Systems for preheating feedstock

Abstract

Systems for preheating feedstock are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one energy source disposed in a gasification plant and configured to provide an energy, and a feedstock supply configured to deliver a solid feedstock. The system further includes a feed bin disposed downstream of the feedstock supply, wherein the feed bin is configured to receive the solid feedstock and to provide a dry feedstock. The system additionally includes a gasifier disposed downstream from the feed bin, wherein the gasifier is configured to produce a syngas from the dry feedstock. The system further includes a heating system configured to use the energy to heat the solid feedstock directly, heat the solid feedstock indirectly, or a combination thereof, to remove moisture from the solid feedstock in the feed bin.

1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one energy source disposed in a gasification plant, wherein the at least one energy source is configured to provide an energy;   a feedstock supply configured to deliver a solid feedstock;   a feed bin disposed downstream of the feedstock supply, wherein the feed bin is configured to receive the solid feedstock and to provide a dry feedstock;   a gasifier disposed downstream from the feed bin, wherein the gasifier is configured to produce a syngas from the dry feedstock; and   a heating system configured to use the energy to heat the solid feedstock directly, heat the solid feedstock indirectly, or a combination thereof, to remove moisture from the solid feedstock in the feed bin.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a feedstock weigh feeder disposed downstream of the feed bin, wherein the at least one energy source is configured to provide the energy to the feedstock weigh feeder for drying of the solid feedstock, and wherein the feedstock weigh feeder is configured to weigh and to move the solid feedstock. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG), a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a cooling tower, a gas treatment unit, a water treatment unit, a sulfur processor, a gasifier, an air separation unit (ASU), a compressor, a condenser, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises a waste energy source, a steam, a gas, a liquid, an electric power, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating system comprises a waste heat recovery unit, a steam heat exchanger, a gas heat exchanger, a liquid heat exchanger, an electrical heater, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating system comprises a waste heat recovery unit, and wherein the waste heat recovery unit comprises a recuperator, a regenerator, a heat pipe exchanger, a thermal wheel, an economizer, a heat pump, a run around coil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gasification plant comprises an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid feedstock comprises low rank coal, biomass, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating system is configured to remove at least 10% of the moisture from the solid feedstock to produce the dry feedstock. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a feedstock weigh feeder, a conveyor, an impact mill and dryer, a cyclone, a vibrating screen, a baghouse, a hopper, or a combination thereof, configured to dry the solid feedstock with the energy from the at least one energy source. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 at least one energy source configured to provide an energy;   a feedstock supply configured to deliver a solid feedstock;   a fluidization system disposed downstream of the feedstock supply, wherein the fluidization system is configured to receive the solid feedstock and to provide a dry fluidized feedstock; and   a heating system configured to use the energy to heat the solid feedstock in the fluidization system to remove moisture from the solid feedstock.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising a gasifier configured to gasify the dry fluidized feedstock, wherein the gasifier comprises a fluidized bed gasifier, a updraught gasifier, a downdraught gasifier, a cross-draught gasifier, a double fired gasifier, an entrained bed gasifier, a molten bath gasifier, a moving bed gasifier, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluidization system comprises a feed bin, a feedstock weigh feeder, a conveyor, an impact mill and dryer, a cyclone, a vibrating screen, a baghouse, a hopper, or a combination thereof, configured to dry the solid feedstock with the energy from the at least one energy source. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the feed bin is disposed upstream of the feedstock weigh feeder, the feedstock weigh feeder is disposed upstream of the conveyor, the conveyor is disposed upstream of the impact mill and dryer, the impact mill and dryer is disposed upstream of the cyclone, the cyclone is disposed upstream of the baghouse, the baghouse is disposed upstream of the hopper, and the hopper is disposed upstream of the gasifier. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG), a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a cooling tower, a gas treatment unit, a water treatment unit, a sulfur processor, a gasifier, an air separation unit (ASU), a compressor, a condenser, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a fluidization system configured to fluidize a solid feedstock, the fluidization system comprising:   a feed bin configured to dry the solid feedstock;   a conveyor;   a cyclone;   a baghouse; and   a hopper, wherein at least one energy source disposed in a gasification plant is configured to provide an energy to the feed bin to dry the solid feedstock.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the fluidization system comprises a feedstock weigh feeder, an impact mill and dryer, and a vibrating screen, and wherein the conveyor, the cyclone, the baghouse, the feedstock weigh feeder, the impact mill and dryer, the vibrating screen, or a combination thereof, configured to dry the solid feedstock. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the feed bin is disposed upstream of the feedstock weigh feeder, the feedstock weigh feeder is disposed upstream of the conveyor, the conveyor is disposed upstream of the impact mill and dryer, the impact mill and dryer is disposed upstream of the cyclone, the cyclone is disposed upstream of the baghouse, the baghouse is disposed upstream of the hopper, and the hopper is disposed upstream of the gasifier. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the feed bin comprises a waste heat recovery unit, a steam heat exchanger, a gas heat exchanger, a liquid heat exchanger, an electrical heater, or a combination thereof, configured to dry the solid feedstock. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG), a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a cooling tower, a gas treatment unit, a water treatment unit, a sulfur processor, a gasifier, an air separation unit (ASU), a compressor, a condenser, or a combination thereof.