Method and apparatus for treating a syngas

Abstract

Treating a synthesis gas includes generating a plasma jet from a non-transferred arc torch having a main axis, the jet having a propagation axis that is substantially collinear with the main axis of the torch. The plasma torch is mounted on a feed enclosure. The syngas is received at an inlet port of the feed enclosure, the inlet port being downstream from he plasma torch and feeding the syngas so the flow encounters the plasma jet to mix the syngas and plasma jet. The mixture is propagated in an elongate reactor placed downstream from the inlet port to convert the syngas into an outlet gas. The reactor is in communication in its upstream portion with the feed enclosure and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the propagation axis of the plasma jet. The outlet gas is extracted via an outlet port.

1 . A method of treating a synthesis gas or “syngas”, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 generating a plasma jet ( 4 ) from a non-transferred-arc torch ( 3 ) having a main axis, said jet having a propagation axis ( 5 ) that is substantially collinear with the main axis of said torch, said plasma torch ( 3 ) being mounted on a feed enclosure ( 1 );   receiving said syngas at at least one inlet port ( 7 ) of said feed enclosure ( 1 ), said inlet port ( 7 ) being placed downstream from said plasma torch ( 3 ), and feeding said syngas in so that the flow of syngas encounters said plasma jet ( 4 ) at least partially so as to mix said syngas and said plasma jet;   propagating said mixture in an elongate reactor ( 2 ) placed downstream from said inlet port ( 7 ) for the purpose of converting said syngas into an outlet gas, said reactor ( 2 ) being in communication in its upstream portion with said feed enclosure ( 1 ) and having a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the propagation axis ( 5 ) of said plasma jet; and   extracting the outlet gas via an outlet port ( 10 ).   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said syngas is fed in in a direction that is distinct from said propagation axis ( 5 ) so as to establish a turbulent mixing zone between the plasma jet ( 4 ) and said syngas. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one fluid is fed into the feed enclosure ( 1 ) and/or into the reactor ( 2 ) in order to adjust the composition of the syngas to be treated. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said fluid is chosen from the group comprising water, carbon dioxide, and a combination of these elements. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the speed of the syngas/plasma jet mixture is reduced at the inside wall of said feed enclosure ( 1 ) and/or of said reactor ( 2 ). 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said outlet gas is accelerated in the downstream portion of the reactor ( 2 ) prior to it being extracted via said outlet port ( 10 ). 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said outlet gas is quenched so as to set said outlet gas. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the temperature of said outlet gas is measured and the temperature of said plasma jet ( 4 ) is adjusted so as to control the conversion of said syngas into outlet gas. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus for implementing the method of processing a syngas according to  claim 1 , said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:
 a feed enclosure ( 1 ) to which a reactor ( 2 ) is connected, said feed enclosure ( 1 ) and said reactor ( 2 ) each having an internal volume defined by walls covered at least partially with refractory elements, said enclosure ( 1 ) and said reactor ( 2 ) being in fluid communication;   said feed enclosure ( 1 ) including a non-transferred-arc plasma torch ( 3 ) having a main axis, said torch serving to generate a plasma jet ( 4 ) having a propagation axis ( 5 ) that is substantially collinear with the main axis of said torch;   said feed enclosure ( 1 ) being provided with at least one inlet port ( 7 ) placed downstream from said plasma torch ( 3 ) for the purpose of feeding in a syngas in a manner such that said syngas is mixed with said plasma jet ( 4 ); and   said reactor ( 2 ) having a substantially cylindrical elongate shape, the longitudinal axis of said reactor ( 2 ) being substantially collinear with the propagation axis of said plasma jet ( 4 ), said reactor ( 2 ) having an outlet port ( 10 ) for said outlet gas in its downstream portion.   
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that it further comprises a fluid injector ( 8 ) for adjusting the composition of said syngas to be treated, said at least one injector ( 8 ) serving to feed said fluid in substantially in the direction in which the syngas/plasma jet mixture flows. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that with said injectors ( 8 ) being placed in the downstream portion of said feed enclosure ( 1 ) and/or in the upstream portion of said reactor ( 2 ), said downstream portion includes a flared segment ( 9 ) that flares in the same direction as the direction in which said propagation axis ( 5 ) extends so as to reduce the speed of said syngas/plasma jet mixture, and so as to optimize injection of said fluid. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said feed enclosure ( 1 ) and said reactor ( 2 ) are provided with injection orifices for injecting a protective fluid, which orifices are connected to an injection circuit for injecting said fluid. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that with said plasma jet ( 4 ) having a diameter d, said inlet port ( 7 ) has a feed orifice for feeding in said syngas whose diameter D is such that D/d is greater than or equal to 10. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said outlet port ( 10 ) is connected to at least one setting means ( 15 ,  16 ) for setting said outlet gas. 
   
   
       16 . A system for treating waste or biomass, which system comprises a first treatment stage for treating waste or biomass, which first stage receives said waste or said biomass and generates a syngas, and a second treatment stage coupled to said first stage for the purpose of receiving said syngas, said system being characterized in that said second stage is constituted by apparatus for treating said syngas according to  claim 9 . 
   
   
       17 . A system for generating electrical energy from waste or biomass, said system comprising at last one gas turbine ( 21 ) or at least one gas engine, said system for generating electrical energy being characterized in that it is equipped with a system for treating waste or biomass according to  claim 16 , and in that said at least one gas turbine ( 21 ), or said at least one gas engine, is actuated by said outlet gas generated by said system for treating waste or biomass. 
   
   
       18 . A system for generating electrical energy according to  claim 17 , characterized in that, since said at least one gas turbine ( 21 ) or said at least one gas engine generates an exhaust gas, said system further comprises a looping circuit ( 23 ) connected firstly to said at least one gas turbine ( 21 ) or to said at least one gas engine for the purpose of recovering said exhaust gas, and secondly to at least one of the elements chosen from the group comprising at least one injector ( 8 ), at least one injection orifice, said plasma torch ( 3 ), and a combination of these elements for the purpose of feeding said exhaust gas into said treatment apparatus, said looping circuit ( 23 ) including a compressor for compressing said exhaust gas prior to it being fed into said apparatus. 
   
   
       19 . A system for producing a synthetic fuel or “synfuel” from waste or from biomass, said system comprising at least one catalytic reactor, said system being characterized in that it is equipped with a system for treating waste or biomass according to  claim 16 . 
   
   
       20 . A system for producing a synthetic polymer from waste or from biomass, said system comprising at least one catalytic reactor, said system being characterized in that it is equipped with a system for treating waste or biomass according to  claim 16 . 
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 19 , characterized in that since said catalytic reactor generates a residual gaseous product, said system further comprises a looping circuit connected firstly to said catalytic reactor for the purpose of recovering said residual gaseous product, and secondly to at least one of the elements chosen from the group comprising at least one injector, at least one injection orifice, said plasma torch, and a combination of these elements for the purpose of feeding said gaseous product into said treatment apparatus, said looping circuit including a compressor for compressing said residual gaseous product prior to it being fed into said apparatus.