the induction coil is controlled to a desired target temperature in the work chamber, for example, 1,100 °C, or that the current of the induction coil is increased or decreased until the desired temperature is reached.

[0041] It is preferably provided that the working space wall is surface-treated and / or coated on the inside, in particular in order to achieve improved wear resistance and / or low roughness, preferably a roughness with a mean roughness value Ra of less than 0.5 pm.

[0042] It has proven effective to provide a lock system at the inlet and / or outlet, which lock system reduces the penetration of ambient air into the work chamber and the escape of product gas into the environment. The lock system can, for example, comprise a first gas-tight lock through which biomass, coal, and synthesis gas can enter a lock chamber. From this lock chamber, the biomass, coal, and synthesis gas can then be moved via a second gas-tight lock into the work chamber or the environment. Preferably, both locks are opened sequentially, rather than simultaneously, so that there is never a direct connection between the work chamber and the environment.

[0043] To achieve particularly pure gas, it is advantageous if the working chamber is gas-tight from the surrounding environment. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a lock system at the inlet and outlet, so that only system media such as biomass, gasification agents, and synthesis gases or product gas can enter the working chamber.

[0044] The further object is achieved by a method for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass of the type mentioned above, wherein the biomass is heated electrically, in particular by an induction coil, in a reactor in a working chamber, in particular in a reactor according to the invention. This enables particularly precise control of the temperature in the working chamber and the use of excess electrical energy to produce coal or synthesis gas from biomass, particularly on windy days or days with high solar radiation.

[0045] It is advantageous if electrically conductive additives, which in particular have a spherical shape, are added to the biomass before it is introduced into the working chamber, wherein the additives are inductively heated in the working chamber in order to heat the biomass by means of the inductively heated additives.

[0046] Further advantages, features, benefits, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the drawings, which show:

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a reactor according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0048] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of another reactor;

[0049] Fig. 3 shows a section through the reactor of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a reactor 1 according to the invention for carrying out a method according to the invention. It shows a working chamber 2, which is delimited by a working chamber wall 3 and on the outside of which three induction coils 8 are arranged to inductively heat heating elements 11 located in or on the working chamber 2, so that biomass located in the working chamber 2 reaches a temperature of, for example, 1,100 °C, which temperature is required to cause chemical reactions through which this biomass is converted into coal and synthesis gas.

[0050] Biomass is fed to the reactor 1 via a feed hopper 6, through which the biomass reaches an area upstream of the working chamber 2, from which the biomass is moved by means of a piston 14 along a transport direction 7 through an inlet 4 into the working chamber 2. In the working chamber 2, the biomass is converted into coal and synthesis gas by the inductive heat supply. Produced coal or biochar is discharged from the working chamber 2 via an outlet 5, specifically into a coal container 16 adjacent to the working chamber 2. The transport direction 7 is defined here by a direct connection from inlet 4 to outlet 5. In principle, however, the working chamber 2 can also have a longitudinal axis that corresponds to a non-straight line, so that the transport direction 7, along which the biomass or coal is moved in the working chamber 2, can in principle also be formed by a curved line.

[0051] The synthesis gas leaves the reactor 1 via a gas outlet 19, which is also directly or indirectly connected to the outlet.

[0052] It can also be seen that a mandrel 9 is arranged in the working chamber 2, which is connected to a supply line for a gasification medium, so that a gasification medium, for example, water vapor or carbon dioxide, can be introduced into the working chamber 2 through the mandrel 9. The mandrel 9 is also made of an electrically conductive material, so that the mandrel 9 can also be inductively heated by the induction coils 8.

[0053] As can be seen, the biomass is fed through the feed hopper 6 transversely to the transport direction 7 into an area upstream of the working chamber 2, from which the biomass is moved into the working chamber by means of the piston. A conveyor screw 15 with an end plate 18 is arranged at the outlet 5 of the working chamber 2. The end plate 18 has openings (not shown) through which coal is introduced into the conveyor screw 15 along the transport direction 7, after which the coal is discharged into a coal container 16 by the conveyor screw 15.

[0054] The conveyor screw 15, together with the end plate 18, is movable parallel to the transport direction 7 and in the same direction as the piston 14, which is indicated by an additional dash-dotted representation of piston 14 and conveyor screw 15 at a position with a modified stroke in Fig. 1. In order to move biomass continuously from the inlet 4 through the working chamber 2 to the outlet 5, the piston 14 and conveyor screw are thus usually moved simultaneously and in the same direction in a translational manner along the transport direction 7, whereby biomass located in the working chamber 2 is also pressed against the end plate 18. In this way, the conveyor screw 15 with the end plate 18 acts as a compression piston and a predefined pressure can be maintained in the working chamber 2 during the process.

[0055] On the outside of the work chamber 2, heating elements 11 are arranged on the work chamber wall 3, which are also heated by the induction coils 8. In order to prevent heat energy from the heating elements 11 arranged on the outside of the work chamber 2 from being lost to the environment, insulation 12, usually high-temperature insulation 12, is arranged on the outside of these heating elements 11. Furthermore, these heating elements 11 are surrounded by a closed gas space 13, which also has an insulating effect. Alternatively, a vacuum could also be provided at this position. Furthermore, a coating with a low emission coefficient or emissivity can be provided on the outside of the heating elements 11 in order to ensure that the heat radiated by the heating elements 11 essentially acts on the work chamber 2.

[0056] The working chamber 2 is shown cylindrically here. In order to consume as little energy as possible for moving the biomass along the transport direction 7 through the working chamber 2, it can also be provided that a cross-section of the working chamber 2 increases between the inlet 4 and the outlet 5, so that the working chamber 2 can be designed, for example, conically or with cylindrical tubes with a cross-section increasing along the transport direction 7. Heating elements 11, which are not shown in Fig. 1, can also be arranged on the inside of the working chamber wall 3 in order to be able to bring the working chamber 2 or the biomass located therein to the appropriate temperature. The heating elements 11 are preferably made of graphite, although another material that can be heated inductively can also be used. It is advantageous if the heating elements 11 are made of an electrically conductive material that can withstand temperatures of more than 1,000 °C.A corresponding coating can also be provided on the outside of these internal heating elements 11 to prevent or minimize the radiation of thermal energy to the outside. Furthermore, a chemically resistant coating, in particular an ash- and / or slag-repellent protective layer, can be provided on the inside of the work chamber wall 3. It is understood that this coating is usually not electrically conductive itself in order to prevent heating by the electromagnetic field generated by the induction coils 8.

[0057] As can be seen, three coils are provided in the illustrated embodiment, so that the working chamber 2 can be heated to different intensities along an axial extent by means of the three coils. In this way, a desired temperature can be easily set in each area. To monitor the temperature, temperature sensors (not shown here) are usually positioned in the working chamber 2, and a control system is provided which is connected to the temperature sensors and the induction coils 8. To cool the induction coils 8, a cooling device can be provided, in particular a cooling medium flowing around the induction coils 8.The temperature sensors can be arranged along the transport direction and at different distances from a central axis of the working chamber in order to be able to record a temperature profile in the working chamber as accurately as possible, which can subsequently be used to control the induction coils, the piston and / or the volume flow of the gasification medium.

[0058] Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows that additives 17 are introduced into the working chamber 2 together with the biomass. These can be, for example, graphite spheres, which are also heated by the induction tracks to ensure the most uniform heating of the biomass in the working chamber 2. The additives 17 can also be used to influence the pyrolysis process by influencing the ash softening temperature or by causing in-situ desulfurization. The additives 17 are conveyed via the outlet 5 with the coal into the coal container 16 and can thus subsequently be separated from the coal and reused.

[0059] The working chamber wall 3 is usually made of ceramic or glass, so that it easily allows the electromagnetic field generated by the induction coils 8 to pass into the working chamber 2 and at the same time can withstand the high temperatures. The mandrel 9, which is usually approximately cylindrical, has openings 10 in particular on its circumference and can also be made of a metal, so that the mandrel 9 is also heated by the induction coils 8 in order to achieve appropriate temperature control of the biomass. To avoid shielding the working chamber 2 from the induction coils 8, it can be provided that free spaces are provided between the heating elements 11 attached to the outside and / or inside of the working chamber wall 3, so that the electromagnetic field generated by the induction coils 8 can easily penetrate through the working chamber wall 3 into the working chamber 2.

[0060] During the process, the biomass is thus moved from the inlet 4 to the outlet 5 through the working chamber 2, where it is heated by the heating elements 11 and the mandrel 9. The biomass pyrolyzes and is converted into pyrolysis gas and biochar, or synthesis gas and coal. The coal is conveyed further and experiences a defined accumulation at the end plate 18, which acts as a compression piston, creating a dense and defined coal bed through which the generated synthesis gas and a gasification medium supplied via the mandrel 9 flow. The synthesis gas has CO, H2, CH4, and CO2 as its main components, although its composition is variable and can depend in particular on process parameters such as temperature, volume flow of the gasification medium, and / or pressure in the working chamber.

[0061] The synthesis gas produced by the reactor can then be further processed into various other products, such as feed-in synthetic natural gas / methane (CH4), methanol, or purified into (green) hydrogen. During this flow, tars from the pyrolysis gas are reformed into short-chain hydrocarbons, and biochar itself is decomposed and partially gasified by the gasification medium. The coal accumulated at the end plate 18 of the screw conveyor 15 is subsequently moved into the screw conveyor 15 via openings arranged in the end plate 18 and discharged with it into the coal container 16.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the mandrel 9 is mounted only in the piston 14. Especially in longer reactors 1, a second mounting of the mandrel 9 can also be provided, preferably in the area of ​​the conveyor screw 15 or the end plate 18.

[0063] 2 and 3 show a further embodiment of a reactor 1, which is designed essentially analogously to the reactor 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a section through the reactor 1 along the line III - III in Fig. 2. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, here a gasification medium is supplied not only via the openings 10 in the mandrel 9, but also via wall openings 20 in the working chamber wall 3. As can be seen, these wall openings 20 are arranged so as to be regularly distributed over a circumference of the working chamber 2 and are aligned such that the gasification medium flows out approximately parallel to the transport direction 7. Of course, the wall openings 20 can also be designed for the gasification medium to flow out at a different angle. By introducing the gasification medium via the wall openings 20, a particularly good distribution of the gasification medium in the working chamber 2 is achieved.

[0064] With a reactor 1 according to the invention, biomass can be converted into coal and synthesis gas in a particularly simple and robust manner by supplying electrical energy, whereby, for example, sawmills can convert waste wood chips into coal and synthesis gas in a cost-effective manner and make them usable for energy purposes.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Reactor (1) for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass, comprising a working chamber (2) laterally delimited by a working chamber wall (3), an inlet (4) through which the biomass can be introduced into the working chamber (2), and an outlet (5) through which coal and synthesis gas can be discharged from the working chamber (2), wherein biomass can be moved on a transport path along a transport direction (7) from the inlet (4) to the outlet (5) through the working chamber (2), characterized in that an electrically conductive element is provided in the working chamber (2) and / or in the working chamber wall (3), wherein the electrically conductive element can be heated electrically, preferably inductively, in particular by an induction coil (8), in order to bring about a conversion of biomass located in the working chamber (2) into synthesis gas and coal.

2. Reactor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an induction coil (8) is provided, by means of which the electrically conductive element can be heated.

3. Reactor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the working chamber wall (3) has wall openings (20) through which a gasification medium, in particular water vapor, can be introduced into the working chamber (2), wherein the openings are arranged in the working chamber in such a way that an outflow direction of the gasification medium is approximately parallel to the transport direction (7).

4. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a mandrel (9) having openings (10) is arranged in the working space (2), preferably approximately centrally, through which mandrel (9) a gasification medium, in particular water vapor, can be introduced into the working space (2).

5. Reactor (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the mandrel (9) is oriented parallel to the transport path, in particular along a direct connection from inlet (4) to outlet (5).

6. Reactor (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the mandrel (9) is approximately cylindrical.

7. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the mandrel (9) is formed from an electrically conductive material or comprises an electrically conductive material.

8. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the working chamber (2) has a substantially rotationally symmetrical cross-section.

9. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the working chamber (2) is designed with a cross-section that increases at least in regions from the inlet (4) to the outlet (5), in particular is designed approximately conically.

10. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the working chamber wall (3) consists essentially of a high-temperature-resistant material, in particular glass, ceramic or steel.

11. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the working chamber wall (3) consists at least partially of an electrically conductive material and thus acts as a heating element (11).

12. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that electrically conductive elements and / or an electrically conductive coating are arranged on the inside of the working chamber wall (3).

13. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the working chamber wall (3) has electrically conductive heating elements (11) on the outside, which preferably consist of graphite.

14. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that an insulation (12) is provided which surrounds the working chamber wall (3) at least in regions.

15. Reactor (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the insulation (12) is arranged directly on heating elements (11) arranged on the outside of the working chamber wall (3).

16. Reactor (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the insulation (12) consists at least partially of an electrically non-conductive material.

17. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the insulation (12) is at least partially formed by a gas.

18. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the insulation (12) has a heat-reflecting layer which is not itself heated by induction 19. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a chemically resistant coating, in particular an ash and / or slag-repellent protective layer, is arranged on the inside of the working chamber wall (3).

20. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that a conveying mechanism is provided by which biomass can be conveyed from the inlet (4) through the working space (2) to the outlet (5).

21. Reactor (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the conveying mechanism has a movable piston (14) by means of which biomass located in the working chamber (2) can be moved along the transport path, wherein the piston (14) is movable in particular parallel to the transport direction (7).

22. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that a biomass feed is provided, through which biomass can be fed into a region upstream of the inlet (4), in particular along a feed direction which is transverse to the transport direction (7).

23. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that at the outlet (5) a discharge device, in particular a conveyor screw (15), is provided, by means of which coal can be conveyed from the working space (2) into a coal container (16) connected to the outlet (5).

24. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that a conveying mechanism, which in particular has a piston (14), and a discharge device, which in particular has a conveyor screw (15) with a front end plate, are provided, which are movable parallel to the transport direction (7), wherein a control is provided by means of which the conveying mechanism and the discharge device can be moved in parallel.

25. Reactor (1) according to claim 24, characterized in that the discharge device has a bearing for a mandrel (9) arranged in the working space (2), wherein the mandrel (9) is preferably not mounted in the working space (2) between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5).

26. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that a gas outlet (19) connected to the working space (2) is provided, through which synthesis gas generated in the working space (2) can be removed.

27. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that electrically conductive additives (17) are provided, which can be conveyed with the biomass through the working space (2) and heated by the induction device.

28. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that at least two induction coils (8) are provided in order to be able to heat different areas of the working space (2) to different degrees.

29. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that an induction coil (8) is provided for heating the electrically conductive element, which has different gradients along an axial extent of the working space (2).

30. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that one or more temperature sensors are provided in the working space (2), wherein a Control is provided to achieve a predefined temperature in the working space (2) by means of the induction coil (8).

31. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the working chamber wall (3) is surface-treated and / or coated on the inside, in particular in order to achieve improved wear resistance and / or low roughness, preferably a roughness with a mean roughness value Ra of less than 0.5 pm.

32. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that a lock system is provided at the inlet (4) and / or at the outlet (5), by means of which lock system the penetration of ambient air into the working space and the escape of product gas into the environment are reduced.

33. Reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that the working space (2) is sealed gas-tight against the environment.

34. A process for producing coal and synthesis gas from biomass, characterized in that the biomass is heated electrically, in particular by an induction coil (8), in a reactor (1) having a working chamber (2), in particular in a reactor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 33.

35. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that electrically conductive additives (17) are added to the biomass before being introduced into the working space (2), which additives in particular have a spherical shape, wherein the additives (17) are inductively heated in the working space (2) in order to heat the biomass by means of the inductively heated additives (17).

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