Laval Nozzle Carbon Injection for Gasification Reactor Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carbon gasification processes face challenges in maintaining high temperatures and sufficient mixing of oxidizing gases with carbon-bearing materials, leading to incomplete reactions due to pressure differences and temperature-dependent reactivity.

Innovation Solution

A device with a tubular injector and Laval nozzle creates negative pressure for carbon injection, enhancing mixing and dwell time through supersonic gas acceleration and recirculation of synthesis gas, ensuring uniform temperature and composition within the gasification reactor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If pulverulent material is introduced into the reactor, then carbon gasification can proceed, but pressure difference between atmosphere outside and inside the gasification reactor must be overcome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon gasification efficiencyVSAvoidpressure difference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a Laval nozzle to accelerate process gas to supersonic speeds, creating a jet that penetrates into the gasification reactor. This high-velocity gas jet generates a negative pressure region that actively sucks pulverulent carbon material into the reactor, overcoming the pressure difference between the atmosphere outside and inside the reactor without requiring additional mechanical feeding systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the velocity parameter of the process gas from subsonic to supersonic speeds using the Laval nozzle. This parameter change creates a strong negative pressure region that facilitates the introduction of pulverulent material into the reactor, effectively solving the pressure difference problem while maintaining high carbon gasification efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If temperature is increased to maintain high reactivity, then carbon gasification rate improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon gasification rateVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of the process gas from subsonic to supersonic flow through the Laval nozzle. This phase transition creates a negative pressure region that actively draws in pulverulent carbon material and process gas, enhancing mixing and reaction efficiency without requiring additional energy input for material feeding, thus improving gasification rate while controlling energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Reliability

If mixing of oxidising gases with carbon is enhanced, then reaction completeness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction completenessVSAvoidmixing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a Laval nozzle to accelerate process gas to supersonic speeds, creating a high-velocity jet that penetrates into the gasification reactor. This jet creates intense turbulent mixing between the oxidizing gases and pulverulent carbon material, ensuring complete reactions. The pneumatic mixing approach avoids complex mechanical mixing devices, maintaining system simplicity while achieving high reaction completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 achieves complete carbon gasification by maintaining high temperatures and efficient mixing, resulting in a more compact reactor design and optimal reaction conditions, with the ability to control pressure and extend reaction time.

Implementation Method 1

a surrounding nozzle device of the Laval type for oxidising gases for creating a strong negative pressure which sucks the carbon into the injector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaval nozzle effect: De Laval Nozzle

Implementation Method 2

accelerating gases to supersonic speed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSupersonic flow:

Implementation Method 3

creating a strong negative pressure which sucks the carbon into the injector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure creation: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 4

The strong momentum of the oxidising gases brings about vigorous mixing of the synthesis gas in the gasification reactor with the incoming oxidising gases and the pulverulent material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVigorous mixing: Turbulence

Implementation Method 5

extends the dwell time in the reactor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDwell time extension:

Implementation Method 6

maintaining a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficiently long period of time to achieve the complete gasification of carbon-bearing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature maintenance:

Data Source

PatentEP2566939B1Method and device for carbon injection and recirculation of synthesis gas when producing synthesis gas
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 CORTUS AB
  • EP2566939B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2566939B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This invention relates to a method of introducing pulverulent material (C) into a gasification reactor (2), wherein a process gas (P) supplied to a gasification reactor (2) is reduced to a synthesis gas (S) by the pulverulent material (C) and the pulverulent material (C) is introduced into the gasification reactor (2) via an inlet area, a negative pressure being generated in the inlet area for the pulverulent material (C) via a Laval nozzle (15) and the negative pressure being generated in that the process gas (P) passes through the Laval nozzle (15). The invention also relates to a device for introducing pulverulent material (C) into a gasification reactor (2). The method according to this invention is characterised in that the process gas (P) expands in a gasification space (5) in the gasification reactor (2).