Solar coal gasification reactor with pyrolysis gas recycle

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:864784

Aiman, William R ^[1]; Gregg, David W ^[2]

---

1. Livermore, CA
2. Morago, CA

Coal (or other carbonaceous matter, such as biomass) is converted into a duct gas that is substantially free from hydrocarbons. The coal is fed into a solar reactor (10), and solar energy (20) is directed into the reactor onto coal char, creating a gasification front (16) and a pyrolysis front (12). A gasification zone (32) is produced well above the coal level within the reactor. A pyrolysis zone (34) is produced immediately above the coal level. Steam (18), injected into the reactor adjacent to the gasification zone (32), reacts with char to generate product gases. Solar energy supplies the energy for the endothermic steam-char reaction. The hot product gases (38) flow from the gasification zone (32) to the pyrolysis zone (34) to generate hot char. Gases (38) are withdrawn from the pyrolysis zone (34) and reinjected into the region of the reactor adjacent the gasification zone (32). This eliminates hydrocarbons in the gas by steam reformation on the hot char. The product gas (14) is withdrawn from a region of the reactor between the gasification zone (32) and the pyrolysis zone (34). The product gas will be free of tar and other hydrocarbons, and thus be suitable for use in many processes.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4415339
• OSTI ID: 864784
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/48/126/
10
12
14
16
18
20
32
34
38
adjacent
biomass
carbonaceous
carbonaceous matter
char
coal
coal char
coal gas
coal gasification
converted
creating
directed
duct
eliminates
endothermic
energy
fed
flow
free
front
gas
gas recycle
gases
gasification
gasification reactor
gasification zone
generate
hot
hot char
hot product
hydrocarbons
immediately
injected
level
matter
processes
produced
product
product gas
product gases
pyrolysis
pyrolysis gas
pyrolysis zone
reaction
reactor
reacts
recycle
reformation
region
reinjected
solar
solar coal
solar energy
steam
steam-char
substantially
substantially free
suitable
supplies
tar
withdrawn
zone