Apparatus for solar coal gasification

Patent · Mon Aug 04 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6402145

Gregg, D W

Apparatus for using focused solar radiation to gasify coal and other carbonaceous materials is described. Incident solar radiation is focused from an array of heliostats through a window onto the surface of a moving bed of coal, contained within a gasification reactor. The reactor is designed to minimize contact between the window and solids in the reactor. Steam introduced into the gasification reactor reacts with the heated coal to produce gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, commonly called synthesis gas, which can be converted to methane, methanol, gasoline, and other useful products. One of the novel features of the invention is the generation of process steam in one embodiment at the rear surface of a secondary mirror used to redirect the focused sunlight. Another novel feature of the invention is the location and arrangement of the array of mirrors on an inclined surface (e.g., a hillside) to provide for direct optical communication of said mirrors and the carbonaceous feed without a secondary redirecting mirror.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 6402145
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140905
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COAL GASIFICATION
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDIZED BED
FLUIDS
FURNACES
GASES
GASIFICATION
HEAT
HELIOSTATS
MATERIALS
MIRRORS
PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR FURNACES
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
STEAM
SYNTHESIS GAS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES