Method and system for generating syngas

Abstract

A method for generating syngas comprising heating woodchips in a vessel comprising a circulatory pathway and a heat generator in thermal communication with the circulator pathway to thermally degenerate the woodchips by pyrolysis with the woodchips forming biochar and releasing syngas when undergoing pyrolysis. The method further comprises circulating the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway to thereby filter the syngas through at least one of the woodchips and the biochar undergoing pyrolysis, and discharging the filtered syngas from the vessel.

1 . A method for generating syngas comprising:
 heating woodchips in a vessel comprising a circulatory pathway and a heat generator in thermal communication with the circulator pathway to thermally degenerate the woodchips by pyrolysis, the woodchips forming biochar and releasing syngas when undergoing pyrolysis;   circulating the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway to thereby filter the syngas through at least one of the woodchips and the biochar undergoing pyrolysis; and   discharging the filtered syngas from the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , the circulatory pathway being a closed-loop circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , circulating the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway comprising:
 displacing the woodchips along the circulatory pathway by a conveyor system for heating by the heat generator for forming the biochar.   
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , circulating the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway comprising:
 displacing the generated syngas by a displacement system along the circulatory pathway and substantially through the woodchips undergoing pyrolysis.   
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , the heat generator being one an electrical heater and a heat-exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 injecting the woodchips into the circulatory pathway of the vessel by a displacement screw conveyor.   
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 ejecting the biochar from the vessel in response to the syngas been substantially discharged therefrom.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , discharging the filtered syngas from the vessel comprising:
 discharging the filtered syngas to one of a downstream process and a storage system   
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 generating at least one of heat energy and mechanical energy from the filtered syngas by a gas engine as part of the downstream process.   
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1 , the syngas being at least one of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . A system for generating syngas comprising:
 a vessel comprising:
 a circulatory pathway for heating woodchips therein; and 
 a heat generator in thermal communication with the circulator pathway to thermally degenerate the woodchips by pyrolysis, the woodchips forming biochar and releasing syngas when undergoing pyrolysis, 
   wherein the circulatory pathway is shaped and adapted for circulating the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway to thereby filter the syngas through at least one of the woodchips and the biochar undergoing pyrolysis,   wherein the filtered syngas is dischargeable from the vessel.   
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11 , the circulatory pathway being a closed-loop circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a conveyor system for displacing the woodchips along the circulatory pathway for heating by the heat generator for forming the biochar.   
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a displacement system for displacing the generated syngas along the circulatory pathway and substantially through the woodchips undergoing pyrolysis.   
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 11 , the heat generator being one an electrical heater and a heat-exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a displacement screw conveyor for injecting the woodchips into the circulatory pathway of the vessel by.   
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 11 , the biochar being ejected from the vessel in response to the syngas been substantially discharged therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The system as in  claim 11 , the filtered syngas being discharged to one of a downstream process and a storage system 
     
     
         19 . The system as in  claim 18 , at least one of heat energy and mechanical energy is generated from the filtered syngas by a gas engine as part of the downstream process. 
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 11 , the syngas being at least one of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.