Biogenic Material Gasification in Single Pressure Vessel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gasification processes for producing hydrogen from biogenic material under high pressure and temperature are inefficient due to the need for pre-processing biogenic material into a slurry, high energy consumption for heating and moisture evaporation, and separate vessels for gasification, water-gas shift, and carbon capture, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating granular material to high temperatures within a pressure vessel, mixing it with biogenic material in batches, and rotating the vessel to distribute heat uniformly, allowing gasification, water-gas shift, and carbon capture within a single vessel without the need for pre-processing, using calcium oxide for carbon capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If biogenic material is pre-processed into slurry and pumped under high pressure, then gasification can proceed under supercritical conditions, but the complexity of the system increases and additional energy is consumed for pre-processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate processing steps (drying, gasification, water-gas shift, and carbon capture) into a single integrated reactor system. The biogenic material is fed directly as solid particles without pre-processing into slurry, and all reactions occur simultaneously in one vessel under supercritical conditions, eliminating the need for separate preprocessing equipment and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single reactor vessel performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both the gasification reactor and the water-gas shift reactor, while also incorporating carbon capture capability through calcium oxide. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated vessels for each process step.
2Productivity
If biogenic material is dried and pulverised to maintain elevated temperature, then gasification efficiency improves, but the cost and complexity of material processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for preliminary drying and pulverizing of biogenic material by directly feeding solid particles into the reactor. The supercritical water environment and in-situ heat generation from the exothermic water-gas shift reaction provide the necessary conditions for efficient gasification without extensive pre-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates its own heat through the exothermic water-gas shift reaction, which maintains the elevated temperatures required for gasification without external heating. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for energy-intensive drying and processing steps.
3Productivity
If separate vessels are used for gasification, water-gas shift, and carbon capture, then each process can be optimized, but the system becomes more expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gasification reactor, water-gas shift reactor, and carbon capture system into a single integrated vessel. The calcium oxide is introduced into the same reactor where gasification occurs, allowing simultaneous carbon capture while maintaining the other processes, thereby reducing the number of vessels from three to one.
4Productivity
If compression is used to boost syngas pressure to 2.6MPa for hydrogen separation, then hydrogen can be effectively separated, but the compression step consumes a lot of power
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of compressing the syngas to achieve high pressure for separation, the patent inverts the approach by generating the syngas directly at high pressure through gasification under supercritical conditions. The pressure is built up in-situ during the gasification process itself, eliminating the need for subsequent compression.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances efficiency by reducing energy consumption, eliminating the need for separate processing steps, and simplifies the system, while achieving high hydrogen yield and carbon capture with minimal additional energy input.
Implementation Method 1
mixing it with biogenic material in batches, and rotating the vessel to distribute heat uniformly
Implementation Method 2
gasification of biogenic material to produce hydrogen has been the subject of intense research
Implementation Method 3
The gasification reaction is endothermic such that energy in the form of heat has to be supplied to the biogenic material
Implementation Method 4
the gasification producing gas that increases the pressure inside the pressure vessel
Implementation Method 5
using calcium oxide for carbon capture
Implementation Method 6
the moisture content of the biogenic material enters a supercritical state. A supercritical state typically occurs at temperatures greater than 374.4 °C and pressures greater than 22.064 MPa
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method and apparatus for producing hydrogen gas from biogenic material (210) within a pressure vessel (10). The method comprises heating a granular material (15) to greater than 500°C, adding a batch of biogenic material (210) into the pressure vessel with the heated granular material (15) at atmospheric pressure, closing the pressure vessel, and mixing the heated granular material (15) with the biogenic material (210) inside the closed pressure vessel (10) to raise the temperature of the biogenic material (210) and commence gasification, the gasification producing gas that increases the pressure inside the pressure vessel (10), the produced gas comprising hydrogen gas.