Method of biomass gasification

Abstract

A method for the gasification of biomass, wherein the biomass feedstock is combined with a light hydrocarbon composition to form a slurry; followed by feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas. In another embodiment, a method for the gasification of biomass is described. The method includes the steps of combining a biomass feedstock with water to form a slurry; feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas; and injecting a light hydrocarbon into the gasifier, to generate gasification temperatures greater than about 900° C., by partial or complete combustion of the light hydrocarbon. In some other embodiments, the biomass gasifier product gas is coupled to a reformer, wherein a light hydrocarbon is injected to generate high temperatures.

1 . A method for the gasification of biomass, comprising the following steps:
 combining a biomass feedstock with a light hydrocarbon composition to form a slurry; and   feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen content in the biomass feedstock is less than about 60%. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water content in the biomass feedstock is less than about 20%. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises at least about 30% of plant biomass. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises a pre-processed feedstock. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises a residue of oilseed extraction. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises a residue of soybean oilseed extraction. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light hydrocarbon has a boiling point of up to about 160° C. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light hydrocarbon comprises C 1  to C 7  hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light hydrocarbon is obtained from the processing of triglycerides. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light hydrocarbon is obtained as a byproduct of oil processing. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gasifier comprises an entrained flow gasifier. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is further subjected to a water-gas shift reaction, so as to increase the hydrogen content of the fuel gas. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is used in a power generation process 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is used in chemical synthesis. 
   
   
       16 . A method for the gasification of deoiled soybean cake, comprising:
 combining the deoiled soybean cake with at least a light hydrocarbon to form a slurry;   wherein the light hydrocarbon has a boiling point up to about 160° C.; and   feeding the slurry in a pressurized gasifier to produce a fuel gas.   
   
   
       17 . A method for the gasification of biomass, comprising:
 combining a biomass feedstock with water to form a slurry;   feeding the slurry to a gasifier to produce a fuel gas; and   injecting a light hydrocarbon into the gasifier, to generate gasification temperatures greater than about 900° C., by partial or complete combustion of the light hydrocarbon.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxygen content in the biomass feedstock is less than about 60%. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the water content in the biomass feedstock is less than about 20%. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises plant biomass. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the biomass feedstock comprises deoiled soybean residue. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the light hydrocarbon is derived from triglycerides. 
   
   
       23 . A method for the gasification of biomass, comprising:
 gasifying a biomass feedstock in a gasifier to produce a product gas;   feeding the product gas to a reformer section;   injecting a light hydrocarbon into the reformer section; and   generating temperatures of greater than about 1000° C., by partial or complete combustion of the light hydrocarbon, in the reformer section.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising a slurry preparation section, wherein said biomass feedstock is slurried with at least one of water or said light hydrocarbon.