Production of synthetic transportation fuels from carbonaceous materials using self-sustained hydro-gasification

Abstract

A process and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process. A slurry of particles of carbonaceous material in water, and hydrogen from an internal source, are fed into a hydro-gasification reactor under conditions whereby methane rich producer gases are generated and fed into a steam pyrolytic reformer under conditions whereby synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide are generated. A portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is fed through a hydrogen purification filter into the hydro-gasification reactor, the hydrogen therefrom constituting the hydrogen from an internal source. The remaining synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is either used as fuel for a gaseous fueled engine to produce electricity and/or process heat or is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced. Molten salt loops are used to transfer heat from the hydro-gasification reactor, and Fischer-Tropsch reactor if liquid fuel is produced, to the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel, comprising: 
 a source of carbonaceous material and water;    a hydro-gasification reactor; and    a steam pyrolytic reformer;    piping connecting said source of carbonaceous material and water to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding carbonaceous material and water thereto to generate methane and carbon monoxide;    piping connecting the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer for feeding methane rich producer gases generated in the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer to generate synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and    piping connecting the steam pyrolytic reformer to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding a portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer into the hydro-gasification reactor.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  including a hydrogen purification filter through which said portion of hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is obtained.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  including a grinder forming particles of the carbonaceous material, a receptacle for the particles and water to form a slurry of the carbonaceous particles, and piping connecting the receptacle to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding the slurry thereto.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  including a steam generator to heat the slurry of carbonaceous material with superheated steam, a steam separator for separating the superheated steam from the slurry prior to the slurry being fed into the hydro-gasification reactor, and piping for feeding the separated steam into the steam pyrolytic reformer to react with the methane rich producer gases from the hydro-gasification reactor.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24  including a steam generator to heat the slurry of carbonaceous material with superheated steam whereby the slurry and superheated steam can be fed into the hydro-gasification reactor.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  including a Fischer-Tropsch reactor and piping connecting the steam pyrolytic reformer to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor for feeding the remainder of the synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  including molten salt loops to transfer heat from one or both of the hydro-gasification reactor and Fischer-Tropsch reactor to one or both of the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  including molten salt loops to transfer heat from the hydro-gasification reactor and Fischer-Tropsch reactor to the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.  
     
     
         30 . Apparatus for producing a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process, comprising: 
 a source of carbonaceous material and water;    a hydro-gasification reactor;    a steam pyrolytic reformer;    a hydrogen purification filter;    a Fischer-Tropsch reactor;    a grinder forming particles of the carbonaceous material;    a receptacle for the particles and water to form a slurry of the carbonaceous particles;    a steam generator to heat the slurry and activate the carbon by pyrolysis with superheated steam;    piping connecting the steam separator to the hydro-gasification reactor for feeding the slurry and superheated steam thereto to generate methane and carbon monoxide;    piping connecting the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer for feeding methane rich producer gases generated in the hydro-gasification reactor to the steam pyrolytic reformer to form a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;    piping connecting the steam pyrolytic reformer to the hydro-gasification reactor through the hydrogen purification filter for feeding a portion of hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer into the hydro-gasification reactor; and    piping connecting the steam pyrolytic reformer to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor for feeding the remainder of the synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer into the Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  including molten salt loops to transfer heat from one or both of the hydro-gasification reactor and Fischer-Tropsch reactor to one or both of the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  including molten salt loops to transfer heat from the hydro-gasification reactor and Fischer-Tropsch reactor to the steam generator and the steam pyrolytic reformer.