Screw Thermolyzer Hydrogen Production With Indirect Reformed-Gas Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing hydrogen from biomass or organic waste are inefficient in terms of energy consumption, require costly equipment, and result in greenhouse gas emissions, with a trade-off between gasification temperature and feedstock consumption, and high maintenance costs due to reactor materials exposed to extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a screw thermolyzer to heat organic feedstock indirectly with reformed gas, avoiding solid heat carriers and partial oxidation, combined with a high temperature reformer and hydrogen separation units, including carbon capture and sequestration, to efficiently produce hydrogen with minimal emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If partial oxidation is used to generate heat for gasification, then gasification temperature is improved, but feedstock consumption increases and hydrogen production potential decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of partial oxidation (feedstock consumption) into a beneficial process by using the heat generated from oxidizing a small fraction of feedstock to drive the gasification of the remaining feedstock, thereby producing hydrogen without significant feedstock loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxidation parameters by using controlled partial oxidation with limited air supply, maintaining oxygen concentration below 21%, to generate just enough heat for gasification while minimizing feedstock consumption and maximizing hydrogen production
2Productivity
If plasma at 4000°C is used to gasify feedstock, then gasification efficiency is improved, but investment costs and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive plasma technology with a simpler, more economical partial oxidation process that uses readily available air and standard reactor materials, significantly reducing investment and maintenance costs while maintaining effective gasification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the complex plasma system with a thermal chemical process using controlled combustion, replacing high-energy electromagnetic fields with conventional thermal chemistry that is easier to implement and maintain
3Productivity
If heat carrier medium is used to heat feedstock, then pyrolysis efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and equipment complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heat carrier medium from the system, using direct partial oxidation of feedstock to generate heat in-situ, thereby removing the energy consumption associated with heating, circulating, and cleaning the heat carrier
Solution Approach 2:
The feedstock itself serves as the heat source through partial oxidation, eliminating the need for external heat carriers and the associated energy consumption for their preparation and maintenance
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
The system achieves high hydrogen yield, reduces energy consumption, minimizes emissions, and is self-sustainable, producing carbon-neutral or carbon-negative hydrogen with reduced equipment costs and maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
uses a screw thermolyzer to heat organic feedstock indirectly with reformed gas
Implementation Method 2
a pyrolysis gas is produced by pyrolyzing a biomass
Implementation Method 3
a first duct line to convey the thermogas from the thermogas collector to a thermogas inlet of a high temperature reformer, the high temperature reformer exposing the thermogas to a temperature comprised between 1,200° C. and 1,400° C.
Implementation Method 4
a second duct line conveying the reformed gas from the reformed gas outlet to a reformed gas inlet of a heat chamber of the screw thermolyzer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a system for extracting hydrogen from an organic feedstock, comprising:a thermolyzer supplied with the organic feedstock and adapted to heat it up the feedstock to a temperature of at least 800° C. while conveying it inside a gasification chamber by an auger and to collect a thermogas,a duct line to convey the thermogas to a high temperature reformer exposing it to a temperature comprised between 1200° C. and 1,400° C. and releasing a high temperature reformed gas,a duct line conveying the high temperature reformed gas to a heat chamber of the thermolyzer, the heat chamber comprising a chamber outlet to release the reformed gas after circulation in the heat chamber,a duct line conveying the reformed gas from the chamber outlet to an installation adapted to separate hydrogen from the reformed gas, anda hydrogen storage for the hydrogen produced by the installation.