Generating steam from carbonaceous material

Abstract

Preferred embodiments provide a system and method of generating steam comprising providing a continuous supply of coal, combusting the coal in a primary processing chamber in the presence of oxygen and water to provide a first product gas stream, recovering heat from the first product gas stream in a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce a first steam output, processing the first product gas stream in a secondary processing chamber in the presence of oxygen and water to provide a second product gas stream substantially free of inorganic, organic and particulate contaminants, recovering heat from the second product gas stream in a second heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce a second steam output, and combining the first steam output and the second steam output. In preferred embodiments, the combined steam output is used to drive a steam turbine. In certain preferred embodiments, the steam turbine is operatively coupled to an electric generator to produce electricity. In preferred embodiments, the system and method further comprises at least one of reducing the temperature of the second product gas stream, treating the second product gas stream by wet scrubbing, separating sulfur from the second product gas stream and collecting the sulfur with a baghouse, using a carbon dioxide recovery system, and discharging a treated gas stream substantially free of contaminants.

1 . A system for generating steam comprising
 a primary processing chamber having at least one plasma arc torch, the primary processing chamber being operatively connected to
 a continuous carbonaceous material feed, a treatment gas source and a water source, wherein the primary processing chamber is fluidly connected to a first heat recovery steam generator that is fluidly connected to a steam turbine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary processing chamber having at least one plasma arc torch, the secondary processing chamber being fluidly connected to
 the first heat recovery steam generator, a treatment gas source and a water source, wherein the secondary processing chamber is fluidly connected to a second heat recovery steam generator that is fluidly connected to the steam turbine. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the carbonaceous material is thermal waste gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the carbonaceous material is selected from the group consisting of coal, oil, natural gas, and oil shale, biomass, coke, petroleum coke, char, tars, wood waste, methanol, ethanol, propanol, propane, butane, and ethane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second heat recovery steam generator is fluidly connected to at least one of a quench chamber, a wet scrubber, a baghouse or a carbon dioxide removal system. 
     
     
         6 . A method of generating steam comprising:
 providing a continuous supply of a carbonaceous material;   combusting the carbonaceous material in a first processing chamber having at least one plasma arc torch in the presence of oxygen and water to provide a first product gas stream;   recovering heat from the first product gas stream in a first heat recovery steam generator to produce a first steam output;   processing the first product gas stream in a second processing chamber having at least one plasma arc torch in the presence of oxygen and water to provide a second product gas stream substantially free of carbon monoxide and hydrogen;   recovering heat from the second product gas stream in a second heat recovery steam generator to produce a second steam output; and   using the first steam output and the second steam output.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of using the first steam output and the second steam output to operate a steam turbine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of using the first steam output and the second steam output to operate a steam turbine operatively connected to an electric generator to produce electricity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of quenching the second product gas. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of processing the second product gas with a wet scrubber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of processing the second product gas with a baghouse. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of processing the second product gas with a carbon dioxide removal system.