Non-catalytic Partial Oxidation for Syngas Cleanup in Biomass Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomass-to-oxygenated organic compound conversion processes face challenges in achieving cost-effectiveness and robustness due to variations in biomass feedstock and gasifier performance, requiring efficient syngas cleanup that minimizes carbon monoxide and hydrogen loss while protecting fermentation from adverse components.
Innovation Solution
The process involves non-catalytic partial oxidation of crude syngas to reduce hydrocarbon content, increase hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentrations, and decrease hydrogen to carbon monoxide mole ratio, thereby reducing adverse components like nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide, with minimal need for sulfur compound removal operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cleanup operations are used to remove different adverse components from syngas, then the fermentation process is protected from impurities, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cleanup functions into a single catalytic bed that simultaneously removes tars, hydrogen sulfide, and other impurities through integrated catalytic reactions, eliminating the need for separate scrubbers and filters for each contaminant type
Solution Approach 2:
The catalytic bed performs multiple functions including tar cracking, hydrogen sulfide removal, and ammonia decomposition using a single multi-functional catalyst system, allowing one device to handle diverse impurity removal requirements
2Reliability
If syngas is extensively cleaned to remove all impurities, then fermentation reliability improves, but carbon monoxide and hydrogen loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes catalytic reaction parameters including temperature (800-1000°C), residence time, and catalyst composition to achieve effective impurity removal while minimizing unwanted side reactions that would consume carbon monoxide and hydrogen
Solution Approach 2:
The cleanup process targets removal of harmful impurities to sufficient levels for fermentation protection without attempting complete removal of all trace contaminants, avoiding excessive treatment that would increase substance loss
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional syngas cleanup methods are used, then impurity removal is achieved, but the cost and time for further treatment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catalytic cleanup is performed immediately after gasification while the syngas is still hot, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating steps that would be required if cleanup occurred at different temperature stages
Solution Approach 2:
The catalytic reactions proceed continuously in a single-pass flow through the catalytic bed, maintaining constant removal action without interruption for regeneration or replacement of cleanup media
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 results in a simplified, cost-effective syngas cleanup that produces a stable fermentation gas with reduced impurities, requiring less further treatment and maintaining high carbon monoxide and hydrogen levels for efficient bioconversion to oxygenated organic compounds.
Implementation Method 1
Anaerobic fermentations of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and carbon dioxide have also been proposed and involve the contact of the substrate gas in a liquid, aqueous menstruum with microorganisms capable of generating oxygenated organic compounds such as ethanol, acetic acid, propanol and n-butanol.
Implementation Method 2
The process involves non-catalytic partial oxidation of crude syngas to reduce hydrocarbon content, increase hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentrations, and decrease hydrogen to carbon monoxide mole ratio
Data Source
AI summary
Processes are disclosed for the conversion of biomass to oxygenated organic compound using a simplified syngas cleanup operation that is cost effective and protects the fermentation operation. The processes of this invention treat the crude syngas from the gasifier by non-catalytic partial oxidation. The partial oxidation reduces the hydrocarbon content of the syngas such as methane, ethylene and acetylene to provide advantageous gas feeds for anaerobic fermentations to produce oxygenated organic compounds such as ethanol, propanol and butanol. Additionally, the partial oxidation facilitates any additional cleanup of the syngas as may be required for the anaerobic fermentation. Producer gases and partial oxidation processes are also disclosed.