One Stage Atmospheric Pressure Thermo-Catalytic Plasma Gasification and Vitrification of Organic Material such as Biomass for the Production of Renewable Energy

Abstract

An apparatus for one stage thermo-catalytic plasma gasification and vitrification of organic material comprising: a generally funnel-shaped reactor having an upper section and a lower section, the lower section comprising a first, wider portion connected by a frustoconical transition to a second, narrower portion, and being suitable to receive a catalyst bed, and the upper section having at least one gas exhaust port; a plurality of inlets for the material from a plurality of directions located at the upper part of the lower section for introducing material into the upper portion of the lower section; a gas inlet system disposed around the lower section to provide gas into the lower section through one or more intake ports in the lower section; and a plurality of plasma arc torches mounted in the lower section to heat the catalyst bed and material, along with a method for plasma treatment of biomass.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for one stage thermo-catalytic plasma gasification and vitrification of organic material comprising: a generally funnel-shaped reactor having an upper section and a lower section, said lower section comprising a first, wider portion connected by a frustoconical transition to a second, narrower portion, and being suitable to receive a catalyst bed, and said upper section having at least one gas exhaust port; a plurality of inlets for said material from a plurality of directions located at the upper part of said lower section for introducing said material into said upper portion of said lower section; a gas inlet system disposed around said lower section to provide gas into said lower section through one or more intake ports in said lower section; and a plurality of plasma arc torches mounted in said lower section to heat said catalyst bed and said material. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a material delivery system to provide said material to said reactor through said plurality of intake ports, said delivery system comprising: a receptacle to receive said material, a shredding and compacting unit disposed to accept said material from said receptacle and to shred and compact said material, and a transfer unit to deliver said shredded and compacted material to said reactor. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said material comprises biomass material. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biomass material comprises the non-fossilized and biodegradable organic material originating from products, by-products and residues of plants, municipal solid waste, agriculture waste, and forestry waste. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said catalyst bed is about 1 meter in height. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed throughout said reactor to sense one or more of: a height of said catalyst bed, a height of a bed of said material, a temperature of said reactor, a flow rate of gas in said reactor, and a temperature of a gas exhausted from said reactor through said exhaust port. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said lower section has one or more tap holes at a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method for the conversion of organic material by one stage atmospheric thermo-catalytic plasma gasification and vitrification, said method comprising: providing a catalyst bed primarily composed of carbon, silica and calcium oxide in a lower section of a reactor; providing one or more successive quantities of said material from a plurality of directions into an upper part of a lower section of a reactor, said upper section having at least one gas exhaust port connected to a fan, said material forming a bed atop said catalyst bed; heating said catalyst bed and said material bed using a plurality of plasma arc torches mounted in said lower section; and introducing into said lower section a gaseous oxidant. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said catalyst bed comprises carbon, silica and calcium oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein said gaseous oxidant comprises oxygen-enriched air or oxygen. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein said oxygen-enriched air comprises at least about 80% (v/v) of oxygen. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein said oxygen-enriched air comprises at least about 95% (v/v) of oxygen. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein said organic material has a particle diameter size of about 2 cm to about 5 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein said organic material has a particle diameter size of about 3 cm to about 5 cm. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the temperature in the carbon catalyst bed in the lower section is greater 3000° C.